Dan’s Weekend EPL Predictions – Arsenal to get revenge on the Saints?

So this week

Friday
Cardiff 1-1 Watford
I admire what Cardiff have done on the pitch so far but I am offended by their actions off it, and I’m shocked more media coverage hasn’t been given to their list of questions sent to Nantes. Essentially the Welsh club are trying to find a way out of paying for Sala. Would they have been concerned over 3rd party ownership if the striker was now playing for them? I just think all parties should wait before rowing about money with bigger issues going on. In terms of this game, Watford have shown during their FA Cup run, that they can match the home sides physical approach.

West Ham 1-1 Fulham
I never fancy West Ham in situations where they are favourites. However, Fulham are so defensively poor and yet to win away from home. It’s hard to make a case for the visitors. I go as far to say, in recent performances Fulham are playing like they don’t believe survival is a possibility and they lack the leaders to change that.

Saturday
Burnley 1-2 Spurs
Sean Dyche has Burnley playing like last season, evidenced by the fact that they haven’t lost since xmas. Any other year I fancy the home side to get a result but as much as it pains me to say, Spurs have found the habit of winning when not playing well.

Cherries 2-2 Wolves
The home side are still without Brooks and Wilson, but Eddie Howe will still send out his men to attack. Wolves have raised expectations to such a point they will also be expected to have a go. With the home side in midtable and the visitors 7th, no reason this won’t be an open game.

Newcastle 1-0 Huddersfield
Against the basement boys it should be an ideal chance to move away from the bottom 3 for the Toon. However, Newcastle are a functional side and might not enjoy the pressure of having to take the initiative. The visitors are bottom due a lack of quality not work rate so the home fans might have to be patient.

Leicester 1-1 Palace
Leicester made enough chances to get a result at Wembley. While the fans are never going to pick Puel over the men who won the title, I admire any manager who is willing to die on his sword. In other words, he’s not going to sacrifice his principles just to stay in a job. Time to see more from Zaha, than him just crying about being kicked.

Sunday

Arsenal 1-0 Southampton
I made a big argument to start Ozil on Thursday, but I was most happy to see Emery scrap playing 5 at the back. It’s not in our DNA to sacrifice an offensive player for a defensive one. The doubts I have in us going on a run to make the top 4 or win the Europa League is our ability to keep clean sheets and our habit of simply not turning up. I’m worried Southampton is another fixture where we will show up and be complacent. We are not a good enough team to take anything for granted, especially against opposition who have had a 2-week rest.

Man United 2-1 Liverpool
The way Ole speaks about the pride of playing for Man United and what the badge represents, you know as an ex player, he will demand his side be the ones to put a dent in Liverpool’s title bid. The irony being that Jose lost his job based on his tactics at Anfield, now I can see the same team motivated by wanting to hurt their rivals. United’s interim boss has done more then put his arms round people, he generally has tactically out-thought his fellow managers. Liverpool have shown pressure affecting them and having to win at Old Trafford is asking too much.

League Cup Final

Man City 2- 1 Chelsea (after extra time)
Two weeks ago City put 6 past Chelsea, making many believe this final will be one sided. We all love the game because it’s never that simple. Man City have been guilty of complacency this season and Pep’s biggest obstacle might be getting his men to ignore how easy this game was at the Etihad. Chelsea have individuals where they are dangerous to face when the pressure and expectation is all on you. Despite his own fans not being fond of ‘Sarri ball’ the Italian is 90 minutes away from his first ever trophy. The fascinating plot is does he have a plan up his sleeve for the Champions, or does he stubbornly persist with tactics that clearly have not been working?

Dan Smith

20 Comments

  1. I also predict Emery would use 4-2-3-1 again, because it is a supposedly easy home game and Soton would most likely sit back to lure Arsenal midfielders in:

    …………………………..Leno
    Maitland-Niles . Mustafi . Sokratis . Kolasinac
    ……………Guendouzi ……… Xhaka
    Aubameyang ………… Ozil ………. Iwobi
    ………………………..Lacazette

  2. I think this game is tailor-made for Ozil to play as a 10 and get our creative juices flowing. Southampton will come out scrappy, then try and lure us in to hit us on the counter. I hope we go with the 4-2-3-1 formation, and fear that if we go with a back 3 or 5 we may struggle throughout the 90 min while Southampton’s confidence grows.

    I will go with 2-1 result; we score early, Southampton ties before halftime, and we scrap throughout the second half while they dig in, and we score a late goal around 75-80 min to go up 2-1. I’ll say Ramsey on as a sub late to either score or free up Auba to get the go ahead goal.

    This game far from guaranteed and could easily go the opposite way if we are timid or go with a back 3 or 5. Love to see Mavro come on for a late cameo appearance to get his feet wet so to speak.

    1. Like your post but Ramsey shouldn’t make our bench it’s that simple. He signed a contract with another club so where is his thoughts?

      1. good point, but we need something off the bench and we don’t have much else. I wouldn’t play him except for emergency, or last bit of a game to prevent starter injuries.

        Rather see AMN in midfield, but currently injuries won’t permit and not sure if Emery sees
        AMN’s future as part of the midfield.

      2. Ramsey is British and has been a thorough professional on/off the field during the contract negotiations, his dedication and motivation was never in doubt, his skill/ability and fitness was a question. Respect him for behaving well unlike RVP, Nasri, Sanchez, Ade, etc.

  3. OT my opinion on the last article—has Emery’s start to his arsenal career been impressive so far? Emery has done well as a new comer coach in epl but his performance is far from impressive. I know a lot fans have come up with why Emery job is the difficult but was the situation different with Wenger. The season so far is not different from Wenger last two seasons despite improvements in players and coaching side. In fact Wenger last two season can not be compared with where we are so far as they were better. However this season can be better than those 2 seasons and that we depend on what the team achievement is at the end of the season. I don’t know why a lot of fans hated Wenger’s last two seasons and accept this from Emery. It is because it is breath of a new fresh air or a dislike for our former manger because this season presently suck compared to the last 2. In one we finished fifth and an fa cup winner in the other a community shield winner, a carling cup finalist, Europa league semi-finalists ( this we can achieve or better if Emery get his act right ). We are out of fa and carling cup, it looks like we are going to finish 5th or 6 the except something happens. I love Emery and want him to succeed but these are just the facts and you can’t argue with fact. Emery has done so far everything I wanted Wenger out for and nothing is impressive about that.

      1. A game we should have won with little unrest. Except now we have to deal with Alexander’s frustration and immature behavior
        All because of the stupid defensive crap this guy brings to the table. Unai Emery is sinking the Arsenal ship

  4. OT A City fan is in a medically induced coma after being attacked by 2 Shalke fans…. what the hell is wrong with some people?? Disgraceful

  5. Dan I always feel that real thought goes into your predictions. I do not see us keeping a clean sheet if either or both Mustafi or Licht play though. I hope and believe Ozil may play some part and think we will need three goals to win the points. Given our fatique factor, I predict 2-2. Lacazette MUST return and play the whole game this time. I would also play Ramsey and drop Mkhi.

  6. Just watched a video of us beating Spuds 2-0. Rosicky, Cazorla and Arteta all started. Rosicky and Cazorla scored. Ozil replaced Arteta in 75th minute. Remember Wenger’s infamous late substitutions lol. But in this case we were leading 2-0 anyway

    They in their prime with Aubameyang and Lacazette would have been awesome.

    Miss Caz and Rosicky. Two little Maestros

  7. It will be a loss, if the players are going to be caught up in trying to play from behind.

    What is needed is Czech directing the back three or four if 4321 to keep a clean sheet, and also not playing the ball at the back.

    A 3331 formation that plays compact should force the ball outside for the Saints, and thus give time for Arsenal to defend.

    ……………………….Czech………………………
    ………Mustafi……….Koz……Sokratis……… [play a bit lower letting Czech organize]
    ……..Iwobi……Torreira.….Kolasinac…….. [boss the mid-field, play narrow, defend inside]
    ……….Auba…………Ozil……….Suarez…….. [run free, attack, attack, attack… wingers defend]
    ………………………..Laca……………………….. [poach, look for rebounds, the through pass]

    The front four are world class potentially. Set them free Unai, bring the inner Wenger in you.

  8. Even though he hasn t been a regular,Charlie Austin will be playing against us,he is the one who punished us,especially on set pieces we need a tall,strong defender on him and not a montreal type who would get bullied and no chance to win a header,but which of our defender can do that?please tell me cos I don,t know and can see a repeat of the first game!

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