'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
This weekend serves up another early-season clash between two of the Top Six, while several clubs who invested heavily in the transfer market will be looking for their first win of the season.
The Premier League often boasts about its unpredictability; that it possesses such strong competition that nobody is guaranteed anything.
But we’ll see about that! Here you’ll find four predictions about this upcoming matchday.
Arsenal may just win battle of new ideas
Arsenal took to the Emirates last week with a plan. Unfortunately, that plan was dismantled in rather ruthless fashion by Manchester City. There were signs that Arsenal were changing and adopting the ideas of Unai Emery, but this was too big an obstacle too soon.
They travel to Chelsea in Saturday’s late kick-off and the history books suggest it’s not going to get any better. A horrific recent record at Stamford Bridge doesn’t inspire any confidence in a win. However, this time there are some special circumstances to consider.
Chelsea have a few things in common with Arsenal. They have a new manager with a different set of ideas to what they’re used to. They were also taken apart by Manchester City in that manager’s first proper game in charge.
Maurizio Sarri at least scored a comfortable win at Huddersfield last week, but it’ll be some time before his Chelsea are the slick, winning machine his Napoli were.
Emery will have looked at what went wrong against City and will adapt his side accordingly. Meanwhile, Sarri is more likely to stick with the same plan. Hence, there’s an opportunity here for Arsenal to spring a surprise or two.
It’s bound to be a messy encounter of two teams struggling to play-out and press with any sort of rhythm and cohesion, but surely Arsenal won’t repeat last week’s mistakes.
Harry Kane will break his August duck
For some reason, Harry Kane is a slow starter. Practically guaranteed a huge goal tally at the end of any given season, scoring won’t begin until a few weeks until the season has begun.
This has become known as an August hoodoo, since the start of the season just happens to take place in August.
This is bound to change eventually and a home game against a newly-promoted Fulham fresh off a 2-0 defeat seems a great time to do it.
Fulham signed a whole new team during the summer, smashing their own transfer record numerous times. It’s exciting times at Craven Cottage.
But reality snapped back last week against Crystal Palace. It’s going to take some time for all those new players to settle in and gel into a team and the Premier League isn’t a competition that’s going to sit back and let them.
Games away to the strongest teams are arriving too early in this project. It'd be a shock if they came away with anything from Wembley on Saturday.
I’d be less shocked to see Kane score against a brand new defence and goalkeeper that has already shown signs of miscommunication.
West Ham vs Bournemouth will steal the show
Speaking of teams who have a lot of new players, West Ham got off to an inauspicious start at Anfield last week. A trip to Liverpool is daunting for any team at the moment, nevermind one that’s plucked a new identity out of thin air this summer.
To judge this West Ham project on that game though would be foolish. It’s the games against the likes of Bournemouth where we’ll truly see if progress is being made.
This could be a game of two attacking teams just going at it with all they have. Manuel Pellegrini will expect his new midfielders and attackers to enjoy more of the ball than they did last week. The likes of Felipe Anderson and Andriy Yarmolenko would certainly fancy themselves more against Bournemouth’s rather tender backline.
Yet, we can’t dismiss Eddie Howe’s side entirely. A routine win over Cardiff, helped by a stellar performance from Callum Wilson, was a great way to start the season. Whatever fear they may have of the big, expensive names in West Ham’s line-up will be mitigated by the obvious deficiencies in their defence. This Bournemouth team will back themselves every time.
As a result, we could see a very open match. The goals might not fly in, but I’m certain both are going to try their damnedest.
Brighton will stun Manchester United again
Brighton disappointed in their opening game of the season against Watford. Manchester United hardly make for easier opponents, but a big game in front of the Sky cameras can inspire some teams to put in that little bit extra.
That’s the least Chris Houghton will expect of his players. Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho will want a second win to ensure that any of the negativity surrounding him and the club will continue to blow away into the distance.
United didn’t have it all their own way against Leicester but will be encouraged by their strong defending.
However, there are continued concerns about an attack that has yet to click. Jesse Lingard and Romelu Lukaku are due to return to the starting line-up, but their lack of match sharpness and fitness could prove to be an issue.
Brighton may sense this is an opportunity to inflict some early season damage. The start of the season, when players aren’t fully fit and new players are bedding in, is usually the best time for upsets. There’s a decent chance we could see one on Sunday.
