After a prolonged break due to international commitments, League football is back. Two weeks of twiddling our thumbs was clearly too long for us to bear, especially considering there was a summer break to contend with too.
Although there aren’t any hyped “Big Four” clashes this weekend, the next round of games does offer up some fascinating duels and in a league this competitive, there’s always something to look out for in each and every encounter.
Let’s look forward to the weekend’s fixtures with an eye on what’s cooking beneath the surface:
Arsenal v Swansea – Gunners look to bounce back
Yes, those of you who put your trust in Wenger might “8-2” be a Gooner at this moment of time but the home game against Swansea should be nothing short of a cakewalk for the much maligned Arsene Wenger. The team, the manager, and the management have all been berated in the press after that fateful night at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ but surely improvement is just round the corner as the injury cloud clears up at the Emirates. The Gunners hit rock bottom and the manager finally loosened his purse strings on deadline day. Mikel Arteta, Peter Mertesacker, Andre Santos and Park Chu Young were added to the squad in a bid to stop the rot. Yoss Benayoun also became a Gunner and the Arsenal medical department will surely be kept busy and not just tending to the likes of Van Persie and Rosicky.
Arteta in an Arsenal shirt is an interesting proposition and after years of outstanding service for the blue half of Merseyside it will certainly feel a bit odd seeing the Spaniard in the red and white of the North London giants. Arsenal, one of the biggest clubs in England and one intending to stay that way, needed this new lease of life. Hopefully the new acquisitions will usher in a new dawn at Arsenal, bring back the fight and more importantly some pride.
A little fact for the Gooners to be optimistic about: During Arsene Wenger’s reign, Arsenal have averaged more points per game (2.10) than any other Premier League team in the month of September.
Everton v Aston Villa – Battle for mid table supremacy
Everton have almost stood still or perhaps gone backwards after losing their talisman Arteta in the transfer window to Arsenal. One of the oldest and most prestigious clubs in England are on a rather shaky financial ground and the sale of Arteta was almost a necessity. The Everton faithful might not agree and David Moyes certainly wouldn’t have wanted to lose a jewel in his crown.
Everton aren’t exactly short of quality midfield options and with the rise of teenage sensation Ross Barkley, fans have some room for optimism. Furthermore, loan signing Royston Drenthe has landed at Goodison Park and the Dutchman is expected to add flair and panache on the left flank.
For Aston Villa and Alex Mcleish, the trip to Everton represents their first real test. The Villa faithful weren’t particularly pleased with this appointment and the Scotsman can’t really afford to let his guard down this early in the season. The Youth at Villa Park is in full bloom, the likes of Albrighton, Delph, Bannan and Clark all look the part. Moyes will be hoping to have his main man – Darren Bent fit after the Englishmen didn’t participate in the Euro Qualifiers.
While Aston Villa have only lost one of their last 11 Premier League fixtures, winning five of them, Everton have lost just once in their last 12 games at Goodison Park, last time out against QPR.
Fulham v Blackburn – Rovers look to get on the board
Two teams from the bottom half of the table, lock horns at the Cottage in a bid to secure their first win of the season. Steve Kean and the Rovers are steadily becoming everyone’s favorites for the drop and find themselves without a point yet. Things couldn’t have gone any worse for the Rovers during the last round of games as they conspired to miss two spot kicks and eventually lost to one against the Toffees.
Martin Jol’s Fulham side haven’t hit the ground running themselves although they will still be favorites to win this one as Craven Cottage has been a happy hunting ground.
All eyes will surely be on Fulham’s new acquisition, the ten million pound signing from F C Twente Bryan Ruiz. The Costa Rican was a standout performer in the Dutch Eredivise and Premier League fans will be anxiously awaiting his entry on the grand stage.
Man City v Wigan – Safe bet for a home win
If anyone’s looking for a safe bet this weekend then surely a home win at Eastlands is as predictable as it gets in this league. After Man City’s systematic dismantling of Tottenham at the Lane, hopes have risen in the blue half of Manchester. No more are the Mancini-lead Manchester side pretenders to the crown; they are very much the front runners. Three wins out of three so far and with an attack scoring goals left right and center, all indications point towards a massive home win. City fans might have to wait for the home debut of Samir Nasri though; he looks to be sidelined due to injury.
Wigan on the other hand will be looking to salvage a point but defending with two banks of four and with ten men behind the ball isn’t their forte and surely not their style. Roberto Martinez will send out his team to play the way, they always have and we could have a really high scoring game on our hands. City unconvincingly won this fixture 1-0 last season with Conor Sammon missing a glorious chance at the end of the match to land a point for the Latics.
The man of the moment is undoubtedly Edin Dzeko after his breathtaking performances so far in the league. The race for the ‘Golden Boot’ at the moment is led by the Bosnian but Wayne Rooney is close on his heels, so this encounter represents a fantastic opportunity to widen the gap for the high flying Dzeko.
Dzeko – red hot form!
Norwich v West Brom – a relegation six-pointer already?
So early on in the season it’s almost criminal to call a game a relegation six pointer but this could perhaps prove to be the most important duel in the bottom half. Roy Hodgson’s Baggies have somehow managed to lose all three of their opening games despite playing quite decently on all three occasions. They simply cannot afford to lose four on the bounce. Norwich on the other hand know the mantra for survival is undoubtedly to register as many home wins as they can and after squandering the lead in their last home game, they need to win at Carrow Road. With two sides yet to taste victory this season both sets of supporters can expect a fiercely contested battle and will hope for a victory to kick start their campaign.
Interestingly West Brom have won their last three games against City (in the Championship) and two of them were at Carrow Road. However Norwich are unbeaten in their last six meetings with the Baggies in the top flight.
QPR v Newcastle – Joey Barton up against New castle
The Barcodes are one of the few undefeated sides in the league while QPR have stuttered a bit. Yet the duel between the two sides will almost be a backdrop to the more prominent highlight of the day. Joey Barton will face his former team mates for the first time since walking out of Newcastle. The ‘Toon Army’ will be in full voice and it will be interesting to see the reactions of the travelling Newcastle faithful. Joey Barton has insisted he would never say a bad word about Newcastle as he prepares to make his QPR debut against the club he left under a cloud last month.
Furthermore, another mouthwatering prospect presents itself when two huge egos clash in the form of Barton and QPR skipper Adel Taarabat. Fireworks are expected as the new look London side prepare to face a Toon outfit brimming with confidence.
You’d be well-advised to put your money on a sending off in this encounter.
Barton v newcastle – expect the unexpected!
Wolverhampton v Tottenham – Spurs are the underdogs against in-form Wolves
So after three games in the season Wolves lead Tottenham by seven points. Surely no one saw that coming. Mick Mcarthy’s Wolves look a well drilled outfit and the new signing Roger Johnson has taken to life as a Wolverhampton player quite comfortably. Harry Redknapp’s Spurs have had a miserable start to the campaign as they have been pummeled by the two Manchester sides. However, Tottenham have managed to keep hold of their star midfielder the much-coveted Croatian Luka Modric and that should bring a big sigh of relief in North London. Also, the signings of Scott Parker and Adebayor on loan from Manchester City will further enhance the quality in the Tottenham first team.
Wolves are the in-form team at the moment while Tottenham couldn’t be farther away from their usual standards. The month of September hasn’t been kind to both the clubs in the past. Tottenham have won only one of their last 24 Premier League away games in the month of September and none of the last 15 since beating Sunderland in 2001. Wolves on the other hand have the worst record in September of all teams to have played more than one season in England’s top flight.
Sunderland v Chelsea – Can Andre Villas Boas’ troops finally break free?
Sunderland have almost bought a whole X1 in this year’s transfer market yet their start has been rather disappointing. Winless and lacking inspiration so far, the Black Cats will have to bring out their best against Chelsea who haven’t yet got going themselves. But if Chelsea and Villas Boas were looking for a bit of divine intervention then they have picked just the right opponents. The London club have an outstanding record against Sunderland winning 12 of the last 13 PL meetings between these sides with Nicolas Anelka usually taking the honors in this encounter.
The last six meeting between the two sides has resulted in at least three goals every time; however with Sunderland’s woeful form in front of goal and Chelsea too looking a bit out of sorts, the trend might be bucked at the Stadium of Light.
Chelsea’s new signing Juan Mata could choose to make it an occasion to savor, with Blues’ hopes having been raised after that brief but blazing cameo of his against Norwich at the Bridge.
Stoke v Liverpool – Dalglish plans Stoke’s demise
The air is full of optimism among the Kop faithful and not without reason this time around. After the spectacular showing against Owen Coyle’s Bolton, Kenny Dalglish’s Liverpool face their nemesis Stoke at the Britannia Stadium. Tony Pulis has added further ammunition to their squad in the form of Peter Crouch and Wilson Palacios, and the Merseyside club must surely be ready for some aerial acrobatics.
Liverpool haven’t won at the Britannia Stadium in the Premier League where the Potters have an enviable record with just a single defeat in their last ten home games. The Dalglish revolution is well and truly on and the much improved Liverpool looks well set to get one over Tony Pulis’ men.
Luis Suarez – The new Kop idol!
Man United v Bolton- United look for four in four
Sir Alex Ferguson and Man United have been heavily praised in all sections of the media after an awe inspiring start to the new season. The young United have swept all in front of them so far and the juggernaut next rolls onto the Reebok Stadium.
Owen Coyle and Bolton have endured a rather tough start to the season with games against Man City and Liverpool ending in defeat after the opening day victory at QPR. Owen Coyle has added Man City defender Derek Boyata and Liverpool’s David Ngog to his roster, however he couldn’t have picked a more terrifying opposition than the Red Devils. The Trotters have won only one of their last 17 league meetings with Manchester United. Wayne Rooney has been in ominous form this season and to make matters worse for the Coyle, the Englishmen has shown a liking for the Wanderers defense in the past.
All eyes will yet again be on David De Gea as the Spaniard looks to silence his detractors; rather ironically, though, De Gea has made more saves than any other keeper this season.