For the second week in succession Chelsea kick-start the Premier League weekend under big pressure, as Jose Mourinho’s under-fire Blues host Arsenal on Saturday lunchtime.
It’s a match the champions will have to win if they’re to preserve any slender hopes of retaining their crown, while the Gunners will be looking to flex their muscles at the home of one of their fiercest rivals.
League leaders Manchester City will hope to capitalise on these two meeting later in the day, as they host away-day specialists West Ham United. Manchester United face Southampton at St Mary’s on Sunday in what’s set to be another absorbing clash.
Here’s the full schedule for this round of matches, a prediction for each and a closer look at two of the standout clashes.
Chelsea vs. Arsenal
Chelsea were comprehensively outplayed by Everton in their last outing, as a hat-trick from Steven Naismith condemned the Blues to a 3-1 defeat. It means the champions are edging increasingly closer to crisis mode and Arsenal will be desperate to plunge them further into the mire.
The Gunners picked up their first home win of the season last time out, coasting past Stoke City in a 2-0 win. It was a victory which relieved some of the mounting pressure on manager Arsene Wenger after the club’s inactivity in the transfer window, but it’ll be intriguing to see whether or not they can show some renewed solidity at a venue at which they’ve typically struggled.
In Gabriel Paulista, they may have found the man to help forge some defensive cohesion, as David Hynter of the Guardian notes here:
It’s a cohesion their opponents are completely bereft of at the moment. Everton tore through Chelsea time after time last weekend with crisp passing and you suspect Arsenal’s own intricate attacking players will wreak similar havoc between the lines if amendments aren’t made.
As we can see here courtesy of BreatheSport, it’s very peculiar for a team managed by Mourinho to be quite so accommodating to the opposition attackers:
It’ll be the first return Petr Cech will make to Stamford Bridge since his summer move across London and with Thibaut Courtois sidelined, his presence is unlikely to placate Mourinho’s mood. But this is a fixture the Blues usually fare well in.
Arsenal seem to be gradually getting in the groove and did beat Chelsea earlier on in the season when the two met in the Community Shield. But they don’t have the mental strength to go to Stamford Bridge and win quite yet. Expect an open game, in which both sides will share the spoils.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal
Southampton vs. Manchester United
Manchester United turned in their best 45 minutes of the season so far against Liverpool last time out, running in three goals against the Reds. But a trip to the south coast will pose a completely different challenge against a Southampton team that are slowly coming to the boil.
Ronald Koeman’s team backed up their home win against Norwich City with a solid point away at West Bromwich Albion. After a convoluted beginning to the campaign, they seem to be showcasing the sort of swagger that served them so well last term.
Their new centre-back Virgil van Dijk seems to have settled in well too; Koeman was very pleased with his debut at the Hawthorns, per sports journalist Ben Dinnery:
The Dutchman may not have any orthodox forwards to face in this encounter, with Wayne Rooney a doubt. But it’ll be intriguing to see if Red Devils manager Louis van Gaal decides to give 19-year-old Anthony Martial a run-out from the start after his marvellous cameo against Liverpool.
He scored a wonderful goal to help make the game safe for United, showcasing the kind of dynamism and composure that has got so many excited. But as noted here by Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News, it’s important to keep expectations under control when it comes to Martial:
Regardless of whether or not he plays in this one, United are likely to have a little too much for Saints. Expect Van Gaal’s men to strangle the life out of the game, looking to build meticulously and sap any of Southampton’s attacking momentum.
The hosts’ offensive play has been a little wobbly as of late and, against an improving Red Devils back line, they’ll struggle to break through. Expect the visitors to nick a goal and take a priceless three points back to Manchester.
Prediction: Southampton 0-1 Manchester United
via http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2566050-premier-league-fixtures-week-6-schedule-score-predictions-for-epl-matchday
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