Weekly Picks: PL Predictions GW 35
Arsene doesn’t want to see it. And nor do the fans…
Strange times at the top of the Premier League.
We are used to Arsene Wenger not seeing things on the field – he has not acknowledged a foul by an Arsenal player since Patrick Viera left.
But after Thursday’s West Brom match he seemed to be viewing the thousands of empty seats in the Emirates through the same rose-tinted spectacles.
His sermon urging stay-away fans to turn up for the ‘quality football’ Arsenal deliver made him sound like an out-of-touch Chief Executive of a failing brand. Trying to distract shareholders from their unacceptably poor end of year figures, by trotting out worn out phrases about the company’s USP.
Oh, hang on…
Saturday Fixtures:
3pm Man City v Stoke
It’s always tricky to predict what we’ll get from City. But with Ronaldo and his mates due in town on Tuesday night, changes in personal and attitude are to be expected ahead of this one. Arsenal have sneaked back into 3rd in the PL, not that it will bother City hugely. But neighbours United are only a couple of points behind – and to lose their CL qualification to that lot would be beyond careless. Stoke are raw from two proper hidings (4-1 and 4-0) to two team in rampant form (Liverpool and Spurs) and have only scored once in five away trips to Top Six clubs.
Score Prediction: A low key home win. 1-0
MVP: Aleksandar Kolarov offers plenty in both directions.
3pm Aston Villa v Southampton
Whether we see a different Villa – freed from the pressure of playing under the sword of Damocles, as Joleon Lescott suggests. Or the shambles we have come to expect over the last nine straight defeats, it is hard to fancy them getting another point this season. Southampton themselves have slowed to a jog for the final few yards of the season but will fancy there are three points to be had here like snatching candy from a baby. The most interesting element of this match might be what the fans have to say about this week’s boardroom shenanigans. If they turn up at all.
Score Prediction: Saints should go marching in. 0-2
MVP: Sadio Mane will get all the room he wants.
3pm Bournemouth v Chelsea
One of my other writing assignments last week said they are no longer interested in Chelsea’s match reports, because their season is over. With five to go that is telling. They find themselves in an odd limbo at the moment: in between managers, with question marks over a lot of players and ninth position probably as much as they can shoot for. Plus two defeats in a row, without so much as a goal to show. Bournemouth will tell you they want to finish as high in the PL as possible but I suspect they are loving every minute of their run-in. And deservedly so.
Score Prediction: Chelsea are partial to a 2-2 draw.
MVP: Callum Wilson will have something to prove though.
3pm Liverpool v Newcastle
Newcastle are in the midst of a rally under Rafa. Four points from two matches is as much as they have managed from their last ten. If Benitez can coax a result out of his old team he might make a late claim for manager of the season. It is now 10 defeats on the spin for the travelling Geordies. But they have a bit of momentum and are scoring goals again. The good news ends there, though. Liverpool are finding an end of season flourish themselves, hitting four goals in their last three home matches. They have Europa League business on Thursday, but should have resources to cope.
Score Prediction: Newcastle’s PL survival won’t depend on this. 2-0
MVP: Roberto Firminio should get another hour or so to strut his stuff.
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Sunday Fixtures:
2.05pm Sunderland v Arsenal
The fact that Sunderland’s cause is greater at this stage of the PL season is as surprising as it must be depressing for Arsenal fans. And could prove to be the difference here. Both teams have underperformed based on the quality they can put on the field. Arsenal’s away record almost exactly matches Sunderland’s home form: W2 D4 L2 v W2 D3 L3. Sunderland are digging in. Big Sam’s obdurate football has slowed the defeats and increased the draws. Now they just need to add a sprinkling of wins to complete the job.
Score Prediction: Another draw on the cards. 1-1
MVP: I almost named Fabio Borini last week. So will this.
4.15pm Leicester v Swansea
I think Leicester have been unfairly treated in the media. There, I said it! Pundits have been predicting their demise since the autumn. The Christmas fixture list… the heavy pitches in January/ February… the pressure of front running… we ALL going to be their undoing. Now it is the absence of Jamie Vardy. If Tottenham (or anyone) were five points ahead with four matches to go, would we even be speculating on the outcome of the PL title? Yet the theme of the run-in is the increasingly skittish Foxes being stalked, relentlessly and inevitable by a stealthy superior. Sorry, I’m not having it. They will beat Swansea – whose meek 0-3 surrender at Newcastle suggested they are already on the beach, mentally – and win the PL with games to spare.
Score Prediction: Another step closer. 3-0
MVP: Riyad Mahrez – the floor’s yours…
Monday Fixture:
8pm Tottenham v West Brom
Tottenham seem to consider playing a day after Leicester as an advantage. But surely they know they have to win all of their matches, regardless of what Leicester do? They were mighty impressive last week, dismantling Stoke with an efficiency not often associated with Spurs. West Brom looked beaten up after their defeat at Arsenal and shouldn’t muster much opposition. Tottenham look destined to just fall short – or, rather, run out of matches. I wonder what Mauricio Pochettino thinks about losing to that last minute winner v Newcastle? Ouch.
Score Prediction: Tottenham are flying. 3-0
MVP: Toby Alderweireld was a deserving member of the PFA team of the year.
That’s how it looks from here…
Until next time.
Matt Nesbitt’s short, unspectacular but joyful playing career has given way to a much longer, more successful but immeasurably more rubbish one writing about football and providing betting advice. Email: Matt Nesbitt
