Weekend Predictions: Arsenal - Chelsea - Liverpool - Tottenham - Manchester United - Newcastle United - Manchester City - Fulham - Aston Villa - Bolton Wanderers - Portsmouth - West Ham - Wigan - Middlesbrough - Sunderland - Everton - Reading - Blackburn Rovers - Birmingham City - Derby County
For the last six or seven seasons, Arsenal have been the most entertaining side in the English Premier League but on more than one occasion their effectiveness has failed their flair. But things have imbibed a different hue this season and as the English Premier League 2007-2008 crawls into Week 16, it is Arsene Wenger’s exciting team that conquers the pole position.
Arsenal are one of the only two sides yet to be beaten in the Premiership and have won four games out of a possible 7. So no doubt that Monsieur Arsene Wenger is all smiles as the Gunners prepare themselves for a trip to the Riverside to face third from bottom Middlesbrough. The Gunners have been as much effective as enthralling this season as they exhibited in that 2-1 win over Aston Villa at Villa Park last week, they do have the ability to stage a comeback too. Arsenal are top with 37 points from 15 matches, having scored 12 away goals while coincidentally workmanlike Boro have conceded the same number at home. So still trying to figure out who the favourites are for this match?
4 points behind Arsenal are their eternal rivals Manchester United. Man United are yet to gallop into top gear with Cristiano Ronaldo yet to spread his wings wide, Wayne Rooney still appearing frustrated at times and Carlos Tevez just settling into the side. But Sir Alex Ferguson’s boys ought to be able to get past rock bottom Derby with ease. New manager Paul Jewell stared with a 1-0 away defeat at Sunderland last week and must be prepared to swallow another away loss. Chelsea are just 2 points behind Man United in third and have consistently improved both in terms of resuls and playing style since Avram Grabnt took over. Like Man United, the Blues too play on Sunday and at home; Roy Keane’s Sunderland are their opposition, The Black Cats made a good enough start but inconsistency had led them to fall to within just a couple of points of the relegation zone.
Fourth placed Liverpool and fifth placed Manchester City both are away from home this weekend. Rafael Benitez would be much boosted by the support his players have demonstrated for him this week as he takes his rejuvenated Reds side for a trip to 13th placed Reading. Meanwhile, Sven-Goran Eriksson’s City level on points with Liverpool, travel to White Hart Lane on Sunday when Juande Ramos would continue his endeavor to weave his Sevilla magic with Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs have been woeful at best in the Premiership so far this season. So much so Spurs are just 1 point above safety in 14th place and although no one with sense is putting his money on Spurs to go down this season, a European place is virtually out of question.
The most interesting and possibly dullest encounter of the weekend is at the other end of the tunnel. In a relegation 6-pointer, Bolton Wanderers not so much welcome Wigan Athletic at the Reebok Stadium as conspire to stab wherever they can. Bolton and Wigan have scored a total of 25 goals between them so fat this season and have conceded 49. While only goal difference separates Bolton from the drop, Wigan are 19th in the table with just 9 points from 11 matches.
In other matches in the English Premiership this weekend, UEFA Cup hopefuls Aston Villa and Portsmouth lock horns at Villa Park, Everton entertain Fulham, Newcastle United take on Birmingham City and supposedly safe West Ham United are on the road to mid table Blackburn Rovers.
Your Predictions:
Copy-paste the list of matches below into the comments box and tell us who you think will win this weekend.
Aston Villa v Portsmouth
Chelsea v Sunderland
Everton v Fulham
Manchester United v Derby County
Newcastle United v Birmingham City
Reading v Liverpool
Middlesbrough v Arsenal
Bolton v Wigan
Tottenham v Manchester City
Blackburn v West Ham
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Discussion - 13 Responses
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Middlesbrough v Arsenal
0-3 arsenal
lol arsenal havent been the most entertaining side in the English Premier League for the last 7 seasons, so we know this was an arsenal fan that wrote this shit lol
Aston Villa 0 v Portsmouth 0 uninspiring, dull
Chelsea 3 v Sunderland 1 too much money at Chelsea
Everton 2 v Fulham 1 toffees will somehow etch out another victory
Manchester United 2v Derby County 0 Again, too much money at United
Newcastle United 1 v Birmingham City 1 a tight game
Reading 0 v Liverpool 2 the reds are too much quality
Middlesbrough 0 v Arsenal 2 the Arse again; everyone hates them but they are playing some good football
Bolton 2 v Wigan 2 weak defences but some good goals
Tottenham 1 v Manchester City 1
An improving Tottenham will snatch a draw from the hands of victory.
Blackburn 2 v West Ham 0
West ham are eternally uninspiring, lack backbone to stand up to the men from Blackburn.
Spurs are the most entertaining side!! u should have said arsenal play the best football
Aston Villa 3 v Portsmouth 0 _____ Martin O’Neils men will fight on they will give pompey are real something to think about.
Chelsea 1 v Sunderland 0 _____ Drogbas injury will affect the goals but Chelsea have enough quality for this i think it will be a comfortable 1-0.
Everton 0 v Fulham 0 _____ Some people underestimate Fulham but i think they should be far higher up the table but Everton are too strong to lose.
Manchester United 5 v Derby County 0 _____ Derby wont have a spit of the ball agaisnt the mancs and Ronaldo will enjoy a couple of goals here im guessing.
Newcastle United 2 v Birmingham City 1 _____ Huge point agaisnt the gooners but Birmingham are also coming off a good result a scrappy match.
Reading 0 v Liverpool 4 _____ This is the new Liverpool they dont settle for 1-0s and 2-0s any more and i think the goal spree will start near the end of the first half.
Middlesbrough 0 v Arsenal 3 _____ The gooners are too strong after Newcastle im sure they will want to set everthing straight hear
Bolton 2 v Wigan 2 _____ I think Wigan will Dominate here but Boltons better class wont allow them to pass.
Tottenham 3 v 2 Manchester City _____ Man City might play through Spurs but we all know they have goals in them its a tough match but i think spurs will edge it.
Blackburn 1 v 1 West Ham _____ This is the tightest match og the weekend i reckon a bit too tight so i think a draw will do it.
Aston Villa 0 Portsmouth 2 - Pompey’s 6th away win on the bounce
Chelsea 4 Sunderland 0 - Maybe the half time score
Everton 3 Fulham 0 Only one way this is going
Manchester United 7 Derby County 0 I’m being kind to Derby
Newcastle United 2 Birmingham City 1 - Mags=first win for a while
Reading 2 Liverpool 1 - Hoops to beat the red filth
Middlesbrough 1 Arsenal 3 - Will Boro actually score?
Bolton 2 Wigan 1 - Home win in the battle of the strugglers
Tottenham 1 Manchester City 1 - Neither team have the guile to win
Blackburn 3 West Ham 1
Middlesbrough v Arsenal probably won’t be enjoyable to watch (as a Boro fan at least), but I can hope.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the team that only ever ups their performance for big games did it again. There was a similar situation to this a few years ago where Liverpool were doing surprisingly well, but lost out at the Riverside. Ultimately, it knacked their season totally.
I’ll pop us for a draw.
Tottenham 0 Man City 6
Blackburn 0 West Ham 6
Roy is a cunt.
nick those are some good predictions…..pfffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff
i don’t even like middlesbrough but they sure did make all your predictions and comments seem like a big joke.. i’m pretty sure those middlesbrough fans are drunk to shit laughing at your comments too haha ..MAN UTD!!! CRISTIANOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Thank you middlesbrough we could have went 10 points behind!!!
i was completely fucked in my predictions anyways
liverpool and arsenal loosing great great result and a draw at chelsea and we defeating liverfool would be great