Premier League MD8 Preview: Arsenal take on Man City
Can the latest weekend of Premier League action match the drama of MD7? You’d never rule it out. Unbeaten Spurs get things started on Saturday while Arsenal and Man City, last season’s top 2, round out the action on Sunday.
Saturday 7th October
Spurs can go top of the table, for the time being at least, with a win at new boys Luton in Saturday’s early kick-off. The Hatters lost their rescheduled match with Burnley 2-1 on Tuesday night despite a late equaliser. Late goals have been a theme for Spurs too, with Ange Postecoglou’s side grabbing winners in the 96th minute or later in each of their last 2 home games. Can they transfer those antics to their travels if needed?
The Clarets chalked up their first league win on Tuesday with that aforementioned 2-1 success at Luton. South African striker Lyle Foster now has 3 league goals this season after the strike at Kenilworth Road, returning from suspension in style. Chelsea failed to score in recent Premier League games against Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth and Aston Villa, so Monday’s 2-0 win at Fulham was a much-needed boost. Mykhailo Mudryk also got his first goal for the club.
The beleaguered Toffees have struggled at Goodison Park, losing 4 consecutive league games at home and scoring a single goal in that sequence. 19th-placed Bournemouth are the only remaining winless side in the division aside from 20th-placed Sheffield United. With Everton languishing in 16th, this already feels like a pressure-cooker contest at the bottom.
The Red Devils have now lost 3 consecutive Premier League or Champions League matches at Old Trafford after their 2-3 reverse to Galatasaray. They’ll already be pinning huge hopes on new striker Rasmus Højlund, who got both of their goals against the Turkish giants on Tuesday. Brentford are having a similarly indifferent season with just 1 win in 7 Premier League outings this term. They’ve drawn 4 of those, while United have yet to produce a stalemate.
Sunday 8th October
The Seagulls are smarting after a 6-1 hiding away to Aston Villa, while 9-man Liverpool were finally worn down by Spurs last weekend in a 2-1 defeat. Brighton’s 7 league games this season have produced a total of 33 goals at an average of 4.71 goals per game. Both sides have scored in all 7, while both sides have registered in 6 of Liverpool’s 7 league outings too.
After a barren run of results, Newcastle have started to rediscover the defensive stinginess which helped steer them into the top 4 last season. The Magpies kept 5 consecutive shutouts across all competitions in the second half of September, including away to AC Milan and at home against Man City in the EFL Cup. After a great start, the Hammers have lost 2 of their last 3 in the league, but did win the most recent one 2-0 against Sheffield United.
Both sides should come into this with confidence after BIG wins last weekend. Wolves beat champions Man City, while Aston Villa demolished Brighton 6-1, which sets the contest up nicely. Wolves are unbeaten against Villa in the last 5 EPL H2Hs (W3 D2).
Arguably the BIGGEST match of the season so far, last season’s top 2 do battle at Emirates Stadium. Champions City lost at Wolves on MD7 and will be without midfield lynchpin Rodri for their visit to London as he sits out the final game of his domestic suspension.
Arsenal will be sweating over a key player of their own. Bukayo Saka was substituted in the Gunners’ 2-1 defeat to Lens in the Champions League. His current streak of 87 consecutive Premier League appearances is under threat. Ex-City striker Gabriel Jesus got his 22nd goal in his 40th Champions League match on Tuesday ahead of this clash with his former employers.
Who Mikel Arteta selects on the right side of defence is potentially the most intriguing tactical talking point. Jérémy Doku has been scintillating on City’s left, so much so that he’s kept Jack Grealish out of the side in recent games. Will it be Takehiro Tomiyasu or Benjamin White marshalling him?
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