Arsenal vs Manchester City

Arsenal

After an early, largely unwanted, break for international matches, the Premier League returns with a bang on Saturday with a heavyweight contest between champions Manchester City and title hopefuls Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. The new season may be just three matches old, but neither team will want to countenance a defeat after already dropping unwanted points.

The two sides met just a month ago when Arsenal won 3-0 at Wembley in the Community Shield with a triumph that inspired much confidence for the season ahead for Arsene Wenger’s men. But things have not gone smoothly since.

Match facts

Arsenal

Arsenal’s early season suffered a real blow when key striker Olivier Giroud was ruled out for the rest of 2014 with an ankle injury. His presence was clearly missed at the King Power Stadium, increasing the pressure on Wenger to add to his striking options before the close of the transfer window. In the dying hours he responded with the £16 million signing of Danny Welbeck from Manchester United. His debut is now set to come against the local rivals of his boyhood club. With Yaya Sanogo still looking extremely raw and the side struggling with Alexis Sanchez as an unorthodox leader of the line, Welbeck currently looks the best bet.

Manchester City

In contrast to Arsenal, Manchester City trimmed their attacking contingent on deadline day when allowing Alvaro Negredo to go on loan to Valencia in a deal that is likely to be made permanent. And the forward options for Manuel Pellgrini could be further diminished at the Emirates with Stevan Jovetic being forced to miss Montenegro’s Euro 2016 qualifier with Moldova after suffering a hamstring injury in training. After being plagued by injuries in his first season at the Etihad, Jovetic had made a strong start to the campaign, particularly when scoring twice in a 3-1 over Liverpool. If Jovetic is ruled out on Saturday, Pellegrini will be left with Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero as his only fit forwards.

Predictions

Neither side has hit top gear this season, but must perform in what is already an important match. If City are at their best, and Yaya Toure is tuned in, then they can overpower Arsenal in the center of midfield. Arsenal will also face a challenge to keep tabs on David Silva, who can drift between the lines and really make his side tick. But on home soil and boosted by a debut for Welbeck, Arsenal could battle to secure a point as they did in the same fixture last season.

Arsenal 1-1 Manchester City

NaijaBet Odds

At the time of this post, NaijaBet odd or Arsenal to win is 2.76, Manchester City to win is  2.33 to end in draw is 3.25

Burnley vs Chelsea

 

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Match facts

  • Burnley lost their only previous opening weekend fixture in the Barclays Premier League (0-2 to Stoke in Aug 2009).
  • Burnley lost both games against Chelsea during their only previous Premier League season (2009/10).
  • Burnley allowed fewer shots on target against them than any other team in the Championship last season (159).
  • Jose Mourinho has seen Chelsea win on all five opening weekends that he has been manager.
  • In fact, the Blues are unbeaten since 1998/99 on the opening day, winning 13 of 15 games (D2).
  • Chelsea have won more points than any other team on the opening weekend of Premier League seasons (47).
  • Cesc Fabregas has scored in each of his two Premier League appearances against Burnley.

PREDICTIONS

With a formidable squad, Chelsea are tipped to win this. Seeing the goals that has been scored in preseason and the bets on him scoring in this match, the signing of Cesc Fabregas, is really sinking in now. Costa is an amazing number 9,  and not forgetting Drogba is back. It however would not be a walk in the park for them, but Chelsea should seal this with a 2:1 at final whistle.

NaijaBet Odds

At the time of this post, NaijaBet is tipping Chelsea to win at over 100% and  Burnley to win at over 800%.

Current Odd :8.35, 4.42, 1.33

Liverpool Vs Southampton

Liverpool Vs Southampton

Match facts

  • Brendan Rodgers will be without summer signing Adam Lallana for Liverpool’s first game of the season as the England international has a knee injury.
  • Daniel Agger, Jon Flanagan and Lazar Markovic are doubts, but could feature in some capacity.
  • Rodgers may be tempted to field that same XI which took to the field in the friendly against Borussia Dortmund last weekend, which would see Dejan Lovren, Javier Manquillo and Emre Can handed their first competitive starts for the Reds.
  • After a summer fire-sale, Ronald Koeman may be tempted to start all of his 5 summer signings for the trip to Anfield.
  • Fraser Forster, Ryan Bertrand, Saphir Taïder, Dusan Tadic and Graziano Pellè could all feature from the off as Southampton look to claim a huge scalp early in the new campaign.
  • Jay Rodriguez is Koeman’s only injury concern, while wantaway midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin is expected to miss out here.

Predictions

Liverpool begin life post-Luis Suarez with the welcome of Southampton and Brendan Rodgers will be keen to avoid a similar result at Anfield against Saints to last season. The south coast club secured a memorable 1-0 win over their Premier League counterparts, so Rodgers will want the team to avoid complacency this time out.

Koeman has a number of new arrivals to call on for the trip to Merseyside and despite their limited time together, they will need to adjust to the rigours of the Premier League quickly if Saints are to replicate their feats from last term.

Unfortunately for Saints, Liverpool still have enough about them to secure maximum points here so I predict a 2:1 at final whistle .

 

NaijaBet Odds

At the time of this post, NaijaBet is tipping Liverpool to win at slightly over 100% and  Southampton to win at over 700%.

Current Odd : 1.31    4.76    7.87

Arsenal vs Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace

 

Match facts

  • The Gunners are undefeated in their last 18 home matches in the Premier League.
  • David Ospina is a doubt for Arsène Wenger, who will be without Serge Gnabry, Ryo Miyaichi and Theo Walcott through injury.
  • Mesut Özil, Lukas Podolski and Per Mertesacker will miss out following their World Cup excursions with Germany.
  • Tony Pulis is expected to hand competitive debuts to summer arrivals Brede Hangeland and Fraizer Campbell when they travel to the Emirates.
  • Jerome Thomas will certainly miss out, while Damien Delaney, Adrian Mariappa and Jonathan Williams are doubts.
  • Joel Ward should start at left-back with Pulis yet to bring in any players in the position this transfer window.

Predictions

Crystal Palace performed commendably following the appointment of Tony Pulis and despite being relegation favourites, the Eagles finished a respectable 11th last season. The hard work starts now though and the Palace boss will be keen to consolidate themselves as a Premier League team this season.

NaijaBet Odds

At the time of this post, NaijaBet is tipping Arsenal to win at 100% and Crystal Palace to win at over 900% while draw is more than 500%.

Odds: 1.21    5.34    11.17

Manchester United vs Swansea City

MU_SWans

Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie will again be missing when Manchester United entertain Swansea at Old Trafford.

Rooney has been sent for some warm weather training as he tries to overcome a groin problem that has kept him out of United’s last two games, whilst Van Persie has not recovered from a thigh strain which has sidelined him for a month.

In addition, Rio Ferdinand, Phil Jones, Marouane Fellaini, Nani and Ashley Young are injured, whilst Fabio is suspended.

Meanwhile, Swansea’s injury woes have deepened ahead of their return to Old Trafford.

Jonathan de Guzman, Roland Lamah and Dwight Tiendalli have joined Nathan Dyer, Pablo Hernández, Garry Monk, Michel Vorm and Michu on the sidelines, leaving manager Michael Laudrup with limited options against the reigning champions.

Match facts

  • Louis van Gaal’s first competitive match in charge of United has been hotly anticipated and kicks off the Premier League campaign on Saturday.
  • The Dutchman has kept the faith with the 3-4-1-2 formation he utilised at the World Cup with Netherlands throughout pre-season, and with new signing Luke Shaw sidelined Ashley Young could get a chance to prove his worth at left wing-back.
  • Robin van Persie hasn’t featured at all in pre-season and is a doubt so Javier Hernandez could partner new captain Wayne Rooney up front, with Danny Welbeck carrying a knock.
  • It’s been a busy summer at Swansea, with many of the outgoings at the club going somewhat under the radar.
  • Ben Davies and Michel Vorm left for Tottenham, while former first teamers Chico, Jonathan De Guzman and Pablo Hernandez are also no longer at the club.
  • Bafetimbi Gomis has signed from Lyon but will likely to start on the bench as Wilfried Bony’s deputy. There could, however, be debuts for Lukasz Fabianski and Jefferson Montero, along with a welcome return from Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Predictions

Van Gaal’s side should continue on from an impressive pre-season campaign and register a first win of the season to get the ball rolling under the Dutchman. I am predicting a 2 : 1 at the end of the match.

NaijaBet Odds

At the time of this post, NaijaBet is tipping Manchester United to win at slightly over 100% and Swansea to win at over 700%.

1.31 4.80 7.85