Premier League, Arsenal and Manchester United take the field in the afternoon: for the Gunners there is a derby with Fulham.
It promises to be an exciting Saturday afternoon in the Premier League, already in its third day. Prominent among the four challenges scheduled for 4 p.m. is the London derby between Arsenal and Fulham.
The Gunners are one of the three teams still on full points after 180′ of the season along with Manchester City, with whom they could (and should) contend for the title again this year, and De Zerbi’s surprising Brighton, who also made it two for two. Mikel Arteta in the first two rounds was able to take advantage of a benign calendar to cushion the usual run-in phase. The Londoners have responded in kind, although against Nottingham Forest (2-1) and Crystal Palace (0-1) two clear victories did not come. Better was the defensive phase – Arsenal conceded very little, if we also consider the chances built by the opponents – than the offensive one, a sign that the attack still needs to carbonize. Nor has Marco Silva’s Fulham not impressed: the Cottagers beat Everton on their debut in a fortunate manner and last Saturday they suffered a sound defeat in front of their own public in another derby with Brentford (0-3). They do not seem able, in short, to conquer the Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal really rarely loses.
The predictions on the other matches
Brentford has become a reality in the top league across the Channel, and after narrowly missing out on Europe a year ago, they plan to try again, despite having to do without their goal scorer Ivan Toney for several months, who has been disqualified for a football-cheating affair.
Varane, Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro of Manchester United
The Bees have 4 points, the result of a home draw with Tottenham and a resounding success against Fulham in the derby. They are also favored in the third consecutive derby, against Crystal Palace. Roy Hodgson’s team is a nasty customer and in the last round made Arsenal sweat, but from the Community Stadium few manage to return with points in their pockets. Stopped at zero points are Everton and Wolverhampton, two who should be fighting for salvation again: the Toffees will in all likelihood avoid defeat but we do not expect a spectacular match. Finally, Manchester United, one of the great disappointments of this first part of the championship. Erik ten Hag’s men, awaiting reinforcements from the market, “only” beat Wolverhampton 1-0 on their debut and a week ago were overwhelmed by Tottenham (2-0). Against Nottingham Forest they should get back to winning ways but watch out for Nottingham Forest, who managed to put a spoke in Arsenal’s wheel on the first day.
Premier League: possible winners
- Arsenal (in Arsenal-Fulham).
- Brentford (in Brentford-Crystal Palace)
- Everton or draw (in Everton-Wolverhampton)
- Manchester United (in Manchester United-Nottingham Forest)
The match by at least one goal per team
- Manchester United-Nottingham Forest
Premier League: the match by at least three total goals
- Manchester United-Nottingham Forest
