The Sunday schedule of the fifth game week of the English Premier League features a pair of clashes that needs marquee billing. First is the London Derby, two clubs in relative disarray after they both got the short end of the stick in the recent transfer window. Meanwhile, we have key players facing their old clubs in the second of the doubleheader.
Arsenal goes up against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, followed by Manchester United versus Everton at the Theater of Dreams. Read more about these fixtures in our preview below.
CHELSEA FC vs. ARSENAL FC
3-Way: 1: Chelsea FC -114; X: +305 Draw; 2: Arsenal FC +375
Spread -0.5: Chelsea FC -122; Arsenal FC +117
Total +3: Over +110; Under -116
CHELSEA FC
On paper, Chelsea only marginally improved from last season, and the demands of having a heavier schedule this term should have dictated their transfer tactics.What happened was at a time they need depth, they went on to loan out their players and underwent a selling spree. Because of this, Antonio Conte’s fears in the summer materialized. The likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Fernando Llorente knocking back the Blues is another red flag from this window. Nevertheless, CFC did not come up empty, but they also barely moved the needle. Some of those they scored are Danny Drinkwater (Leicester), Tiémoué Bakayoko (Monaco), and Davide Zappacosta (Torino).
Álvaro Morata has been productive at home.Thibaut Courtois is one of the top three goalkeepers in the English Premier League. Reigning Player of the Season N’Golo Kanté is one of the best midfielders out there. Diego Costa, meanwhile, continues to be in limbo, and so is Cesc Fàbregas’ role this year. Willian can be an impact player, and that is only if things go his way.
ARSENAL FC
Arsenal is one of the few clubs that made a profit in the recent transfer window. Consider who left the lineup this summer: Oxlade-Chamberlain (Liverpool, 40 million GBP), Wojciech Szczęsny (Juventus, 11 million GBP), Gabriel Paulista (Valencia, ten million GBP), Kieran Gibbs (West Brom, seven million GBP), Kaylen Hinds (Wolfsburg, two million GBP). That is some windfall. And these are just the figures that are publicly known, as Jon Toral and Ismaël Bennacer also made moves to Hull and Empoli respectively. However, this does not count the talent drop from free transfers and loan-outs. Most importantly, Oxlade-Chamberlain’s exit raises a number of ugly questions which hang over the club at the moment.
While uncertainty surrounds the future of Alexis Sánchez and Mesut Özil, the fact that both players reported back with the club is a positive sign. Sánchez was supposed to go, but he was not released after Thomas Lemar relented transferring to England. Some see it as luck of the draw (whether good or bad, that depends on who is looking at it), some view it as club power play where top-flight businesses now have so much money they can afford to stick to principles.
Should the Chilean get himself out of the existential funk he appeared to be in when he was subbed off against Liverpool and produce the goods on the pitch for one last season, it will be a huge boost to his side’s top four hopes. That stinger of a goal against Köln should ease a bit the tension among the player, club management, and their fans. Özil, meanwhile, looks to seriously improve on his 2016-17 output. Héctor Bellerín, who is now free from the injury that dogged him last season, should have a bounce-back campaign. He did so in grand fashion, slotting in a goal in front of home fans in the Europa League fixture this weekday.
CHELSEA FC vs. ARSENAL FC – Match Prediction
In a battle of two Premier League clubs that have distinct shortcomings, we will go for the one with the better form.
MY PICK: Chelsea FC to win (-114)
MANCHESTER UNITED FC vs. EVERTON FC
3-Way: 1: Manchester United FC -238; X: +450 Draw; 2: Everton FC +1050
Spread -1.5:Manchester United FC +110; Everton FC -110
Total +2.5: Over -119; Under +120
MANCHESTER UNITED FC
Here is a headline banner: Manchester United conceded two goals and dropped points in the Premier League! For a club that looked to run away from the competition, they looked like mere mortals opposite Stoke City, which forced a 2:2 draw in the match held at the former Britannia Stadium. Nevertheless, they went back to god mode, trouncing FC Basel, 3:0, at the UEFA Champions League group stage this past midweek.
Romelu Lukaku welcomes his former club to Old Trafford. He is in fine form, a midweek strike took his tally to six goals in as many matches across all competitions. He has scored 18 goals in his last 20 home appearances at the Premier League. Lukaku is also one of the players Chelsea were pursuing during the summer. Look where he ended up.Victor Lindelöfhas yet to make an impact, but he will no doubt play a part this season.The squad could perhaps do with another playmaker, but Red Devils fans cannot have too many complaints especially now that their club is performing unexpectedly well. Ashley Young’s future is on the line as José Mourinho cannot seem to give him a place in their already deep roster, but the attacker would like to stay with the team.
Juan Mata said in an interview that it will be weird to play against Wayne Rooney, and we agree. It has been almost a decade and a half ever since Everton’s prodigal son has worn blue, and this needs some getting used to.Aside from Wazza, other departures include Adnan Januzaj, who is now with Real Sociedad, as well as Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Matty Willock, who are both on loan to other clubs.Marcos Rojo is still months off from full recovery.
EVERTON FC
Ronald Koeman secured Europa League football in his first season as Everton boss, and the Dutch coach will be aiming to go one better in his second term at the helm. However, they did not have the best of starts in their first match outside of the British Isles as they got trampled on by Atalanta, 0:3. In the Premier League, they are also not faring that well, falling to their second straight loss after getting blanked by Tottenham with the same scoreline. They only have four points to show after four starts, landing them at 16th, the worst among clubs with the same number of points, which is due to their -4 GD.
Following this Premier League encounter, the Toffees will proceed to face Sunderland at home in the third round of the EFL Cup. They will then host AFC Bournemouth on September 23, Apollon Limassol five days later, and Burnley on October 1. At least they would not be traveling despite their packed schedule.
The Rooney honeymoon ended as soon as it began as he and his club have gone without a goal for three weeks now. Idrissa Gueye is an important piece from the center, though not all of his good work will always be noticed. After spending the second half of last season on loan to Hull, Oumar Niasse looks to secure his spot on the club after being given a second chance now that a slot opened up with the departure of Lukaku to their opponents this weekend. Ross Barkley had a change of heart and made a beeline back to Goodison after considering going to Chelsea.
It was a busy summer at Goodison Park, but Koeman’s lineup is not quite the finished article yet. They acquired Henry Onyekuru from Eupen then shipped him on loan to Anderlecht. They also took in Sandro Ramírez, Cuco Martina, and Nikola Vlašić. The ex-Barcelona forward offers promise, but he is no Romelu. Séamus Coleman is back training and should return to active duty this side of Christmas.
MANCHESTER UNITED FC vs. EVERTON FC – Match Prediction
If we are going to base the outcome of this match in the form of Lukaku and Rooney, then you have an idea where we are siding here. However, the odd on a simple Man Utd win is not too attractive, which is why I am taking the over.
MY PICK: Over 2.5 goals (-119)
