Prem Predictions Week 16: Arsenal’s Raison d’être Revealed

By: Daryl | December 5th, 2008

Saturday, 6 December 2008

Arsenal v Wigan, 15:00
Seems Arsenal’s raison d’être isn’t just to entertain, it’s also to make life difficult for anyone dumb enough to predict Premier League results. Rather than trying to second guess or ask cliche questions like “which Arsenal will turn up?” etc, let’s just assume they’ll win at home.
Odds:Arsenal 1-3, Draw 7-2, Wigan 10-1
Prediction: 2-0

Blackburn v Liverpool, 15:00
Liverpool spluttered against West Ham, but Blackburn just leaked five against Man Utd. Staying top of the Prem will be enough motivation for Liverpool to take three points, and maybe even enough to dish out a spanking.
Odds:Blackburn 4-1, Draw 5-2, Liverpool 8-11
Prediction: 4-1 to Liverpool.

Bolton v Chelsea, 15:00
Nicolas Anelka against his former club. Though you can say that nearly every week. Despite Chelsea being odds on here, Bolton are in form and bounding up the table. I see them holding Chelsea to a draw at the Reebok.
Odds:Bolton 6-1, Draw 3-1, Chelsea 1-2
Prediction: 1-1

Fulham v Man City, 12:45
Look at those odds. That’s the bookies saying “we have no idea.” I don’t either. So let’s go 0-0.
Odds:Fulham 13-8, Draw 23-10, Man City 13-8
Prediction: 0-0

Hull v Middlesbrough, 15:00
Hull are unbeaten in three games, but only because all three have been draws. They actually haven’t won since October. Middlesbrough’s Mido will have one ear on the crowd after recent events, and my guess is that he’ll score while the spotlight’s on him.
Odds:Hull 11-8, Draw 9-4, Boro 2-1
Prediction: 1-0 to ‘Boro

Man Utd v Sunderland, 17:30
Since Roy Keane was too scared/embarrassed to face his former boss with the team he’d put together, the unpronounceable Ricky Sbragia will likely be in charge of Sunderland. And Fergie will welcome Sbragia back to caretaker management (he was co-caretaker at Bolton in ‘07) with a heavy defeat. Though optimistic gamblers might fancy backing the Black Cats given those long odds.
Odds:Man Utd 1-6, Draw 6-1, Sunderland 16-1
Prediction: 3-0

Newcastle v Stoke, 15:00
Huge relegation game here. If Newcastle can build on their recent decent defending and see off the Delapidater, then they’ll get thee valuable points. We all laughed at Joe Kinnear, but he’ll probably end up replacing Bernd Schuster in January.
Odds:Newcastle 5-6, Draw 12-5, Stoke 7-2
Prediction: 2-1

Sunday, 7 December 2008

Everton v Aston Villa, 16:00
The two would be entrants into the Big Four club clash at Goodison. But Everton’s home form has been smelly this season, so Villa could snatch an away win.
Odds:Everton 13-8, Draw 23-10, Villa 13-8
Prediction: 2-1 to Villa

West Brom v Portsmouth, 15:00
West Brom have managed just one point out of the last possible 24. And that’s why they’re bottom of the league. I still don’t trust Tony Adams in a tracksuit, but with Crouch and Defoe he should be able to manage a win here.
Odds:West Brom 13-8, Draw 23-10, Portsmouth 13-8
Prediction: 2-0 to Pompey

Monday, 8 December 2008

West Ham v Tottenham, 20:00
All of a sudden, West Ham have three clean sheets in a row, which suggests they’ve toughened up a bit. But Harry Redknapp has magic Upton Park powers, winning three out of three as an opposition manager on his old stomping ground. Stats like that are nonsense of course, but for some reason I see Redknapp winning again on Monday.
Odds:West Ham 17-10, Draw 23-10, Spurs 8-5
Prediction: 1-0 to Spurs