Premier League preview: Arsenal must banish bogey ground demons
The season’s first international break is done and dusted. We’ve picked out 4 Premier League games to take a closer look at this weekend, and we’ve also put together a bonus preview of the Derby della Madonnina between Inter and AC Milan.
Saturday 16th August
Erik ten Hag’s team lost 3-1 at Arsenal prior to the break meaning they’re clustered together with Brentford, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa on 6 points.
Brighton’s 4 matches this season have produced an entertaining total of 18 goals, with both sides registering in each of those contests. Evan Ferguson’s hat-trick last time out was a BIG statement that the Irish teenager has arrived in the Premier League, and we could also see a start for United’s new Danish striker Rasmus Højlund.
The Seagulls are unbeaten in their last 4 matches against United across all competitions (during regular time) and will be eyeing another good result at Old Trafford.
Did you know? Brighton utility man Pascal Groß has created 16 chances for teammates this season, more than any other player in Europe’s top 5 leagues (via OptaJoe).
Ange Postecoglou has Tottenham playing some attack-minded football with Iyenoma Destiny Udogie standing out already with 2 assists from left-back. Son Heung-min was back among the goals in their 5-2 win at Burnley, bagging a hat-trick, and the skipper’s importance to this team can’t be understated after Harry Kane’s exit. Sheffield United’s 2-2 draw with Everton saw them pick up their first point of the campaign, and a trip to London to face in-form Spurs looks like a daunting one.
Did you know? Son Heung-min has scored 4 EPL career hat-tricks, the same tally managed by Mohamed Salah and 1 more than Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Hammers fans are forever blowing bubbles after a superb start. David Moyes’ men are 1 of 3 London sides with 10 points after 4 games and they’re still unbeaten in the 2023/24 campaign. A visit from the champions will put them up against the ultimate test, however, with Pep Guardiola’s men starting in flawless fashion to claim 4 wins from 4. They’ve failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 2 outings though.
Did you know? Erling Haaland has scored 42 goals from 39 Premier League appearances. So far, the quickest player to a half-century was Andrew Cole who hit the landmark after 65 appearances. For additional context, Mo Salah hit the mark after 72 matches.
The Nerazzurri have dominated recent editions of this grand old fixture, winning the last 4 meetings spanning 3 different competitions. The city of Milan is truly black and blue at the moment but with a new season comes new hope for the Rossoneri.
Both of these sides will have designs on knocking champions Napoli off their perch but first, they’ll be prioritising 3 points against the old enemy in the BIGGEST match of Serie A so far in 2023/24. To add spice to this already glamorous occasion, these 2 sides are the only Serie A teams with 9 points from their first 3 games this term.
Did you know? Inter haven’t conceded a single goal in their last 4 meetings with AC Milan, but Olivier Giroud has scored 4 times in 3 Serie A matches this season for the Rossoneri, with 3 coming from the penalty spot.
Sunday 17th August
The Gunners’ poor recent record at Goodison Park will not be lost on Mikel Arteta. The Arsenal boss spent 6 years at Everton as a player but has so far been unable to mastermind a managerial win against them on his old stomping ground.
Gabriel Jesus’ goal in Arsenal’s win last time out was his first-ever strike vs. Man United in his 13th appearance against them. Everton, on the other hand, are a team he loves facing. The Brazilian has scored 8 goals in 9 career appearances against the Toffees in the English top-flight.
Martin Ødegaard scored just 35 seconds after restarting play against Man Utd, and he also scored in Arsenal’s defeat in this fixture back in December 2021. The Gunners will have to be wary of Sean Dyche’s low-block tactics which served him so well in the corresponding fixture last season when he claimed a 1-0 win over Arsenal in his first game in charge.
Did you know? Arsenal’s last win at Goodison Park in the league came courtesy of a 5-2 success thanks to goals from Nacho Monreal, Mesut Özil, Alexandre Lacazette, Aaron Ramsey and Alexis Sánchez in October 2017.
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