It’s full steam ahead in the Premier League as we approach the festive period, and Grosvenor Sport ambassador Jamie O’Hara is on hand to break down three key fixtures in the English top flight, including an intriguing Manchester Derby on Sunday.
Arsenal v Everton – Saturday 15:00
Arsenal were a bit sluggish against Fulham last week, but Fulham are a good side and it’s a difficult away game to go and win at the moment. You can’t win them all and I’m sure Mikel Arteta will be relaying that to his players, particularly with most of the other trams around them dropping points as well.
My main criticism of Arsenal is that need a striker, it’s as simple as that. I like Kai Havertz, he’s a good player, but he will not win you the Premier League. He can chip in here and there, but you need a goalscorer that’s going to get you 25 or more goals a season.
That’s the difference at this level, Arsenal should look to sign a player like Alexander Isak, they’ve got the money and that is clearly the position in their team that needs improving on. Arsenal don’t have their Erling Haaland or Mohamed Salah that will win you a league title, Bukayo Saka can produce but you need a striker that can do it as well.
Everton are off the back of a great result against Wolves, but they won’t be leaving the Emirates with a point on Saturday.
Prediction: Arsenal 3-0 Everton (11/2)
Manchester City v Manchester United – Sunday 16:30
It’s going to take time and I quite like Ruben Amorim, but his style of football isn’t going to be implemented overnight. Until then, United can expect some more results like the one they experienced against Nottingham Forest last week. They had a good result in the Europa League on Thursday and can build on that.
I think Manchester City are already out of the title race. Their aim should just be to quality for the top four now. They’ve lost that invincibility and their players look a bit old and dated – it’s a young man’s sport and you can see the way Crystal Palace players were outrunning them last weekend and beating them to challenges. They’ve still got great players and they’ll score goals, but it’s just not the same team anymore.
This is an interesting one because Amorim already has Pep Guardiola’s number this season when he was managing Sporting in the Champions League, but that team was so well drilled compared to this United side. I’d narrowly expect City to win this, but you never know with them at the moment.
Prediction: Manchester City 2-1 Manchester United (13/2)
O’Hara’s Hotspots: Manchester City v Manchester Untied Bet Builder
- Man City to win
- Both Teams To Score
- Erling Haaland to Score 2+ goals
BOOSTED FROM 15/2 TO 9/1
Southampton v Tottenham – Sunday 19:00
If Ange Postecoglou keeps playing in the same way, then I’m afraid he’ll have to go, I’m sorry but Daniel Levy will have to get rid of him. You can’t go on with that football and style of defending any longer. I love Thomas Frank and I’d have him at Spurs every day of the week if Ange left. I think he’d be a great fit as Tottenham’s manager if we could get him out of Brentford. He’s been brilliant there and if Ange does leave – he’d be someone I’d look at.
Nuno Espírito Santo, who Spurs binned off because his football wasn’t great, but he showed over the weekend why he’s still top-notch. Look at Forest against Man United—they played some great stuff bopping it about. But when it got to 3-2, he made changes. Straight away, subbed on defenders, switched to a 5-4-1, and said, ‘Try and break us!’ United couldn’t. That’s in-game management. Result? Three points for Forest.
Spurs are in a poor run of form but I still expect them to beat this Southampton team, who I think are one of the worst teams in Premier League history. They ship goals for fun and their decision to continue playing out from the back is just becoming laughable now.
Prediction: Southampton 1-3 Tottenham (10/1)