The much-anticipated Premier League fixtures have been released and as expected, teams would brace up against their various opponents with some grueling Premier League action before the campaign will be halted abrupted for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Taking a quick glance at the fixture lists, Gooner Daily analyzes Arsenal first six fixtures with some bold predictions that can only come to pass when the lads strut their stuff on the field of play. Without further ado, let’s get to it, shall we?!
Fixture 1 – Crystal Palace vs Arsenal (Selhurst Park)
For the second season in a row, Arsenal would commence the Premier League campaign against another London side in a cold Friday night. Last season, the Gunners started poorly with an embarrassing 2-0 defeat to newbies, Brentford, and would go on to lose against Chelsea and Man City, rooting themselves to the bottom of the table.
This season, Mikel Arteta’s charges will lock horns against a former Gunner in Patrick Vieira, and the memories from the 3-0 defeat at Selhurst Park will be fresh in the minds of the lads. That ground is a difficult place to visit and get a positive result, especially with their talismanic dangerman, Wilfried Zaha, leading the attacking surge, so Arteta’s men will have their work cut out for them, and we would expect an intense opening night battle.
Gooner Daily Prediction: Crystal Palace 2-2 Arsenal
Fixture 2 – Arsenal vs Leicester (Emirates Stadium)
This should look like a straightforward win for the Gunners as Leicester is one side that tends to struggle really bad on the road. It will be the first day in the Emirates sunshine, so the lads will be up for it, gearing themselves to give the fans the kind of beautiful football they witnessed on the last day of the previous campaign against relegation-threatened Everton.
Gooner Daily Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Leicester
Fixture 3 – Bournemouth vs Arsenal (Vitality Stadium)
Ah! The Cherries are back to the big time, and will be highly motivated when a juggernaut like Arsenal comes to town. The lads at Bournemouth would still be recovering mentally from the pummeling they would have received against Manchester City in the previous game week, so they would be nursing their wounds and will try to put up a decent showing against the Gunners.
However, Mikel Arteta’s men will have enough in the tank to dispatch the threat they would pose and will return back to North London with all three points.
Gooner Daily Prediction: Bournemouth 1-3 Arsenal
Fixture 4 – Arsenal vs Fulham (Emirates Stadium)
Following the routine win over Bournemouth, the Gunners return home to face a Fulham that would be a far cry from the team that dominated the Championship. Aleksandr Mitrovic would have already gotten among the goals and like a predator, he will be on the prowl hoping for any mistake on the Arsenal backline to add to his tally. However, he will be starved of service, as Arsenal dominate the proceedings from start to finish.
Gooner Daily Prediction: Arsenal 3-0 Fulham
Fixture 5 – Arsenal vs Aston Villla (Emirates Stadium)
As expected, Emiliano Martinez will be fired up for this game, activating his inner Manuel Neuer, making 17 saves before eventually conceding through a routine shot he’s expected to save that somehow passes through his legs like he’s a peak Geronimo Rulli. That’s the moment he expects the ground to open up and swallow him but no, all he sees around him are the cheers from the Emirates faithful.
Gooner Daily Prediction – Arsenal 1-0 Aston Villa
Fixture 6 – Manchester United vs Arsenal (Old Trafford)
Manchester United vs Arsenal – these were the famous fixtures that used to be title deciders, but the stock of both clubs have fallen so low, that the relevance in the grand scale of things have been much reduced. However, both teams will be up for it due to the fierce rivalry between both sides but at the end, Mikel Arteta’s side would fall short due to some defensive blunder or late penalty conceded or some Grade A BS from the official showcasing his inner Howard Webb.
Gooner Daily Prediction – Manchester United 3-2 Arsenal
After analyzing the first six fixtures, we are anticipating a possible 13 points from 18, which isn’t that bad.
What do you think?
Sayonara.
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