Information and predictions for saturday's matches...
West Ham @ Stoke City
West Ham cannot figure out how to get out of their own way so far this year as evidenced by last place in the table. Stoke started about unlucky with a tough schedule losing the first three but playing an excellent second half versus Aston Villa winning the match 2-1. That is the gritty gutty Stoke that everyone is expecting to see the rest of the season.
Prediction: Stoke 2 West Ham 1
Bolton @ Aston Villa
Aston Villa is beginning to see some of the residual effect of the managerial issues to begin the season. In the final match for Kevin MacDonald before he gives the reins over, Aston Villa will play like a lame duck for a lame duck coach. Bolton has won 1 and lost 1 in their last two away matches and I would expect that trend to continue with another win for the Wanderers.
Prediction: Bolton 3 Aston Villa 1
Fulham @ Blackburn
Blackburn limps into this match with Ryan Nelsen and Michel Salgado both game time decisions due to injuries sustained in the Man City match. Fulham will be playing their first match without Bobby Zamora who broke his leg last match. Look for American Clint Dempsey to play more of an attacking role and allow the cottagers to pull out a win.
Prediction: Fulham 2 Blackburn 0
Newcastle United @ Everton
American goalie played a supurb game despite giving up 3 goals versus Man U. It could have easily been 6 or 7 to 1 rather than 3-3. It looks like Tim Cahill will most likely be out for the match forcing Everton to look elsewhere for firepower. Newcastle has been brutal on the road averaving .5 goals scored and 2 goals conceded. The one thing that could make the difference is Andy Carroll, who has scored 4 goals so far this season.
Prediction: Nescastle 1 Everton 1
Wolverhampton @ Tottenham
Tottenham has a tough matchup getting the very physical Wolves in a week that it seems everyone is hurt. Van Der Vaart sustained a calf injury in Champions League play, but Luka Modric (leg) is not expected to be risked, Ledley King may be rested after playing in midweek and Heurelho Gomes (groin) is still out.
Jermain Defoe, Michael Dawson (both ligament damage), Jamie O'Hara (back) and Jonathan Woodgate (groin) are long-term absentees. Even with the injuries, the Spurs have too much firepower and will take care of the Wolves.
Prediction: Tottenham 3 Wolverhampton 1
Birmingham @ West Brom
After being such big players at the transfer deadline, the Blues must figure out how to make the pieces fit the puzzle for the season. Craig Gardner is the leading scorer for the Blues with 3 goals so far. West Brom is looking to build off of a draw with Tottenham and keep adding points. Look for West Brom to keep it close but get outclassed late in the second half.
Prediction: Birmingham 2 West Brom 0
Arsenal @ Sunderland
To say that Sunderland relied on Darren Bent last season would be a bit of an understatement. The England striker's goals were responsible for winning 23 of the Wearsider's 44 points and without them, Steve Bruce's side would now be plying their trade in the Championship.
Three of those Bent-provided points came against Arsenal last November, courtesy of a scrappy 71st minute winner. While that 1-0 defeat at the Stadium of Light shook the Gunners off course - having been on a 12-match unbeaten run, Arsens Wenger's charges lost two of their next three matches against Chelsea (3-0) and Manchester City (3-0) - Sunderland experienced a blip of seismic proportions as they had to wait four months and 15 games for their next Premier League win.
After an indifferent start to the season following draws with Birmingham and Wigan, a win against Manchester City and defeat to West Brom, Sunderland meet an Arsenal side in irresistible form. The north Londoners have won their last four games - scoring 18 goals and conceding two - and played some breathtaking football at times in the 6-0 Champions League demolition of Braga, delivering a clear warning to the Wearsiders of what to expect if they don't keep it tight.
With captain Lee Cattermole suspended again, new signing Christian Riveros will likely be asked to patrol the midfield and prevent Cesc Fabregas getting too much time on the ball, while an all-English backline of Titus Bramble, Anton Ferdinand Ndeum Onuoha and Kieran Richardson will need to be at their very best if they are to recreate the Wearsiders' clean sheet from last season.
With Abou Diaby, Thomas Vermaelen, Nicklas Bendtner, Theo Walcott and Robin van Persie all missing, Arsenal are once again suffering from the injury curse that has plagued their past few seasons. But against Braga, precocious teenager Jack Wilshere produced perhaps his best display yet for the club, while Samir Nasri and Andrei Arshavin ensure that Wenger still has plenty of creativity at his disposal. Any more injuries would really stretch the squad but, as things stand, the Gunners have enough talent to secure a measure of revenge against their North-East opponents.
Sunderland player to watch: Asamoah Gyan. Ghana's World Cup star took just 21 minutes to make his mark in the Premier League after netting on his debut against Wigan last Saturday. The powerful striker boasts an impressive strike-rate of a goal every other game for the Black Stars but has never replicated that prolific form at club level. But Arsenal must be wary of Gyan as he is a persistent frontman, always sniffing around the box for chances and never hesitating to have a pop at goal, Steve Bruce spoke this week about his delight at being able to pair his £13 million record signing with Darren Bent and if the two can quickly strike up an understanding they could well become one of the league's most fearsome strike partnerships.
Arsenal player to watch: Cesc Fabregas. Fabregas must have needed a towel on Thursday after the press, his manager and his team-mates were left drooling all over the Spaniard's inspirational performance against Braga. He has shown no ill-effects of a summer of emotional strain - caused by being torn between staying at a club where he is adored or returning to the club he once called home - and continues to be the Gunners' talisman. Two goals and two assists in midweek should leave Steve Bruce quaking in his boots and with a number of players still out inured, Fabregas will surely thrive on the pressure of carrying Arsenal's creative expectations on his shoulders.
Key battle: Darren Bent v Sebastian Squillaci. After netting 24 goals in the Premier League last season, Bent has continued where he left off - scoring five goals in six games in all competitions, including a first goal for England. His intelligent movement and anticipation could cause Squillaci problems and will provide a much sterner test for the Frenchman than he experienced on his debut against Bolton last week, when centre-back partner Laurent Koscielny took responsibility for marking the physically imposing Kevin Davies. Squillaci will likely be playing second fiddle to Koscielny and Thomas Vermaelen this season but if he manages to keep Bent at bay he certainly won't do his hopes of earning a regular starting berth any harm.
Stats: Arsenal have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 11 away matches in all competitions.
Prediction: Arsenal 4 Sunderland 2
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