Alan Smith’s Premier League GW30 Predictions and Tips

Players Arsenal Should Sell for PSR

Some of the players have got to go. Arsenal have spent a lot of money in recent transfer windows, and Miles Lewis-Skelly has found it very hard to get a game. He’s got a couple of players ahead of him for the left-back slot. I don’t think he’s a good enough defender for Arteta’s taste, so I think he might go, which would be a shame; he’s homegrown, came through the academy.

Perhaps Ben White as well, he’s done really well for Arsenal, he had that great relationship with Saka, but again, there’s Timber there, Mosquera can play there, so he seems to have fallen down the pecking order. I wouldn’t want to lose Odegaard or Martinelli.

Max Dowman’s Potential

To be so young and to be so good, to be so mature, more importantly, perhaps, to be able to step up whenever he’s called upon. Eze spoke about him. He’s one of those you wouldn’t hesitate to give the ball to. So comparisons aren’t easy. There was a lot of chatter and excitement about Jack Wilshere as he was coming through, and I think he made his debut at 16. So not as young as Dowman, but a similar type of kind of excitement. I must say, though, he looks like a heck of a prospect.

Hurzeler’s Comments After Arsenal Loss

I thought his comments were a bit silly, a bit of sour grapes. You know, you’ve been beaten, move on, move on to the next game. You’ve not been able to handle what Arsenal did. You can talk about time-wasting, but every team does it.

Spurs Relegation Chances

It’s difficult, isn’t it? I think they’re probably less likely than likely. I’d probably say about 40%. They’re on the edge. So the odds would be in their favour if that were the case. But, they’ve got Forest, Wolves and Leeds to come. If they can get to 35, that’s very nearly safe if they can get a couple of wins. But the way things are, a lot will depend on what they do with the manager.

Rio Ngumoha Playing Time

I mean, he’s really at that point now where he needs to play more. I wouldn’t imagine Arne Slot would waste much longer on that. Mo Salah got brought off after an hour last night in the Champions League. He continues to be poor. Gakpo could be replaced, but Mo Salah probably looks the more likely replacement for Rio.

Kroupi Jr Transfer Rumours

Well, he’s done so well at Bournemouth. He’s only 19. He’s scored some spectacular goals, some important ones. Again, their recruitment looks sound. Whether they’d sell him is another matter. I mean, if they sell him for £80m, they’re making a huge profit, so that’s something that you’d have to weigh up, but it’s his first season in the Premier League, and he has taken to it really well. He’s an exciting player, so you can see why people like Liverpool might be interested.

Dominic Solanke to Newcastle

Well, as things stand at Spurs, it’d be a good move for Solanke, I think, getting to Newcastle. They’re not having the best of seasons, but the ship is steadier there. Whether Spurs would want to let him go, I mean, they’re short of attacking talent as it is. And at the moment, he’s the one scoring the goals. Did it again last night. So, I don’t know. Agent and maybe the player himself, who can say, looking at the situation at Spurs and maybe evaluating their options, but it’d be a blow to Spurs, yet another one.

Anthony Gordon’s Attitude

I haven’t seen it really in Gordon, what Troy’s talking about in saying his attitude is poor. I must admit, he has had some below-par days, but I don’t know whether he’s looking elsewhere. So when he’s on it, he’s really good. He’s really good.

Gordon vs Rashford for England

Rashford’s done all right at Barcelona, and he’s played there often enough for England on the left, of course. He’s got great international experience. I think maybe Gordon would be just ahead of him. You’ve also got people like Foden and Eze who don’t really give you that width and pace. So I think Tuchel might prefer somebody like Gordon or Rashford. I would say at the moment Gordon’s ahead.

Burnley the Worst Team?

Before this run by Wolves, they were comfortably the worst team. We wondered if they were going to end up with the worst points tally below Derby all those years ago. But, Burnley, I’m just looking at recent results. They’ve drawn at Chelsea, scored three against Brentford last time out, and beat Palace away before that. So, they are having a go. They’re still ahead of Wolves. Just finish ahead of them as well. So not quite the worst.

Diego Gomez’s Impact

We talk about the recruitment at Bournemouth with Kroupi and the like, and Brighton is well known for it as well, and Gomez looks like another one. First year in this league, it’s a huge step up from the MLS. He’s a versatile player. He can get goals. So, it’s turning into a great acquisition for Brighton.

Chris Rigg’s Future

It’s been difficult for him, hasn’t it? He’s only had three league starts. He’s only 18 still, and played a big part in the championship campaign. He’s one of their own. So you’re always reluctant, similar to Lewis-Skelly at Arsenal, reluctant to let one of those go. But there’s something about him at the moment that the manager doesn’t trust, whether that’s going to change. We’ll wait and see. He’s had to be patient. But I think they’d think long and hard before selling him.

Marmoush Playing Time

Pep works in his own way. You never quite know what he’s going to do. In that Forest game, I think Doku and Savinho got on, so he was looking at putting wide players on. But Marmoush showed against Newcastle the other day that he’s a very good striker. In most teams, he’d start week in, week out. But he’s got Haaland there. He can play on one of the wings, but whether he’s happy with this situation, you’d have to ask him. He’s getting enough game time, and he’s got some goals to his name.

Dan James and Gnonto Futures

I don’t think they’re Premier League quality, could do well in the Championship, but have struggled. And I think also the wing-back system has maybe worked against them. So there hasn’t really been a spot for them. But as you say, when they have had a chance, they’ve underwhelmed, really. So it might be that they leave Elland Road in the summer.