Alan Smith’s Premier League GW32 Predictions and Tips

Nerves After Cup Defeats

It was obviously important to get back on the horse. Winning last night would have done them a lot of good. But equally, the Bournemouth game is huge. A chance to go 12 points ahead of City, ahead of their game against Chelsea. So it’s a big one. Looked a bit nervous, cautious. I know Arteta is trying to lighten up things in training to relax the players. So it’s a vital point of the season, no doubt.

Winning Only the League an Underachievement?

I don’t think you could say that. They haven’t won it for 22 years. So, if they were to, it would be a great achievement. It would be a reason to celebrate. So I don’t think anybody should be disappointed with that because it’s not easy. The big talk of quadruples, within the media, probably not within Arsenal, but that was never going to be on really. Champions League is another matter, they could be in a good position. But no, I think the league, to win that, it would go down as very good season.

Arteta’s Future

It’s a difficult one. I mean it would be a heck of a failure wouldn’t it if they won nothing and maybe the hierarchy would have to think they’d maybe look around to see what else is on offer. There’s not many coaches of the ability of Arteta but if he can’t get the team over the line, there’d be doubt creeping in. So, I just don’t know. I don’t think anybody associated with Arsenal wants to think about that.

Martinelli Role

I think he’s an impact player. I mean, he came on last night and created the goal for Havertz. He’s not the player he was in some of those early years for Arsenal. But he’s still a lad you’d like to keep, I think, as that kind of squad player who can start games sometimes. It seems that Arteta trusts Trossard more, but he’s very quick and sharp, Martinelli. So, he showed last night what he can do.

Gyökeres Tactical Fit

I think Sporting Lisbon play much differently to Arsenal, getting down the channels for him to chase and scrap. For Arsenal, it would mean completely changing their whole system. Arteta has spoken about trying to do more to service Gyökeres to make the most of his qualities. But there are games, like last night, where you hardly saw him, and it’s difficult. But we saw against Southampton, the way he took that goal, he’s a very sharp poacher given the chances. But, I don’t think Arsenal’s style particularly suits him.

Southampton Blueprint for Bournemouth

Iraola will have his own thoughts because he’s a very talented coach. They were quite direct at times, Southampton. They pressed high on Arsenal at times. There aren’t many better teams on the counter-attack than Bournemouth in this league, and Southampton had some joy on the counter. So, as I say, he’ll have his own ideas, but the fact that a Championship club can get that kind of joy will encourage him.

Maresca’s Reputation

Chelsea’s recent performances have probably improved Maresca’s reputation. They haven’t done much for Liam Rosenior at the moment. The comments coming from Enzo Fernandez and Cucurella, saying that they were getting used to his methods and that they were happy with him.

So that doesn’t shine a great light on Rosenior. It suggests they’re not so happy with him. So, as for the City job, who knows, but sometimes you become a better manager when you’re not there, and the same as a player, if you’re on the bench. So, I think his reputation may have healed a little bit because when you get the sack, it’s a blow. But with the way Chelsea have gone since, he did okay.

Rayan Cherki Bargain

He’s one of those players you never quite know what he’s going to do, and maybe that was holding him back. I mean, he’s still young, a bit inconsistent maybe over in France. Perhaps showboats a bit too much. If anybody is going to knock that out of him, it’s Pep, and he’s producing really good performances from him.

There are not many players like that, he does look a very good deal. You can’t have a go at Florian Wirtz because he didn’t decide the money, but he just hasn’t been able to have that kind of impression, I think, that Cherki has.

Zan Vipotnik to Burnley

I mean, if they get relegated, they’re going to need a few signings, aren’t they, just to re-equip themselves for that long slog, and Vipotnik is knocking in goals for fun. I mean, Swansea fans wouldn’t be too happy to sell to a Championship rival, but we’ll see on that one, whether Scott Parker is still going to be there, who knows? But, they would certainly need to lift the fan base with signings like that and for the club to have a go again at promotion.

Fabian Hürzeler to Leverkusen

I think the Premier League is the place to be at the moment, isn’t it? I think most players and managers feel that. He’s got himself there. On a really good run at the moment, really good. So I think he would think long and hard about it. I mean, I suppose the question is how far can he take Brighton? They’ve been in European spots before.

Leverkusen have won the Bundesliga, haven’t they, just a couple of years ago. But I’d be surprised. I would have thought he’s happy at Brighton as long as he can add to the squad in the transfer windows. I’d be surprised if he left.

Arne Slot’s Future

Liverpool people say it’s hard once they have turned for them to turn back again in his favour. So we’ll see. So flat for them. I mean, big Champions League game coming up tonight. But I don’t know. I don’t think they’re going to win the Champions League, but if they did, that would be a great get-out for them, wouldn’t it?

But the minimum is to finish in the top five. If they didn’t, who knows what would happen. Maybe they’d think they could give him another year with those new signings. But it’s a big thing to hear Liverpool fans going against the manager. So, the owners have noticed that, obviously.

Liverpool Without Salah

They’ve got, in Isak, once he’s fit and he’s not far off, and Ekitike, they’ve got two really good strikers. I mean, Ekitike has been brilliant. If they could find a way of incorporating those two in the same starting XI, that would be a great, great attack, and especially if Wirtz can get going.

So, I think they’d be looking at that. I don’t know how much money they’ve got to spend to bring more players in, but it seems that they’re fairly well equipped, even when Salah goes. So, I see Isak and Ekitike as being the key going forward.

Newcastle Summer Potential Sales

They wouldn’t want to sell any of the three being touted, Hall, Bruno and Tonali, would they really? But it’s such a difficult time for Newcastle come the end of this year. It’s been a lacklustre season. Tonali seems to be making the biggest noises, or at least his agent does. There’s a host of clubs that would want him. He’s 25. In his prime. Guimarães is a little bit older, but a fantastic player. Lewis Hall, a young lad who’s really blossoming there.

The Newcastle fans would be hurt. They’d be hurt by any of those three going. And if they were to sell two of the three, I mean, the fans would be in uproar, I think. So I think they’d only dare to sell one. Maybe Tonali.

Ollie Watkins World Cup Chances

I think it would be a mistake not to take him to the World Cup. I mean, it’s been a season to forget really for Watkins, scored against West Ham last time out, so he wouldn’t have wanted that international break. He’d be hoping to start scoring regularly now. But I would say he’s a better bet than Solanke and Calvert-Lewin.

I just feel with his movement and bit of extra pace and also his international experience, he could still be useful to Tuchel. Whether he just left him out because he wasn’t playing well and also he knows what he can do, I don’t know. But I’d be really surprised if either Solanke or Calvert-Lewin or both went instead of him.

Leeds FA Cup vs Survival

I mean, they’d love to win the Cup. Of course they would. Somebody my age remembers some famous Cup games, but you ask Wigan fans, they won the Cup in 2013 and haven’t been back in the Premier League since. I think Leeds fans, they’ve really enjoyed this season because they’ve kept their heads above water, had some great games at Elland Road, particularly. So, I think if you ask them now, they’d be realistic, and they’d say, no, we need to focus on staying up.

Shea Charles to Old Trafford

That’s a big step up, isn’t it? He obviously played really well, and to play well against a team of Arsenal’s calibre says something for his character and that. Really good goal. Took it well with a lot of composure. Only 22, through the Man City academy. A lot of experience with Northern Ireland. As for going to Man U, I don’t know. But he’s certainly an asset for Southampton.

Sunderland vs Tottenham

Another huge game for Spurs. Will we see an immediate De Zerbi effect? I think they might scrap their way towards a 1-1 draw.

West Ham vs Wolves

Another huge one at the bottom for West Ham. Disappointed going out the cup. Got to win this. 1-0 to West Ham.

Brentford vs Everton

Difficult one to pick. Everton, brilliant win against Chelsea, but I think the home team might just edge it 2-1 to Brentford.