Alan Smith’s Premier League GW34 Predictions and Tips

Gyökeres Substitution vs Man City

He wouldn’t have been happy, Gyökeres, I don’t suppose. But Arsenal were playing well. That was the key. Arsenal were doing okay and Kai Havertz had a good game. Obviously missed a couple of chances, but the team was giving City problems. I can see the logic in it.

Gyökeres, it’s been a bit of a kind of an unsolvable problem all season in terms of getting the best out of him. They haven’t really played to his strengths. But it is what it is. We’ll see what team he picks for the weekend.

Jurriën Timber’s Importance

There’s no doubt he’s a very good defender. So, you’re going to miss that. He’s just a level above Mosquera and Hincapie. As to whether he’s a bigger loss than someone like Saka, well, Saka’s not been having a great season, but he can make a difference, can’t he?

There’s been a lot of talk about players missing, but everyone has been speaking all season about the strength and depth of Arsenal’s squad, so I don’t think we can now go back and say, oh, well, Timber was missing, Saka was missing. You’ve just got to cope with that.

Arsenal Summer Transfers

Probably up front. City have got a better attack than Arsenal have in Semenyo, Cherki, Haaland and Doku. It’s more threatening, more capable of creating something out of nothing, beating a man. So, I think more quality up front, really.

Ethan Nwaneri Leaving

I’d be really sad to see him go because he broke into the team as a teenager and showed some really good glimpses of his qualities. You never know what’s going on behind the scenes and everything.

I could see the logic in Myles Lewis-Skelly going because there’s two players at least ahead of him in the queue for that left-back slot. But Nwaneri, the fans would be sad to see him go. As well, because I still think he could add to that squad and, at times, to the first team.

Lewis Miley’s Role at Newcastle

We’ll see whether one of Bruno G, Tonali, or both goes. Lewis Miley is a talented lad; he’s still young and still learning the game. They’re big shoes to fill, either of those players, big shoes. But Lewis Miley, as I say, he’s a good player, he’s got a goal threat in him as well. It’s going to be a turbulent summer for Eddie Howe and Newcastle as to who comes and who goes. But good to see Lewis Miley fit and playing again.

Igor Thiago Big Money Move

Brentford, like Brighton and Bournemouth, are really good buyers themselves. There aren’t many centre-forwards about, so if Brentford were to decide to sell, what do they do then? It’s difficult to keep replacing. Ivan Toney went off, and you couldn’t really see the difference. If anything, they improved. But unless it’s a big offer, I think they’d want to try and keep him.

Sesko at Man United

I do think he signed for the right club in United. I think his best years are yet to come. He’s still young, and he’s shown glimpses of some really good quality, some really good finishes and important goals as well. And then he’s dipped a little bit again, and he’s been coming off the bench.

But no, I think he chose the right club, and I think probably United chose the right player. I know for Arsenal it was either Gyökeres or Sesko, and people now might be thinking, well, did we go for the right one? But I think there’s much more to come from Sesko with United.

What has Let Down Burnley’s Season

It was built on defensive resolve, wasn’t it? The promotion campaign. Sometimes it’s hard to kind of go the other way. They haven’t scored enough goals at home, the fewest amount of goals in the Premier League at home. Done better away from home. Bought a lot of players, as Leeds and Sunderland did, but maybe those players haven’t clicked in the way that they have at Sunderland and Leeds.

So, hard to put your finger on it when you’re bringing players in; it’s always a slight gamble, isn’t it? They did spend money, but didn’t really have the firepower in the end.

Man City Goal Difference

Well, first and foremost, they’ll just be looking for three points following on from the win against Arsenal. But if they get a couple, early on or at any stage, really, and they feel the game’s won, then I think you do. You throw everything at it to get three, four, maybe five goals.

So it could be a key night for City to increase their advantage on the goal difference stakes. So, I think it will be very tight at the end, and we might be looking at that stat.

Leeds Finishing Top Half Next Season

They certainly bought well, didn’t they? Bought players of peak age, really, not so much gambling on youngsters. The likes of Longstaff, Stach, James Justin, and Okafor have all done well. Obviously, Calvert-Lewin too.

So, if they can add some quality to that, I’m sure they’ll try. Elland Road is not an easy place to go, never has been. So, Daniel Farke will be hoping to take a step forward. They’ve been great for the Premier League. I think any fan, neutral, whatever, would have enjoyed seeing them back in the top flight. So, quite exciting times there.

Arne Slot and Van Dijk Winner

If they didn’t finish in the top five, in a Champions League place, I think it might have been awkward for him. I think it would have been. It might still be. I don’t know. I don’t think many people know what’s going to happen there. So, they look as if they’re going to get a Champions League spot now.

Chelsea is in all sorts of trouble. And that Van Dijk goal, that was a real captain’s input, wasn’t it? To get it. How many times has he headed in from set pieces? Brilliant. So, those three points could be vital. It’d be interesting looking in the summer to see what happens at Liverpool, actually.

Yankuba Minteh Replacing Salah

He’s had a good season. He’s really strong, isn’t he? Hard to tie down. Almost been more important than Mitoma. He’s only 21. He’s only got a couple of goals, and you need a bigger output than that, certainly, if you’re going to go to Liverpool and replace Mo Salah.

They bought him for a few quid, 35 mil, but they’d certainly be able to sell him for more than that. We’ve seen that with the likes of Caicedo and Mac Allister, the profits they’ve made. As to replacing Mo, not sure really, because he hasn’t had the goal output.

Noah Sadiki to Arsenal

Arsenal might look to strengthen in midfield, Zubimendi’s had some problems there. It’s been his first season, played a lot of football. Sadiki is a different type of player, more aggressive. He’s only 21, so he’s a real prospect. Great energy, gets about the pitch, gets his foot in. And I think tactically, he’s quite switched on.

So, he’ll be piquing the interest of some of the bigger clubs. But, as for whether Arsenal will be looking in that area, perhaps. But, he’s had a really good season, first season.

Rob Edwards Right for Wolves Promotion Push

Well, he achieved it with Luton, didn’t he? Kind of by the backdoor through the playoffs, but he achieved it. So he knows what it takes. There was new manager bounce at Wolves, wasn’t there? And then it’s tailed off a bit. From the day he stepped in, they’re thinking about the team, the squad for Championship season.

So, there should be a bit of a turnover at Molineux. Some of their better players going out. But they want to try and keep a large portion of them. And adding to it, Rob Edwards knows the kind of player that he needs in the Championship. So, it’s not as if it’s a manager going into a situation that they don’t know about, that they’re new to. So, you’d think that Rob Edwards would be the right man.

Fulham vs Villa

Fulham-Villa. Villa scraping past Sunderland. Exciting game. But 1-1, I think.

West Ham vs Everton

West Ham-Everton. Another relegation. Huge match for West Ham. Maybe Everton will just slow down their fight for safety. 2-1 to the visitors.