Football News: Premier League Previews 2 September 2018

Cardiff City v Arsenal

Cardiff finally scored their first goal of the season in midweek. Unfortunately for them, it was a consolation in a poor League Cup defeat to Norwich.
Without a win in five in all competitions, the Bluebirds haven't gone six without a victory since February 2015, and could lose back-to-back matches at the Cardiff City Stadium for the first time in 2018.
By contrast, Arsenal got their season up and running with a win over West Ham last week, and will be hoping to build on that here. However, they have remarkably won only one of their last 10 away league games, which was against Huddersfield in Wenger's final match, a game in which neither side had anything really to play for.
But Cardiff haven't beaten Arsenal since 1961, and they've had 13 attempts at doing so since. They haven't even scored in their last four against them, and even at home have won just one in 14 against the Gunners.
Even their manager, Neil Warnock, has only won one of 10 previous meetings with Arsenal, back when he was Sheffield United boss in 2006.
If Cardiff don't win here, it will be the first time they have failed to win any of their opening four league games in a season since 1995-96 in the fourth tier. And if they don't score, it will be the first time ever that they have failed to score in their first four games to a season in the Football League.
Arsenal have lost two of their last three Premier League games against newly promoted teams; that's as many as they had lost in the previous 42 such matches combined, and each of their last four defeats to such opposition have come away from home. This is Emery's first test against a promoted side however, so he will look to get off to a good start in that regard.
Key players:
Junior Hoilett - If Cardiff are to get goals, they need him to return to form that saw him be directly involved in 20 of them in last season's Championship. He missed their last game and that did not help them as they drew with Huddersfield, but should he return here, that would be a boost for Warnock's side.
Aaron Ramsey - I've gone with the Welshman against his old club here - he scored twice in his only previous league game against them, and this game will mean that much more to him than most.

 

 

 

Burnley v Manchester United

Burnley fans won't have to worry about Europa League tiredness any longer having been eliminated 4-2 on aggregate by Olympiakos. It's a shame that their European adventure has been cut short before it really began, but it could be the boost they need for a poor start in the league.
Since 2010, Burnley have only failed to win any of their opening four league games to a season once, in 2014-15, and they will find it tough to avoid that here.
But they do face a Manchester United side who have lost their last two league games, and could lose three in a row for the first time under Jose Mourinho, last doing so when Louis van Gaal was at the helm.
The bad news for the Clarets is that they have won just once in their last 25 games against Manchester United in all competitions, a 1-0 Premier League win at Turf Moor in August 2009. Indeed, that victory is the only time Burnley have even scored at home to the Red Devils in their last 10 such games in all competitions, a run they will need to put right to have any chance of picking up some much needed points here.
Including all three of their games this season, Sean Dyche's side are winless in their last seven league games played on a Sunday, so perhaps getting back to a Saturday routine with no Europa League will be a boost for them as the season rolls on.
Key players:
Matej Vydra - He scored his first Burnley goal in midweek against Olympiakos, and his emergence could be crucial for Sean Dyche's side. Last season's Championship top scorer, Vydra will be a handful for any defence if he can return to form after lacking the fitness to play so far, and he could add goals to a Burnley side much in need of those right now.
Alexis Sanchez - With four goals in five league games against the Clarets, Sanchez hasn't scored more in the Premier League against any of the other 19 sides currently in the division. Manchester United will need him firing here to return to form after a testing last couple of weeks.

 

 

 

Watford v Tottenham Hotspur

What a clash this will be! Two of the four teams to have won all of their opening three league games meet in a mouth-watering clash at Vicarage Road. Spurs will be looking to win each of their opening four league games of a season for only the second time in the Premier League, whilst Watford will be aiming to do so for only the second time in their history in the top four tiers.
The Hornets are currently enjoying their best winning run since 2015, and at home have lost just one of their last 11 games in all competitions. Gracia has made them incredibly tough to beat at Vicarage Road, and they will be a stern test for any side here.
But Spurs themselves could be set to win six games in succession in all competitions for the first time since the 2016-17 season, and have lost only once in their last 16 away matches in all competitions too.
They are fresh off the back of a massive 3-0 win at Old Trafford, Jose Mourinho's heaviest ever home defeat as a manager, and that will give them immense confidence here.
Watford are winless in their last 13 games against Spurs in all competitions, losing eight of the last nine, and haven't beaten them at home since 1987. So if they are to continue their superb early season run, they will have to do so against the recent history books of games between these two teams.
Key players:
Roberto Pereyra - Seven goals and two assists in his last nine league games at Vicarage Road, Pereyra has stepped up to the plate in some style for Watford under Gracia. He will once again be key for them if they are to get anything here.
Dele Alli - Only against Southampton has Alli scored more league goals than he has against Watford, scoring four in his last four against them for Spurs. He will hope to continue that run here before going off with England for the international break.

Written by Reid the Red September 02 2018 11:14:31