Football News: Premier League Matches Preview 25 November 2018
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Bournemouth v Arsenal
Bournemouth can scarcely believe the start to the season they have had. 20 points from 12 game sees them just four points below Arsenal going into today's game, but they have hit a blip of late, losing their last two in a row.
But nevertheless, they will be a challenge for Arsenal here today. They have only lost one of their last seven league games at home, and they have scored at least once in 14 of their last 16 at the Vitality.
Arsenal themselves will be hoping to get back to winning ways. Whilst they're unbeaten in 10 in the league, they have drawn the last three in a row, and haven't kept a clean sheet in the league since September. In fact, they have conceded first in all three of those consecutive draws, and they will no doubt have memories of their last game against Bournemouth, a 2-1 defeat at the Vitality in January.
Before that game, Bournemouth had never beaten Arsenal in the Premier League and had conceded 2+ goals in all five meetings. So their record against the Gunners is largely poor.
Not only that, but they hate playing on a Sunday in the Premier League. This is their first game of 2018-19 on this day, but they have played 17 times on a Sunday in the top-flight and lost 12 of them, winning only three. Arsenal, by contrast, are unbeaten in five on this day of the week since losing to Manchester City, so will be looking to continue that run here today.
Key players:
Callum Wilson - He has scored in all three of his league games against Arsenal, and having just been away on England duty for the first time, he will be high on confidence heading into today as he looks to make it 4/4 against the Gunners.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - The Gabonese forward has scored 13 goals in his 15 league games on a Sunday for Arsenal (he has only scored four on all of the other days of the week combined for the club), so this a day he seemingly relishes. Although he's without a goal in two, he has five in his last five, so is always a threat even if he has gone a little while without scoring by his standards.
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Huddersfield Town
Wolves could really do with a victory today - they are without one in four in the Premier League, losing three of those, and so will be wanting to get out of this little rut with what they will see as a winnable home games against one of the sides in the relegation zone.
But they will be wary that they have struggled against Huddersfield in recent meetings, winning just two of their last 16 against them in league competition and losing 10 of the last 12.
These two sides are facing off in the top tier for the first time since 1972, and Wolves' record at this level against Huddersfield is much better, winning 10 of their last 12 at home to the Terriers in the top-flight and not losing to them on home soil at that level since 1938. A huge contrast from their more recent record against them.
I say that Wolves will want to win this game to break their winning drought, but Huddersfield will also be aiming for three points, and probably need them even more desperately considering their league position and the fact that they have only won one game this season.
One major factor in helping Huddersfield survive in the Premier League last season was their record against newly-promoted sides, and including this campaign, they have only lost one of their six Premier League matches against such opposition, a 1-0 defeat at Newcastle in March 2018. If they can keep that up, they have a chance of what would be a huge result away from home today.
Indeed, David Wagner's side are winless in 10 away league games since beating West Brom in February, their only win on their travels in the Premier League in 2018. That has to improve or else they won't be climbing out of the relegation zone anytime soon.
But Wagner has an excellent record against Wolves as Huddersfield boss, winning all three of his games against them by a 1-0 scoreline. How he'd love to make that a fourth today.
Key players:
Raul Jimenez - With three goals and four assists, Jimenez has had a hand in a higher percentage of Wolves' goals (58%) than any other player for any club in the Premier League this season. Nuno Espirito Santo's side will be looking to him again to find the finishing touch in the final third today.
Steve Mounie - He has spoken honestly about his poor goal scoring form this season, and despite not yet getting off the mark in 2018-19, he is still Huddersfield's top Premier League goal scorer since they joined the division. That says a lot about the Terriers' struggles in front of goal, but does highlight that if Mounie can begin firing, they will see an upturn in their form.
Written by Reid the Red November 25 2018 10:05:55
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