Tottenham v Arsenal
For the first time since Arsene Wenger took over – and arguably long before – are Tottenham definitely ahead of Arsenal as a team?
Certainly, both their first XI and their overall squad has a more balanced look than Wenger’s? But then Wenger is still Wenger.
As he’s often said himself, people underestimate how far his experience goes.
How fired up will Emmanuel Adebayor be? And, against an Arsenal defence that has struggled for cohesion this season, how much joy will he get?
On the other hand, how fired up will his teammate-turned-rival Robin van Persie be? After hitting his 100th club goal last week, the Dutch striker is certainly on form. And, very tentatively, Arsenal are at least coming into it too.
They’ve now won three-in-a-row even if one of those was against Shrewsbury and all three were at the Emirates.
How adequately will Arsenal’s more patched-together midfield cope with the balance of Spurs’? Frimpong is going to have quite a job to stop Luka Modric.
Prediction: 2-2
Bolton Wanderers v Chelsea
Will it be a sixth degree of separation for Bolton? After nightmare run of opening fixtures, Bolton have now lost five-in-a-row.
It’s certainly not the time to be facing a new Chelsea who are starting to find their groove. The Stamford Bridge team have also won their last six against Bolton.
In saying that, this should be a bit of a reversion for Chelsea given the suspension of Fernando Torres. With the forceful old guard of Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard set to return, will it remove some of Chelsea’s recent zip?
On that note, though, how much joy will the powerful Drogba get against Zat Knight and Gary Cahill? Bolton’s central defensive partnership have been atrocious in the air in recent games.
Fulham v QPR
Will we see a proper changing of the guard here? It isn’t long ago that Fulham were using Loftus Road in the Premier League while QPR used it to languish in the lower divisions. But, with QPR now looking up and Fulham very much over their shoulder, can Neil Warnock’s side keep up their recent adventure and force the issue?
Fulham, however, got a good win over Odense in midweek. Can they use that belief to inflict QPR’s first defeat since Tony Fernandes took over?
Swansea City v Stoke City
How equipped will a relatively delicate Swansea team be to take on the aggression of Stoke?
Or can Leroy Lita’s pace trouble Jonathon Woodgate?
