As Chelsea’s clash with Manchester United looks set to steal all the early headlines, well be taking a look at some of the other key fixtures from around the grounds in the
English Premier League this weekend.
West Ham United vs Tottenham Hotspur – London Stadium
The Hammers will be looking to bounce back from losing at home to Brighton before the international break, a result which put an end to West Ham’s four-match unbeaten run. They welcome Tottenham to the London Stadium on Saturday with the pair set to clash once again in the Carabao Cup Round-of-16 at the end of the month.
Spurs responded to their UEFA Champions League defeat by Barcelona with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Cardiff City a fortnight ago courtesy of Eric Dier’s 8th-minute goal. With a slew of tests right around the corner for Mauricio Pochettino’s men including clashes with Man City, Chelsea and Arsenal in three off their next four fixtures, picking up points at West Ham seems all the more crucial.
The corresponding fixture last season ended 3-2 to the visitors. Christian Eriksen added to Harry Kane’s first-half brace on the hour mark to hand Tottenham a 3-0 lead, before withstanding a late West Ham fightback to end a three-match losing run away at West Ham in the league. There has not been a goalless game between these two teams since March 2011 – a run of 14 games in all competitions!
Bournemouth vs Southampton – Vitality Stadium
The small matter of a South Coast Derby follows on Saturday involving two sides with contrasting fortunes at the minutes. Bournemouth are surprising many after managing five wins from their opening eight league encounters, an astonishing run which sees the Cherries sitting in sixth place. The last result was an impressive 4-0 romping of fellow early high-flyers Watford.
Southampton on the other hand find themselves just two points and two places away from the drop-zone after a dreadful run that has seen them notch up just one win from their first eight fixtures, while only Crystal Palace, Huddersfield and Cardiff City have scored fewer goals than the Saints – with the latter two occupying relegation spots.
Bournemouth have won just one of their six Premier League meetings against Southampton since Eddie Howe’s men won promotion to the top-flight in 2015. This fixture ended in a 1-1 draw in December last season with Charlie Austin cancelling out Ryan Fraser’s first half strike for the hosts, before Southampton recorded a memorable 2-1 win in the reverse fixture in April that played a pivotal role in the Saints eventual survival.
Arsenal vs Leicester City – Emirates Stadium
Arsenal fans are quietly optimistic at the minute after seeing new manager Unai Emery mastermind a now nine-game winning run in all competitions since back-to-back defeats from their opening two fixtures against Man City and Chelsea respectively. The Gunners climbed into 4
th place, ahead of bitter rivals Tottenham on goal-difference, and to within two points of the top of the table after their 5-1 demolition of Fulham.
The Foxes endured a mixed start to the current campaign losing three of their first five league games although they head into this monstrous Monday Night Football feast with Arsenal off the back of four straight victories including a penalty shoot-out success over Wolves in the third round of the Carabao Cup.
Leicester City’s 3-1 win at the King Power Stadium in May ended a 22-match run without a win against Arsenal in the Premier League since a famous 2-1 win at the old Filbert Street in November 1994. Leicester last league win AT Arsenal came way back in September 1973.
The Gunners came out the right end of a seven-goal thriller against the Foxes on the opening day of last season – winning 4-3 after Jamie Vardy’s brace had given Leicester a shock lead in the second half before two goals in the final seven minutes from Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud secured a come-from-behind victory.