Andy Gray & Richard Keys: EPL predictions – Week 25

Sport360 staff 14:43 08/02/2014
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  • Testing times: Arsene Wenger and Arsenal face a tough month of fixtures.

    Arsenal travel to Liverpool today at the start of a crucial run of games for Arsene Wenger’s team. They are currently two points clear at the top of the league but can they stay there?

    Andy Gray and Richard Keys, who front beIN Sports’ English Premier League coverage, give their views:

    Andy Gray: People dismiss Arsenal as realistic title contenders because of what has happened in previous years where they have given themselves a chance and then imploded around February.

    So, even though they are top of the league, the tendency is to think “same old Arsenal, it won’t last.” Arsene Wenger believes this season is different because their defence is much better than it has been for a while and I agree with that.

    The facts speak for themselves; they have the second best defensive record in the league with 11 clean sheets and 21 goals conceded all season and six of those came in one game against Manchester City.

    Only Chelsea, who we saw give a master class of defending against Man City last Monday, have a better record.

    I have never doubted the fact that Arsenal could sustain their challenge, even though I still think Man City will win the title. Unlike previous seasons, I think the Gunners will last the pace and take the fight to City and Chelsea.

    That view will not change even if Arsenal lose at Liverpool which would hardly be a shock, but what Arsene Wenger cannot afford to happen is to lose at Anfield, then to Man United, lose again to Liverpool in the FA Cup and then get badly beaten by Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

    If that happened their confidence will be shot and that is exactly what their doubters think will happen. This Gunners team is much better than that and good enough to come through what is an important month for them with the right results and prove their critics wrong.

    Liverpool have Tottenham and Everton breathing down their necks in the fight to finish in the top four which makes this game just as important to them as Arsenal. Their home record is terrific with just one defeat, 10 wins and a draw but I think Arsenal will get something out of this. 1-1

    Richard Keys: February has been meltdown month for Arsenal over the past seven or eight years. We have seen them go out of three competitions in seven days before but this season they are much improved.

    I think they will go to Anfield and win. I am not sure what Brendan Rodgers was trying to say this week when he said Liverpool were not title contenders. I thought it was strange to come out with that just before they play Arsenal.

    Maybe he was trying to take the pressure off his players or perhaps he is being realistic and a top four finish is the best they can hope for. One thing is for sure, and that is that Wenger believes he can win the title and the fact that they go into this game top of the league, when not many people expected that to be the case at this stage of the season, will have given them a huge confidence boost in what is a massive month for them.

    I agree they are stronger at the back than they have been for a while and maybe that is the difference. I think they can win the title but that is not me saying they will win it, because I am sticking with Chelsea. I reckon the Gunners will finish second.

    Arsenal are better than Liverpool in midfield which is where I think this game will be won so if they can keep Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge quiet they can win this 2-1.

    CHELSEA v NEWCASTLE

    AG: To do what Chelsea did to Man City and then lose to Newcastle at home? No way, that just isn’t going to happen. Newcastle go into this game without their two best players, Yohan Cabaye who has gone, and Loic Remy who is suspended. Blues to cruise 2-0.

    RK: I agree, this will be a comfortable 2-0 win for Chelsea who were magnificent against Man City last week. I hope it doesn’t all unravel at Newcastle who are obviously missing Cabaye but the wheels have come off a bit and it’s not about to get any better this weekend.

    NORWICH v MAN CITY

    AG: I wouldn’t like to be Norwich this weekend. Good teams normally bounce back quickly when they have been beaten. City have already hammered Norwich at the Etihad this season and although it probably won’t be another thrashing they will want to get themselves back on track. 3-1 to City.

    RK: It will be interesting to see how City recover from losing to Chelsea and if they were going to Sunderland or Crystal Palace I could see them struggling this week but luckily for them they play Norwich who don’t have enough to get into City. 2-0 away win.

    TOTTENHAM v EVERTON

    AG: The game against Aston Villa was a watershed for Everton after losing badly in the Merseyside derby. They went behind but fought back and got a great result. With their confidence restored they will go to White Hart Lane and win 2-1.

    RK: Everton were brilliant last week and I can see why Roberto Martinez called it his best win of the season because to be trailing as long as they were meant they really had to dig deep. I don’t think Tim Sherwood will last at Tottenham who are now playing in the same way as they did under Andre Villas-Boas. 2-1 Everton.

    MAN UNITED v FULHAM

    AG: United’s form isn’t great but there is no team playing worse than Fulham at the moment. I saw them against Sheffield United in the FA Cup in midweek and they were dreadful. This should be easy for United. 2-0.

    RK: Perfect game for United to bag three points and I agree with 2-0 against a poor Fulham team that looks shot and heading down.

    ASTON VILLA v WEST HAM

    AG: Apart from their win against West Brom, which was mainly down to shocking defending by the Baggies, Villa’s home record has been poor. West Ham are not brilliant but they will fancy getting something out of this. 1-1.

    RK: West Ham have looked a bit better of late and Villa have got the jitters at home, although they did well in that game against West Brom. The Hammers won’t leave themselves open like the Baggies did on that day and Sam Allardyce will be happy to come away with a point. 1-1.

    CRYSTAL PALACE v WEST BROM

    AG: West Brom have had 11 draws this season and they will be confident of coming away from Selhurst Park with at least another point. However, Palace have got their act together and I think they are good enough to win 1-0.

    RK: At the moment nobody does a 1-0 win better than Crystal Palace. Tony Pulis has kept five clean sheets in the 10 games he has been in charge and they now have a real belief about them. I still don’t know what to make of West Brom but they won’t get anything out of this.

    SOUTHAMPTON v STOKE

    AG: The Saints have come through a difficult part of the season when they played a lot of the big boys and are now playing some great football again. They won’t fear Stoke and should win this one 2-0.

    RK: A great win for Stoke last week after a gutsy performance against Manchester United but they are one of those teams who can be good one week and bad the next and that is what I think will happen at Southampton who will be too good for them. 3-0

    SUNDERLAND v HULL

    AG: There won’t be many goals in this game with two teams who are pretty evenly matched. Everyone will expect Sunderland to win after beating Newcastle but sometimes that adds pressure and teams can come unstuck. However, on this occasion, I think a buoyant Sunderland, at home, can win this 1-0.

    RK: Like Palace, Sunderland are on the move and I think they will now survive in the Premier League. Gus Poyet has done a fabulous job and although Hull will be difficult to break down I think the home side will nick it. I agree, 1-0.

    SWANSEA v CARDIFF

    AG: The fact that Michael Laudrup has gone might have affected the team in a lot of games but because this is a Welsh derby I can’t see it. If the Swansea players can’t get themselves up for this match then they need to take a look at themselves. I believe we will get a response from them and although it will be tight I think Swansea, with home advantage, will win 1-0.

    RK: Don’t agree. Last week I would have said Swansea but I now think Cardiff will win this 2-1, because of the exit of Laudrup. Both teams are in real trouble but Swansea are now lacking a leader and that will give Cardiff a slight advantage. 2-1 away win.

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