Andy Gray & Richard Keys: EPL predictions – Week 31

David Dein, who appointed him, deserves a huge amount of credit for having the foresight to take a gamble on someone who, in 1996, was a virtual unknown.

I was one of those who wondered why he had been given the job, coming out of the J League. Since then he has shown us that he is an intelligent man with great passion for the game which continues unabated. He has won 11 trophies for Arsenal, including three Premier League titles, but I just wish he had won more over the past few years.

I would hate to see his legacy tainted. If he doesn’t win anything this year or next and Arsenal have a decade without winning a trophy it would be a terrible pity for a man who went a whole season unbeaten with the Invincibles in 2003.

I never thought I would see a team do that and I don’t think it will happen again, but that was then. Up until 2005 he was arguably the best manager in England. Now he is just one of the best four or five in the EPL and I dread to think what might happen if he doesn’t win the FA Cup this year because the league title looks unlikely.

Today he locks horns with Jose Mourinho and I think it’s fair to say they are not the best of mates. I like Mourinho but what he said about Arsene being a specialist in failure showed a lack of respect. Arsenal have not finished out of the top four during his tenure and they have qualified for the Champions League for 16 years, more than any other team in British football.

This game is pretty hard to predict because it is important for both sides. Arsenal will think they can get something out of this and I think they will. Chelsea tend to start slowly so I expect Arsenal to go at them from the off and I expect a 1-1 draw.

Richard Keys: Wenger’s influence has been enormous. Having walked into Arsenal to a chorus of ‘Arsene Who?’ he quickly got the big players on side and immediately had the platform to build.

As Andy says, the only thing that threatens to tarnish his Arsenal career is that his 497th game was his last trophy win. He must deliver another piece of silverware Apart from his stunning success with the Invincibles we should not forget the players he brought to the Premier League, Thierry Henrybeing one of them.

Not too many had faith in Thierry when Wenger brought him to Arsenal and the rest is history. We also saw the best of Nicolas Anelka, Emmanuel Petit, and Patrick Vieira.

He is absolutely obsessed with the game and that shows in everything he does and helps explain his longevity. I think everyone hopes that when he finally leaves he is able to do so having delivered again so we remember him for all the good things.

Like Andy, I don’t think they will win the league title this season but the FA Cup looks to be theirs for the taking. If they don’t win it everybody at Arsenal will have a big decision to make because they can’t go 10 years with no trophies.

I don’t want him to be hounded out and perceived to be a failure but the time is coming when both parties will have to consider whether there should be a parting of the ways and I genuinely believe that could happen.

The specialist in failure comment is a moment I am sure Mourinho regrets. He shouldn’t forget that he has always had hugeamounts of money to shape teams wherever he has been in the short term.

You could say that his legacy left nothing but damage. Chelsea required a huge amount of surgery when he left and Inter have never been the same so it’s easy to criticise. I still think Chelsea will win the title but they are going to have to be on the front foot a bit more against Arsenal and I think that is what we will see. 2-0 home win.

Cardiff v Liverpool

AG: Liverpool look like genuine contenders now and everyone will expect them to stroll this. Cardiff were unlucky against Everton last week but I don’t think they will be able to cope with Liverpool’s firepower. 3-1 away win.

RK: Cardiff looked much better last week but they are going down and I like everything about Liverpool at the moment. There is a genuine threat about them. 3-0 away win.

Everton v Swansea

AG: Everton have gone off the boil but they are desperate to qualify for the Europa League next season and I think they will achieve that. They weren’t great against Cardiff last week but I think they will nick a 1-0 win against Swansea.

RK: Everton need to be better but they look like they’ve hit the wall to me. Swansea are no pushovers so I’m going 1-1.

Hull v West Brom

AG: The problem for Steve Bruce is keeping his players focused on the league while preparing for an FA Cup semi-final. West Brom are better than their position suggests so all things considered I’m going 1-1.

RK: There’s something about Pepe Mel that I like. It’s not his fault that West Brom sacked Steve Clarke and I admire the way he is going about his business. Hull might be distracted by the FA Cup semi-final so I’m also going 1-1.

Man City v Fulham

AG: City might struggle to get the first goal which sometimes takes patience against sides like Fulham but once they get it more will follow rapidly. 3-0.

RK: City will trip up somewhere but it won’t be here. It could be six, but something tells me that this might be one of those anxious games for City where they struggle to score. 1-0.

Newcastle v Crystal Palace

AG: Palace got a decent point last week at the Stadium of Light but that was more down to Sunderland’s inability to see them off than their own play. Palace don’t travel well and I think they will struggle at Newcastle. 2-1 home win.

RK: Newcastle’s season is all but over. The manager Alan Pardew is banned, they are not what they were earlier in the season. Palace are a determined bunch and they can win this. 2-1 away win.

Norwich v Sunderland

AG: Gus Poyet has been unable to get his players to reproduce their cup form in the league which is why they are still in the bottom three. Norwich need to get something from their next four games otherwise they are in big trouble. I’m going 1-0 home win.

RK: Norwich is too nice a place to go. Lovely city, nice guy as manager, you get a nice meal and a glass of wine and most people leave with three points. It’s not aggressive enough. Sunderland can be aggressive and I think they will get a draw. 1-1.

West Ham v Man United

AG: Although United beat Olympiakos I still thought it was a performance that lacked quality. They never really created much and it didn’t suggest that they are back at their best. Far from it. Upton Park has never been an easy ground for them to go to. 1-1.

RK: I don’t care that United beat Olympiakos because that win just papered over widening cracks. West Ham will fancy themselves against a United side that looks particularly cumbersome at the back. 2-1 home win.

Tottenham v Southampton

AG: Spurs haven’t been good when they have come back from Europe and played the following weekend. Southampton will expose any weaknesses but because it’s at White Hart Lane I can see this ending 2-2.

RK: Tottenham have lost six out of the eight games they have played after competing in Europe but, like Andy, I think home advantage will help them. 2-2.

Aston Villa v Stoke City

AG: This has got draw written all over it. Although Villa beat Chelsea last week, with a helping hand from the referee, I think Stoke, who know they could easily slip into the relegation zone, are good enough to get a point. 1-1.

RK: I think Aston Villa are finally looking like a much better side. They have worked out how to play at Villa Park where they have struggled all season, have much more confidence, look to be safe from relegation and I think they will just have enough to see off a Stoke side which lacks quality. 2-1.