EPL Game Week 4

The debate on loyalty of soccer players between club and country often rage on. Arsene Wenger once famously described it as someone having borrowed your car and use it excessively and then returned it to you worn out without no gas left in it. This weekend's matches will therefore be tricky. Will these overused cars be utilised?

Norwich v West Ham - The Canaries has improved from the opening day thrashing from Fulham. They went on to clinched two draws at home to QPR and away to Spurs. West Ham must been surprised with their own good results. Aside from the 3-0 hammering (no pun intended) by Swansea, the Hammers won two. The home team's first victory may be delayed. 1-1.

Arsenal v Southampton - Though at the bottom now with three losses, the Saints impressed me with their attacking play. Except for that timid Wigan loss, they did fantastically well and should have taken points from both Machester teams. They are the most enthusiastic team with the most unfortunate draws having to play last seaons' top three teams with Arsenal now. Arsenal now boast a stouter defence and they gave a good account of what they are capable of with an impressive win at Liverpool. Even reserve goalie Vito Mannone played like he's been there all the time. Will Oliver Giroud break his duck? Lukas Podolski to score again? What about the impressive Santi Cazorla? Perhaps the Gunners to concede their first goal because Rickie Lambert or Adam Lallana will hit the net for the Saints? Lallana sounds like seafood. The Saints may have to wait for Villa to visit to get their first points. Arsenal has a fearsome midfield where Arteta boss it, Abou Diaby looks a bit like Patrick Viera then and is possibly better than Alex Song if he keeps playing and Santi Cazorla is simply awesome. 3-1.

Aston Villa v Swansea - To be honest, Villa has been poor since last season but they did play very well at St. James Park holding the Magpies. Swansea showed their fighting spirit coming back twice from behind at Sunderland. Is Villa consistent enough? Michu to score again? 1-2.

Fulham v WBA - When you have Liverpool beaten 3-0, held Spurs away and then beat Everton 2-0, you need to have something and that is WBA. Fulham's chest thumping win over Norwich has came to nought after a narrow loss to Man Utd and a sound 3-0 spanking by the Hammers in their London derby. We may think a WBA win is on the cards based on form but Craven Cottage is not an easy place to go to. Duff and Petric to score for Fulham and Shane Long and Gera to score for WBA. 2-2.
Man Utd v Wigan - Utd has defensive problems having already conceded 5 goals. They need RVP at his best. If he has injury or other problem after turning out for the Netherlands then Utd will suffer. Wigan has been known to and is capable of surprising the big boys. The Red Devils could be hurt if they are not careful but their great experience allowed them to come back twice with 3-2 wins when they should have lost but Wigan has lost Vitcor Moses to Chelsea unfortunately and he was their most probing striker. 2-0.

QPR v Chelsea - QPR is just like Villa, the same as last season except worse in that they have signed so many new players and are now a team of strangers. When will Tony Fernandez give Mark Hughes his budget airline one-way ticket? It will be a clinical performance from Chelsea. Torres and Eden Hazard to score. 0-2.

Stoke v Man City - Stoke remained unbeaten and a draw specialist. They will give City a physical workout but City has enough bullets and silk, guns and roses to deal with that except for a surprisingly leaky defence this season. I back Joe Hart to get his first clean sheet and Tevez to score maybe also from Lescott or Nasri. 0-2.

Sunderland v Liverpool - Sunderland will not be easy for Liverpool to visit. Arsenal could not break them down. Neither could Swansea beat them. Martin O'Neill's team could run you to the ground and is a tough nut to crack but Liverpool need to up their game and is in need of a win. If they can at least repeat that performance against City then it may be possible. They have no choice as they will meet Man Utd next. It may be a draw but a timely boost is much needed by Liverpool. 1-2.

Reading v Tottenham - Beware that Reading scored against every team they have played including two against Chelsea. Meanwhile, AVB seemed to be cursed in the EPL suffering from the early sack from Chelsea and now a difficult winless start at Tottenham. This is their chance to put things right. Will the Cockerels crow? Just. 1-2. 

Everton v Newcastle - Everton is still a good team on limited resources. They have done very well except unlucky to loose to WBA. Newcastle is not a worse team than last season but has looked tentative and Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse were not firing like they did last season. Not easy to win at Goodison Park. Jelavic and Fellaini will score for the home team and Cisse and Ben Arfa to score for the visitors. 2-2.

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