Weekend Three SEPT 13-14

Welcome to Weekend Three, this is where I pick three games from the upcoming weekend in the Premier League and predict the scores, this week I will be talking about Arsenal as they face Manchester City also Van Gaal's Man United as they welcome QPR to Old Trafford and finally predict Liverpool VS Aston Villa.

Arsenal versus Manchester City is all set up to be the game of the weekend. With Danny Welbeck set to make his Gunners debut Arsenal fans won't be expecting a thrashing like last season as they have come a long way from that 6-3 defeat at the Etihad. But they know it won't be any easy as the Citizens look to bounce back after a disappointing 0-1 defeat at home to Stoke City last week and consecutive losses for Pellegrini and his men won't be allowed. Danny Welbeck looks like a likely starter with him playing well in this weeks international break and the young Englishman will be familiar with the opposition after signing for Arsenal from United.

But before I make my prediction let's rewind to early August as Arsenal came out 3-0 winners when coming up against City. Although you could argue that City didn't have their most impressive looking team out, Arsenal still looked a much better side. But City have had a great start to the new term despite loosing to Stoke. Beating Liverpool 3-1 and winning against the Magpies 2-0.

A big question for me will be if young Calum Chambers crack's under pressure? As this is his biggest test yet and if he want's to cement his place in the side this season he needs to perform well against top clubs like City. Can he cope with Agüero, Dzeko and Jovetic who are all likely to feature at some point against the Gunners.

I think it will be a very tight affair and I think the gunners will run away with it 2-1. And if he does I think young Danny Welbeck will have a great game.

Moving now to Manchester as the Red side of manchester will all be watching this one with new boy's Blind, Rojo, Falcao are set to make debut's with Angel Di Maria playing at Old Trafford for the first time. This is massive game for United as they have continued their poor form from last season into the start of this term. And with the many millions that Louis Van Gaal has spent he has to be careful the crowd don't start to turn on him as we saw Old Trafford turn against David Moyes and he cracked under pressure completely. And it definitely won't be easy for the red devils with QPR finally starting to get the ball rolling with their season and I can seeing them a getting a goal as Manchester United still haven't sorted out their defensive problems despite Rojo and Blind's arrivals as Van Gaal needs to fill the gaping hole left by the departure of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.

I think both sides will score and possibly kick start a great run of form for Man United with Leicester and West Ham in their game's after facing The Hoops. If The Hoops get a draw or win it will be a fantastic result and vital as they as they should be taking quite a few points out of their upcoming fixtures.

I think with all the new talent coming in for Van Gaal will be too much though for Redknapp and his side and I think the Red Devils will prevail 2-0.

Now to Anfield as the red's take on Paul Lambert's Aston Villa. Both side's have had good starts to the season especially Villa compared to recent seasons. Liverpool recently have been hit with international break injuries with Emre Can not looking likely and Allen and Sturridge almost definitely out. This may be a good thing for Bredan Rodgers though as he can see if there is a change in Mario Balotelli's game if he is a lone striker, also with the injury of Allen maybe it gives him a chance to hand Lazar Markovic his first start for Liverpool but that means that Rodgers will be starting a very attacking side with Sterling and Adam Lallana likely to start which all Liverpool fans will be relishing seeing Lallana playing for the first time since his summer switch from Southampton. Anfield will certainly be pumping as it will be home debuts for Mario, Lallana and Lazar if they all start. Personally I would have like to see the typical diamond featuring Gerrard at the back and Henderson and Coutinho in the middle and then Lallana at the point of it. With Balotelli and Sterling leading the attack. Call me crazy for thinking Raheem should play up top but we saw him excel like this when Daniel Sturridge was missing away at Norwich last season as he scored twice against the Canaries.

Onto Aston Villa and their flying start. With seven points in three games they are sitting in a champions league spot, wether they will finish that way we will have to see as they have a very rocky period in front of them as after they travel to Anfield they are set to face Arsenal, Chelsea and Man City. They have been defensively sound this season which will fill Lambert with great delight conceding sixty one goals last season. But I think what will bring them back to earth after their great start will be their lack of strength up front as the gaping hole that Christian Benteke left with his injury will start to show although I wouldn't rule out the Villians getting a goal as Liverpool have a very new back four that will take time to mould.

I'm going to say that Liverpool will come out on top with the score being 3-1.