Three games to watch this weekend

The EPL is a gift that keeps giving. In seven days, we have witnessed a stocking full of goals — 57 to be exact — and the fun and games are set to continue this weekend. As we count down to Christmas, TODAY’s EPL analyst Adrian Clarke (sports [at] mediacorp.com.sg) selects three matches you would be silly to miss.

CRYSTAL PALACE VS CHELSEA

It feels as if there is only one man capable of stopping Chelsea marching to an 11th successive EPL victory, and that is maverick winger Wilfried Zaha (above. Photo: Getty Images).

Perceived for so long by so many (including myself) as a gifted show pony who might be better off displaying his skills on the Freestyle circuit, the trickster has grown into one of the most productive wide men around.

Only 24, this is the year when Zaha has finally delivered game-changing contributions (six assists, three goals) to accompany the unpredictable brilliance that will always excite and infuriate. He has been so outstanding that Ivory Coast and England are now squabbling over who he should represent at international level.

If there is to be an upset, Zaha’s duel with Chelsea’s left wingback Marcos Alonso must go in the Palace man’s favour and, based on what I have seen, he is
capable of roasting the Spaniard.

Chelsea look awesome though. Under the strict guidance of Antonio Conte, they have morphed into the most regimented team I have seen for some time.

When you watch them, you can see how hard they must work at the 3-4-3 formation in between matches. Every player knows what his duty is, in every situation.

This is why they are proving so hard to score against. Each eventuality has been planned for, and covered in training. Nothing is left to chance. When they go forward, there is a pattern to their work, too. If one or two goals are all it takes to win matches (with such a solid defence), the Blues are going to be hard to catch. It feels like only an injury crisis can halt their progress.

That said, if there is one man who knows how to stick a spanner in the Chelsea works, it is Alan Pardew (above. Photo: Reuters). He led Newcastle to three home wins against them, and inspired a 2-1 triumph at Stamford Bridge with the Eagles last season.

Unfortunately, I am not convinced that Zaha’s form or a clever game plan will be enough this time around.

Conte’s troops are on the march, and Palace are not strong enough to stand in their way.

Prediction: Crystal Palace 1 Chelsea 3

WEST BROMWICH ALBION VS MANCHESTER UNITED

I never thought I would write these words down on paper but here goes … Tony Pulis: I owe you an apology.

For years, wherever the Baseball-Capped One (above. Photo: Reuters) has managed, I have berated his footballing philosophy, labelling it all manner of unpleasant things.

While I admire his record and the way he organises players; by choosing function over flair at almost the total expense of entertainment, Pulis teams generally bore me to tears. Not anymore!

Perhaps he has been inspired to change tact by a need to charm West Brom’s new owners. Perhaps he has decided that a few more win bonuses will come in handy on the back of his recent court case defeat to former employers Crystal Palace, who he now owes £3.7 million (S$6.6 million). Perhaps he simply has better players at his disposal.

Whatever it is that prompted a tactical revision, I am delighted it has happened. Playing with freedom, his Baggies side have cut loose, scoring 10 goals in their last three games at the Hawthorns. Whisper it quietly, but they have even been fabulous to watch.

Manchester United will need to play well to beat them. While they will be buoyed by a gritty 2-1 win at Selhurst Park on Thursday morning, West Brom are a step up in class.

I am fascinated to see how centre-backs Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo cope with Salomon Rondon (Above. Photo: Reuters). The Venezuelan does not command many column inches, but he is a top striker. Blessed with a fantastic all-round game, and capable of scoring in a variety of ways, Rondon, who bagged a hat-trick of headers in midweek, will need close attention.

Fans have joked that Rojo desperately wants to miss the Christmas fixtures through suspension. He twice escaped with yellows for wild two-footed tackles in his last couple of outing, so keep your eye on how he tries to negate Rondon. There have not been many times this fixture has been a 7th versus 6th place battle, and I think the positional status will be a pretty close affair.

Prediction: West Bromwich Albion 1 Manchester United 1

MANCHESTER CITY VS ARSENAL

I wonder which Arsenal will turn up at the Etihad. Will it be the super-charged, lean, mean goalscoring machine that has bludgeoned its way past EPL opponents with delightful force this term? Or will it be the Gunners, who often do not do themselves justice in big games?

After a disappointing loss to Everton on Wednesday morning (Above. photo: Getty Images), those of an Arsene Wenger-sceptic persuasion have had a field day. “Same old Arsenal,” they claim. “They’ll bottle it when the going gets tough.”

Maybe they will, but let us treat this in isolation and judge on what has happened so far. I see a team with more character, pace and resolve than I have witnessed at Emirates Stadium in years. With match winners and strength in depth, they have what it takes to win the title.

I think the defeat at Goodison Park (their first away from home in nine months) was a blip, but the proof will be in the pudding tomorrow night. Up against a depleted Pep Guardiola side that is still getting to grips with what he wants from them out of possession, Arsenal have a superb opportunity to make hay. All their main strengths play on City’s frailties.

Led by the peerless Alexis Sanchez (above. Photo: Reuters), Arsenal now win more turnovers inside the attacking third than anyone else in the EPL. They have a lightning-quick quartet of forward players (Walcott, Ozil, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Sanchez), who have all clocked up top speeds in excess of 34kmh this term. Masters at slicing open rearguards, the Gunners also top the rankings when it comes to dissecting defences with a through ball.

When you contemplate the mistakes that have haunted Guardiola’s men of late — risky passing at the back, a lack of pace when dealing with breakaways, and a disjointed back line that is full of gaps — you wonder how much sleep City’s defenders will get tonight.

This is a match Arsenal must try to win. Just like Chelsea did. It is Guardiola versus Wenger, so it is going to be pretty. With attack the best form of defence for both clubs, I am expecting it to be lively, too.

Prediction: Manchester City 2 Arsenal 3

LIVE ON TV:

Saturday:
Crystal Palace v Chelsea (Singtel Ch103 & StarHub Ch228; 8.25pm)
Middlesbrough v Swansea (Ch104 & Ch229; 10.50pm)
Sunderland v Watford (Ch105 & Ch230; 10.50pm)
West Ham v Hull City (Ch102 & Ch227; 10.50pm)
Stoke v Leicester (Ch103 & Ch228; 10.55pm)

Sunday:
West Brom v Man Utd (Ch102 & Ch227; 1.30am)
Bournemouth v Southampton (Ch102 & Ch227; 9.30pm)
Man City v Arsenal (Ch103 & Ch228; 11.55pm)
Tottenham v Burnley (Ch102 & Ch227; 11.55pm)