It’s starting to feel like a lifetime since I watched the Premier League and still got a long wait until the middle of August to see any, but I can’t help but look ahead at a few of the fixtures anyway.As an Arsenal fan, I shouldn’t really wish the season any sooner and the entire back catalogue of “Arsenal have gone *enter amount of years* without a trophy, can they rectify that this year” cynicisms will be rolled out during the first couple of weeks, we will inevitably lose one of the first couple of games and then we will be slated and nothing will have changed, blah blah blah. It seems to be if you’re Arsenal, you’re not allowed to drop any points or play badly at ANY point in the season, otherwise you’re just the same as the previous year, a failure.
Aston Villa will be visiting Arsenal at the Emirates on the opening day and if the Villains continue their business in the transfer market, the way they’re going, they could be a completely different team when they travel to north London.
With Hull now back into the Premier League under manager Steve Bruce travel to Chelsea, who are largely regarded as favourites for the title next year, I don’t think Hull will have much of a chance will they? New boys Palace will test their mettle after rejoining the Premier League against Tottenham who will have scores to settle after just missing out on Champions League football the previous year, what’s better than a London derby on the first day of the new season? Nothing, that’s what.
At Carrow Road, you’ve got the Canaries who welcome Roberto Martinez and his new team, Everton, who will be looking to get a result for their new manager, I can see it being an utter compilation from the Merseyside team, or an absolute tonking of Norwich. Another new manager managing his new team will be Manchester United under their newly instated boss, David Moyes, and they travel to the Liberty Stadium to take on Michael Laudrup in his second season with Swansea, who are in EUROPE! I can see United winning, especially if they sign the players they’re linked with, Thiago will be an unbelievable signing if he does join.
You’ll find the first game of the season usually includes a roasting, with Swansea thrashing QPR at Loftus Road last season and Arsenal beating Everton 6-1 (Denilson scored, it was a fluke) so I’m probably going to put a bet on one game featuring four plus goals, more than likely the Chelsea – Hull game in my eyes, let the countdown begin!