This Sunday, there are two Premier League teams: one intriguing and one massive. The Seagulls welcome the Tricky Trees to the south coast for Brighton v Nottingham Forest, while last season’s top two meet at The Etihad for Manchester City v Arsenal.
Former West Ham and Chelsea forward and new Paddy Power pundit Joe Cole hopes there’s no hangover from the midweek Champions League fixtures as he caught up with us to give us the lowdown on both games, so let’s get straight into his tips.
Sunday Premier League tips
Brighton v Nottingham Forest
3-1
Joao Pedro to score
Manchester City v Arsenal
2-2
Gabriel Martinelli to score
Brighton v Nottingham Forest
WHEN: Sunday, September 21st, 14:00
WHERE: The AmEx Stadium, Brighton
TV: Sky Sports Premier League
This is a very interesting and challenging game for me to price up. What Forest did at Liverpool last week was incredible.
With Nuno as manager, you know what you’ll get from his sides. They’re hard to break down, and they’ve got quality up the pitch, too, in Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and others. These are players who can carry the ball.
But Brighton have been so impressive so far. I was concerned going into the season for them, but you saw them against Man United. It looks like Tony Bloom’s made another good appointment in the new manager, Fabian Hurzeler, and you see all the good players they’ve brought in.
They’ve got too much for Forest and I can see them going out and winning this 3-1.
Joao Pedro will be one of the stand-out players of the season in the Premier League. I think he will be the next one out the door at Brighton for massive money at the end of the season, if not in January. He’s talented and I’d fancy him to score this weekend.
Manchester City v Arsenal
WHEN: Sunday, September 21st, 16:30
WHERE: The Etihad Stadium, Manchester
TV: Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League
City keep on rolling, the machine just keeps rolling through. They dominated possession against Inter Milan, allowed some counter-attacks, and probably weren’t at their best, but if either side were going to win that game, it would be them.
You’re so used to their dominance of games that it’s a shock when they don’t score goals or win games.
Arsenal ticked another box off with how they handled Spurs in the derby last weekend. They were forced to change things around and won without their midfield, and you have to say they did it comfortably in the end. Spurs weren’t at it.
This is a tough game, and it feels like it’ll be one of those games where both sides cancel each other out.
It’s one of those games early in the season that you just want to get over with. You can’t lose or win the league this early, and it’s right at the start of the European games for both clubs. They’d want it in a different part of the season, but it’s here now, and I can see both ending up with a point.
I cannot see it finishing nil-all, but I fancy a draw, 2-2.
Looking at City’s set-up against Inter Milan, Kyle Walker wasn’t in the team; Rico Lewis was in that right-back role instead. If they do that again and have Lewis move into midfield, I can see Arsenal’s left side carrying a threat.
Arteta has mixed Martinelli and Trossard there. I think he’ll go with the Brazilian, as he’s a bit more explosive. If he does, I think he’s a good shout for a goalscorer on the counter-attack.
Sunday Premier League tips
Brighton v Nottingham Forest
3-1
Joao Pedro to score
Manchester City v Arsenal
2-2
Gabriel Martinelli to score
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