Chris Sutton Predicts Arsenal Win Over Leeds As Premier League Returns With Explosive Fixtures

Former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton has predicted that Arsenal will defeat Leeds United 2-0 when the Premier League resumes this weekend, while former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson has warned that the Gunners could face difficulties following the international break.

Arsenal are scheduled to host Leeds at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, October 10, with kick-off set for 12:30 p.m. The North London side will be eager to return to winning ways after suffering a 3-0 defeat to Brighton before the international break.

Mikel Arteta’s men had won their opening four league matches before the setback and currently occupy second place in the Premier League standings, behind Manchester City.

According to Bush Radio Academy, Sutton believes Arsenal have enough quality to secure all three points against Leeds, despite concerns surrounding the team’s preparations and the fitness of some key players.

Merson, however, believes Leeds could take advantage of Arsenal’s limited training time following the international break. Speaking about the fixture, the former England international noted that several Arsenal players had only recently returned from international duty, leaving the team with little time to prepare for the early Saturday kick-off.

He explained that the short preparation window could affect Arsenal’s work on set-pieces and tactical arrangements, potentially giving Leeds an opportunity to cause problems.

Arsenal are also monitoring the fitness of Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice and Kai Havertz ahead of the encounter, adding another layer of uncertainty to the fixture.

Elsewhere, Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has predicted that Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur will share the points when they meet at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Manchester United have collected five points from their opening five matches and sit 12th in the table, while Tottenham are also under pressure as they seek their first league victory of the campaign.

Shearer expects a closely contested encounter, predicting a possible 1-1 or 2-2 draw between the two sides. He suggested that a draw could be more beneficial to Tottenham than Manchester United, given the home side’s need to improve their league position.

Sutton, however, has backed Manchester United to win the contest 2-1.

The former striker has also made predictions for the other Matchday Six fixtures. He expects Chelsea to defeat Bournemouth 3-1, Aston Villa to overcome Brentford 2-1 and Sunderland to draw 1-1 with Brighton. Ipswich Town and Fulham are tipped to share a 1-1 draw.

Sutton also predicts a 1-0 away victory for Nottingham Forest against Crystal Palace, while Hull City and Everton are expected to play out a 1-1 draw.

Sunday’s headline fixture will see Liverpool welcome Manchester City to Anfield in what is expected to be one of the weekend’s biggest contests. Sutton has tipped City to claim a 2-1 victory away from home.

The weekend’s Premier League action will conclude on Monday, October 12, when Coventry City host Newcastle United. Sutton expects the encounter to end in a 1-1 draw.

The predictions have added to the anticipation surrounding the return of Premier League football, with several clubs looking to strengthen their positions after the international break.