Dan’s EPL Predictions Week 1 – Arsenal Win But Only a Draw For Man City v Bournemouth

It’s back!

A new Premier League season means the return of our Just Arsenal predictions game.

For any new players, it’s very simple: predict the Premier League fixtures below and see how many points you can collect each week.

You get 1 point for the correct result.

You get 3 points if you get the correct scoreline.

Predictions made after that particular game has kicked off won’t be valid. You can also ask for my email and message me your predictions if that’s easier.

The top 36 qualify for the Just Arsenal European Cup.

I did converse with Michelle about the predictions game over the summer, and we both agreed that above all we want to keep it light-hearted and fun for everyone.

We had a few occasions last season where disagreements over predictions became a little too personal or wandered into subjects that really had nothing to do with football.

So this season, let’s enjoy the competition, have plenty of friendly banter and remember that we’re all going to get predictions spectacularly wrong from time to time!

Please just be respectful of each other’s opinions and keep the predictions game about football.

Most importantly, enjoy it – and good luck everyone!

Arsenal 2-1 Coventry

Football fans in 2026 can be very reactionary, especially on social media. Mikel Arteta’s biggest threat to retaining the Premiership might be blocking out the outside noise and not letting his squad listen to those who say they will comfortably win the league.

When rival supporters are saying it, you wonder if they are being disingenuous?

Trying to take the pressure off their own team and putting all the pressure on us?

For example, the Gunners deserve lots of credit for how they performed against Man City last Sunday, but history tells us the Community Shield has little bearing on the season ahead.

Our manager often says success can be decided by the smallest details, so I’m interested in how he copes without Saliba and if he manages Saka and Rice’s minutes at the start of the campaign.

Because so many assume Friday night will be straightforward, complacency could creep around the Emirates, and Coventry could give us a scare.

Hull 1-2 Man United

I feel sorry at times for Michael Carrick because he should be judged on his own merit, and it’s not his fault it went wrong for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after he was made full-time Man United manager.

Yet you can’t help but look at the history of football and notice that there is a big difference between being the interim boss and being in charge full-time.

When you think you’ve got the gig on a caretaker basis, you can afford to tell the big egos what they want to hear, play the talent frozen out by the previous regime, or even become a yes-man if you think it works.

Now that you have the vacancy permanently, you have to worry about issues you didn’t think about previously.

It’s almost like two different jobs.

The Red Devils start against two of the newly promoted dudes.

Everton 1-1 Palace

This is the type of game last season where the Toffees didn’t have the added quality in the final third to turn a draw into a win. The transfer window currently hasn’t changed that.

Evertonians are starting to show their frustrations but surely are smart enough not to assume the grass would be greener without David Moyes.

Ipswich 1-0 Sunderland

Ipswich are in the same position Sunderland were this time last year.

It’s fascinating how the Tractor Boys approach this season. Don’t expect the style of football to be as entertaining as it was the last time they were in the top flight under McKenna.

Yet strangely, I think Gary O’Neil’s ethos gives them a better chance of survival.

Nottingham Forest 1-1 Leeds

When Oliver Glasner made it clear he wasn’t extending his contract at Crystal Palace, I didn’t think he would end up at the City Ground.

In the short term, everything will be okay because he’s a good manager, but the moment things go wrong, Mr Marinakis will get involved, and his new boss won’t tolerate that.

Brentford 2-2 Spurs

Like when Arsenal finished eighth, I think the Spurs owners have accepted that being 17th can never happen again and have spent money this summer as a PR exercise.

Typical of their fanbase, they have gotten carried away before a ball has even been kicked.

Just imagine if they actually won a game!

Brighton 2-1 Aston Villa

Manzambi could be a gem but won’t be fit to start the season. Tielemans and Rogers have left the club, while as I write this, Konsa, Watkins and Martinez are all not certain to stay.

So you want to play Villa now, before a new squad gels and settles in.

Man City 2-2 Cherries

Man City’s demise might be slightly exaggerated, as they wouldn’t be the first team to comfortably lose the Charity/Community Shield and then go on to have a successful season.

If I were a City fan, I would be more worried about Rodri joining Barcelona. Yes, big money will be spent on a replacement – the visitors will be glad it’s not looking likely for Sunday – but along with Pep Guardiola, Stones and Silva, the club has lost some serious leadership this summer.

Others in the dressing room need to step up. Phil Foden, for example, needs a big year.

Whatever the confidence levels at the Etihad, though, you can rely on Haaland and Semenyo to score goals.

Newcastle 1-3 Liverpool

Sometimes in sport you get luck that you can’t control, such as the schedule. You want this usually tough fixture before a host of new players settle into the Premiership.

A lot of teams would like to have a good start to the season, but do you sense the whole city of Newcastle really needs it?

When things are going well, the Toon Army can make St James’ Park an intimidating place to play, but when things are going wrong, their own players need to show personality to cope in that environment.

In one transfer window, Geordies have seen their manager, captain and almost their entire midfield leave?

Isak could really rub their faces in the mud if he scored on his return.

So now’s the time for someone to step up and be a hero. It would be wrong to assume that just because they have signed youngsters from outside England, one can’t become their next Bruno Guimaraes or Tonali, but Sunday might be too soon?

To remind you, though, that there are more important things than football, the Magpies plan to pay tribute to Kevin Keegan this weekend.

How fitting that it’s against Liverpool, perhaps the two clubs he’s mostly associated with?

Fulham 0-2 Chelsea

Who would have thought the last two Real Madrid managers would be in both dugouts for this London derby?

If either wants to win over their new set of fans, this is not a bad fixture to win.

It’s a bit sad when supporters are finding positives in not qualifying for Europe, but Alonso will benefit from being able to train and focus on one game a week.

I felt Palmer was never 100 per cent fit last season and wasn’t trusted to start every few days, so even though he will be disappointed not to have been selected for the World Cup, physically and mentally he will be better off for having the summer to rest.

So, we are officially back! Get your Week 1 predictions in below and let’s see who can make the perfect start to the new season. Remember, keep it friendly, respect everyone else’s predictions and, most importantly, have some fun. Good luck!

Dan Smith
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