Villa Park is the setting for the Premier League’s marquee matchup of Week Two. Not only did Arsenal and Aston Villa both finish in the top four last season, but Aston Villa may well have cost the Gunners the Premier League title. Former Arsenal Manager Unai Emery and his Villans were the only club to win both league fixtures against Arsenal last season. The second of those defeats, in mid-April at the Emirates, was particularly devastating for the Gunners as it represented the only loss incurred by Manager Mikel Arteta’s side once the calendar had turned to 2024. The Gunners would lose out to champion Manchester City by just two points and finish second in the league for a second consecutive year. Arsenal is hoping the third time will prove the charm this season and they can deliver a Premier League title to their fans for the first time in 20 years. A win at Villa Park on Saturday would do much to raise those hopes and remove a hex which their former manager seems to have on his former club. Emery has lost only one of seven meetings when facing Arsenal across all competitions. The Gunners’ new signing Riccardo Calafiore could see his first action after being an unused substitute last week. Aston Villa transfer signing Amadou Onana, meanwhile, scored just four minutes into his debut last week.
Eric ten Hag will try to improve his lackluster away record as Manchester United manager when the Red Devils visit Brighton this weekend. Ten Hag has 16 Premier League losses against 16 wins and 6 draws during his tenure. Surprisingly, Brighton has been a nemesis for United, dating to before ten Hag’s time. Manchester United’s 43% win rate against Brighton in league fixtures is worse than against any other side. Both the Red Devils and Seagulls are on redemption tours to again qualify for European competition after disappointing 2023/24 seasons. New Brighton Manager Fabian Hurzeler became the youngest manager to win a Premier League match last week at the age of 31.
Finishing touches ahead of #BHAMUN... 💪 pic.twitter.com/fV0y9DBB2v
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) August 23, 2024
Newly promoted Ipswich Town is receiving a rude welcome back to the Premier League. The Tractor Boys lost their opener to Liverpool and now must trek to the Etihad for a match with defending champion Manchester City. Midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, Pep Guardiola’s first ever signing upon becoming Manchester City manager, is returning to the Citizens after a one-year hiatus at Barcelona. The winner of five titles during his previous stay at City could be available for the Ipswich Town match following this week’s announcement.
Liverpool have not lost a home opener in 20 years as the Reds play host to Brentford on Sunday, taking to the pitch at Anfield for a competitive match without Jurgen Klopp for the first time since 2015. The Bees could have Ivan Toney back in their lineup after the striker was held out of last week’s win over Crystal Palace amid transfer rumors. Brentford forward Yoane Wissa, meanwhile, could make Premier League history by becoming the first player to score and assist in four consecutive league matches.
Tottenham Hotspur will look for its first win of the young season when the north London side hosts Everton. The woeful Toffee attack could be just the recipe for Spurs to post a clean sheet for the first time in 16 home matches. Tottenham Hotspur striker Dominic Solanke is out after spraining his ankle in his debut for the club last week.
Solanke’s former club, Bournemouth, will host Newcastle. Magpie manager Eddie Howe has a tortured history surrounding the fixture. He is winless in the last nine meetings between the two clubs, five while manager of Bournemouth and the last four meetings while in charge of Newcastle.
A London derby on Saturday will see West Ham visit Selhurst Park for a matchup with Crystal Palace. West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui will be seeking his first win with the Hammers. Crystal Place center back Joachim Andersen is being kept out of Saturday’s match as negotiations continue for a transfer to Fulham while Andersen’s partner Marc Guehi also continues to be the subject of transfer rumors. Former Crystal Palace and Manchester United right fullback Aaron Wan-Bissaka could make his debut for the Hammers versus his former club.
A relegation battle will take place on the south coast where Southampton will host Nottingham Forest. The Tricky Trees are expected to be embroiled in the relegation scrap with the newly promoted sides this season.
Former Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper was the only manager of the promoted sides to notch a result last weekend when a Jamie Vardy goal gave Leicester a draw with Tottenham Hotspur. This week the Foxes are at Craven Cottage for a match with Fulham, 1-0 losers to Manchester Unted in the season’s opening match last Friday.
Chelsea will bring its traveling circus to Wolverhampton on Sunday. New transfer Joao Felix should be available to play, but it remains to be seen what Manager Enzo Maresca has planned for him and the other 100 Chelsea wingers.
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