After the international matches last weekend, the English Premier League restarts and the biggest game is Arsenal against Manchester City.
It’s at the Emirates on Saturday kicks off at 6.45 a.m. Cayman time and all eyes will be on Danny Welbeck who debuts for the Gunners following his big move from Manchester United last week.
Fresh from scoring both England goals in their 2-0 victory over Switzerland on Monday, Welbeck was unhappy at Old Trafford and felt a new start would boost his career.
He had little choice anyway as new United boss Louis van Gaal brought in far better strikers.
Welbeck, 23, was a source of great frustration for the United faithful. Arsenal have not had a prolific striker for years and Welbeck hopes to fill that void.
Arsenal beat City 3-1 in the Community Shield opener last month so, with the addition of Welbeck, must be confident.
Sergio Aguero is one of the world’s best strikers, yet he has started on the bench so far this season for City. With Stevan Jovetic unlikely to feature through injury, Aguero could get his chance to sparkle like he did for Argentina against Germany last week.
Both sides have started their league campaigns hesitantly but with Welbeck’s addition, Arsenal are likely to have the edge.
Chelsea play Swansea City on Saturday, 9 a.m. Cayman time. Chelsea’s Diego Costa is still troubled with his strained hamstring and, even if he starts, is unlikely to last 90 minutes.
Costa’s international teammate for Spain is Cesc Fabregas, another newcomer at Stamford Bridge who has settled quickly, confirmed by four assists already.
Chelsea should win comfortably, but Swansea are no pushovers, confirmed by their 2-1 victory at Manchester United on the opening day of the season.
Their best player then was Gylfi Sigurdsson who is in brilliant form in the heart of the Swansea midfield.
The Iceland international has been the biggest factor in Swansea’s excellent start to the season. Nine points from their three games and only Chelsea are ahead of the Swans in the table.
Loic Remy is the new Blues signing who has a point to prove. He could start if Costa is not fully fit and Chelsea legend Didier Drogba may get his chance too. Even at 36, limbs creaking, Drogs is a formidable opponent.
Manchester United are hosts to Queens Park Rangers on Sunday, kickoff 10 a.m. locally. This should be an easy three-pointer for the Reds against the newly promoted Londoners, who are already struggling. United are blessed with a wealth of quality in midfield and up front in Radamel Falcao, Robin van Persie, Angel Di Maria, Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney. But they obviously have a young, inexperienced defense that has already leaked so many goals that the best van Gaal can hope for is a Champions League place. Avoiding relegation seems more apt to the most cynical.
New signing Daley Blind may strengthen the defense on the left but it’s two solid centre backs United most need.
Rio Ferdinand’s reliability at center back for United lasted years but he lines up against his old side intent on revenge after being shown the door in the summer.
Even at 35. slightly slower and more injury prone, Ferdinand is as good or better than anyone he left at Old Trafford and he will certainly try to emphasize that fact.
Van Gaal does not want any more humiliating results. He should get some reprieve in this one against a side likely to see survival from relegation as the highlight of their season.
The rest of Saturday’s games are Crystal Palace V Burnley, Southampton V Newcastle, Stoke V Leicester, Sunderland V Tottenham, West Brom V Everton and Liverpool V Aston Villa.
Monday’s pits Hull City against West Ham.
Meanwhile, speculation is mounting that Cristiano Ronaldo is unhappy again at Real Madrid and Chelsea’s Eden Hazard is being lined up to replace him.
Apparently, temperamental Ronaldo has fallen out with Real’s club executives again and will seek a move at the end of the season.
Real can expect a world record price from any takers of the 29-year-old World Player of the Year but Hazard will not come cheaply either.
He is valued at around $90 million having established himself as an automatic choice in two seasons with the Blues.
Chelsea may want to do a player plus cash deal to sign Ronaldo but, if he returns to England, then it’s former club Manchester United who are favorites.
Ronaldo repeated last week that he still has a fondness for the United faithful and misses the warmth and atmosphere there. “The supporters are amazing and I wish I can come back one day,” he said.
Liverpool are still seeking a world class keeper and are interested in Barcelona’s free agent Victor Valdes.
Of the other free agents available Brazilian ace Ronaldinho is no longer on the market, sadly for semi-pro English side Basingstoke Town.
Maybe Basingstoke only made the offer for publicity’s sake, but Ronaldinho sensibly signed for top Mexican side Queretaro on a two-year deal.
If Basingstoke want to lower their sights slightly, there are plenty of good midfielders with a bit of flair in the Cayman Islands.
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