On the Forecast: Gameweek 9

To Arsenal fans, still remember this fella???

Our Saturday start with an early match between TOT vs EVE who are both on form. Spurs just came back from their European adventure with the impressive Gareth Bale scored a hat trick in the San Siro. Please note that Mr Van Der Vaart and the whole Everton team were fully rested during the midweek. A tight affair is expected but no clean sheet points for both side. Arteta is injured though.

Fantasy favorite match up this week is the clash between CHE vs WOL. A lot of us will captain Drogba this weekend (not for those who sold him for Tevez last weekend) with the encouraging news by the injury department. Both Lampard and Alex could not recover in time and some news suggesting that Ancelotti may give Malouda a rest. Take this with caution; the strength from the bench is crucial. There will be goals in this game and Wolves winless run will continue.

These three fixtures are very hard to guess and seem likely to draw; WIG vs BOL, WHAM vs NEW and WBA vs FUL. All three home teams are on form and a slight advantage to them. For the visiting team; Bolton seem more compact on the road and can nick something from anyone. Newcastle seem infected with the yoyo virus from Wigan that proved unpredictable and Fulham was resolute in their defending until last week loss to Tottenham. Notable form fantasy players are the two goal hero Charles 'Insomnia', Franco Di Santo (Wigan), Chris Brunt of West Brom and Hammers striking duo Obinna & Piquionne. Notable absentee is Peter Odemwingie who remain doubtful and Ali Al-Habsi who is ineligible to play.

SUN vs AST. It can't be helped to think that this match will turn out to be the same 0-0 draw experienced by both of them last weekend. Their striking department scored a blank in their last two games and both team are fully rested. The result will be either a drab draw or a high scoring one if the teams start functioning. Usual suspects; Darren Bent, Elmohamady, Carew & Downing. 

BIR vs BLP. Birmingham at home; clean sheet assurance of course for the like of Foster, Dann & R Johnson. Not really. Blackpool are scoring freely at the moment whether home & away. The gung-ho approach paid dividends in their last 3 games even though they haven't won at home yet this season. BIR played well at the Emirates but don't be surprised; BLP could get something from this fixture. Adam & Varney stars for the away team against the formidable Zigic.

Not again Mr De Jong!

Well...Rooney finally got a lot of money he wanted at MU STK vs MANU. The things going on for the past week look like a bluff in order to get some lucrative contract. He will not play for 3 weeks of course due to an ankle injury. Berbatov will continue the attacking burden with Nani running the orchestra. Stoke is very strong at home and I expect MU to nick this one amid the Rooney transfer saga. For Stoke, expect Delap to throw the ball to Kenwyn Jones head every time they get a throw in.

Liverpool should start playing better this week against Samba-less Blackburn side with Allardyce long ball approach prove irritating for all the premiership teams. LIV vs BLA  LIV will not lose this one but don't underestimate BLA defense as they played well last time only with ten men. Very tough between a tight win for Liverpool or one point for both side. Note that Gerrard & Torres are fully rested during midweek.

We save the best for the last MANC vs ARS. Did you remember what happened in this fixture last season? It was the last time Adebayor played well before he got banned for over celebrating in front of Arsenal's fan. He seem to save his tricks for this tasty fixture after scoring a hat trick in the Europa League match to give some headache to Mancini. A Fabregas-lead Gunners will have a chance against Mancini's men if they play two strikers (Tevez and Adebayor). If not then a straight fight of 4-5-1 lineups where both are familiar with. Advantage to MANC due to their arrays of defensive midfield enforcer in their disposal. MANC to win but Arsenal will not come home without scoring.