🔗 Share this article

The Gunners' 10-game winning run was ended by Sunderland before the global break, but will the English top division frontrunners bounce back against local foes Tottenham this weekend?

"{I believe like Arsenal are light years ahead of Tottenham at the moment but Spurs manager Thomas Frank will have a plan for this game," stated soccer expert Chris Sutton.

"The Spurs manager will attempt to neutralize Arsenal, who have not always been at their scintillating finest this season - but Mikel Arteta's side typically still manage to win."

The analyst is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this term, against AI, readers and a range of special visitors.

In the twelfth round, he faces singer Olly Murs, who is a Manchester United supporter.

Murs' new record, Knees Up, is available on Friday.

Football and Parenting Life

Olly is a talented soccer player as well as a accomplished singer and has been a star of several charity football matches down the years - but he is not intending a serious comeback as a player.

"{I recently played in a benefit game the other night for a mate of mine," he explained. "The side was trailing 3-1 when I came off in the 60th minute, and they proceeded to win 4-3, so you can interpret that what you want!

"I continue to love football, but I injured my knee a few years ago and it still hasn't fully recovered. I hope I could play more but the unpredictability of the sport means it's too dangerous for me in my profession to do it seriously again.

"Plus I am forty-one now, and we are not all Cristiano Ronaldo, are we!? No, I am very happy not playing football and I am preparing for the moment that my daughter or boy decides to play instead."

Murs and his spouse his partner have a young family, Madison and their son, and he is prepared to emulate his dad by taking on the role of their coach.

"I won't force football on our children but I've previously told my wife that if they happen to get the bug for it then I will have to go and get my coaching badges - and I will likely be coaching their weekend soccer side," he said.

"I observed my relatives play a lot, and I really got into it, and I obviously owned a football club for a period too.

"My father coached with us when I was a child, which is likely where I inherited it. He managed our side for two or three years and had great fun with it. That might be the next step for me as well, and I am excited to it!"

Top Division Predictions

Saturday, 22 November

• Turf Moor, 12:30 GMT

Chelsea may have to wait a bit longer for their star's return from injury but their offense is now stronger with Pedro and Liam Delap both back fit.

In my opinion this game will be fairly close, though. The Clarets are well organised and their sole home losses so far have been against Liverpool and Arsenal.

This smells of a 1-1 tie to me, but I am actually going to go with Chelsea to edge it for what would be their third consecutive league win in a row.

Sutton's forecast: 1-2

The singer's pick: Chelsea will be too strong. 1-3

Artificial intelligence's prediction: 0-2

• Vitality Stadium, 15:00 GMT

The Cherries have been defeated in their past two games - although both of them were away - but they got absolutely spanked by Villa last time out which surprised me.

On the other hand, the Hammers won two in a row before the international break and, although both of those fixtures were at home, they appear competitive again.

The Hammers' sole on the road victory this campaign came at Forest in the summer, when their manager Nuno Espirito Santo was still that team's manager.

So, what on earth do I predict here - can West Ham extending their run under Nuno, or the home side bouncing back?

I will choose the Cherries, because I believe what occurred against Aston Villa was a blip.

Sutton's forecast: 2-0

Olly's outlook: The home team are doing well but the visitors have picked up under Nuno. 2-2

The algorithm's prediction: 1-1

• Amex Stadium, 15:00 GMT

The Bees were considered one of the frontrunners for relegation before the campaign started, but they have impressed a several people under their manager and are in fine fettle with three in their last four matches.

A family member told me to select Bees forward Thiago in my Fantasy Football team a few weeks ago and, guess what, I ignored the advice.

The forward will probably find the net again on Saturday but I am still not going to select him or support the away side at Brighton's ground.

They have not had much fortune on the road this season, and the Seagulls are consistently decent at their stadium. Brentford will attempt to hit them on the break but I think Fabian Hurzeler's team pose much more of a threat.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

The singer's view: This could be one of those games where you think there is going to be a many goals but it in reality proves to be quite close. 1-1

AI's outcome: 2-1

• Craven Cottage, 15:00 GMT

This is a massive fixture for Fulham, who have suffered defeat in five of their past six matches.

Fulham have have lots of talent in their squad but it nonetheless seems like they could be sucked into a drop zone battle.

Regarding the Black Cats, indeed they are the unexpected success of the top flight season so far.

Their performance in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal last time out was excellent. We've not seen anyone else disrupt the North London side like that this season, and they were fully competitive for them.

The sensible thing would be to support the Black Cats here, because they are obviously capable of disrupting Fulham up too and, the last time they were in this part of London, they defeated the Blues at the end of last month.

However I am not choose that. Rather, I really need to carry on going against Sunderland with my predictions. I am claiming a lot of responsibility for their good results because they clearly enjoy to prove me wrong.

Looking at the home side's at Craven Cottage record, the only team they have lost to is the league leaders. Marco Silva's side will be extremely eager for a positive outcome, so I am going to say they will pick up three much-needed points.

Sutton's prediction: 1-0

Olly's choice: I know the visitors are doing well and also that Fulham are on a bad streak... but Fulham have nonetheless been respectable at home this season. 2-0

The algorithm's outlook: 2-0

• Anfield, 15:00 GMT

It is a hard one to call. The Reds have lost seven of their last ten matches in every tournament, but could they be one of the teams who profit from the {international break|