English Premier League: 5 Predictions for Gameweek 26

In what will be the first of a regular feature, I try and predict the results of five games from this week's round of Premier League fixtures. 

While the pick of the ties is the North London Derby between Arsenal and Tottenham, other interesting matchups include Swansea travelling to Stoke, Chelsea taking on Bolton and another London derby featuring QPR and Fulham. 

Who knows, we may even see Carlos Tevez.

Has the Power Shifted in North London?

For the first 14 years of Arsene Wenger's reign as Arsenal manager, Arsenal lost only once to Tottenham in the league. That's because, for almost the entirety of the last decade, Arsenal were a far better side than their neighbours. 

Yet recently the tide has turned. Tottenham have built a strong team through a prolonged period of transfer-market trial and error, and their performance in derby matches has improved concurrently.

The last time Arsenal beat Spurs home and away in the league was in 2007-08. Since then, Arsenal have won only once, while Tottenham have tasted victory on three occasions, including their 2-1 win earlier this season at White Hart Lane. 

Some will make Spurs favourites for this weekend's fixture, but it's interesting that the bookies still think an Arsenal win is more likely. 

I predict a tight game, and Spurs will probably be happy with a point. Anything less than a win could plunge Arsenal's season even further into crisis. They may leave themselves exposed while pushing forward for goals, especially as they will be missing key defenders like Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker. 

Despite that, I just can't see Arsenal losing. The players know they need to put in a huge performance, and I think they will.

So, I predict a narrow Arsenal victory. Maybe a 1-0 or a 2-1. 

But more importantly: How many hands will Clive Allen try to shake? I predict a lot. 

Villas-Boas Gets a Temporary Reprieve

Sometimes I feel a little sorry for Andre Villas-Boas. Then I remember that he's already earned more money during his short time at Chelsea than I will during my entire lifetime, and my sympathy wanes.

And really, I'm not sure he could have done much better with this Chelsea squad. Trying to replace an old guard who throw a tantrum each time they're not in the starting XI would be hard enough, but his task is made even harder by an owner who gets antsy every time three points aren't won.

And they haven't been won for a while.

Chelsea haven't won in the league since a narrow victory over Sunderland on January 14, and their last four matches have been particularly galling.

They threw a three-goal lead away against Manchester United, suffered a pathetic 2-0 defeat to Everton at Goodison Park, had an embarrassing draw at home against Birmingham in the FA Cup and an emphatic defeat against Napoli in the Champions League. 

With John Terry now adding injury to alleged insult, a centre-back partnership of David Luis and Gary Cahill hardly inspires confidence that this miserable run of form will end anytime soon.

So, it's a good thing Bolton are in town. Despite a recent win against Millwall in the FA Cup, Bolton have been rubbish this season and the calls for Owen Coyle to get a top-four job have become notably muted. 

I fancy Mata and Sturridge to take Bolton apart. Chelsea will win by at least two goals. Expect more hilarity from Luis, though.

A Clash of Footballing Cultures With, Hopefully, Only One Winner

Swansea against Stoke should see an interesting clash of styles, to say the least.

Stoke have survived in the Premier League through the most reductive style of football possible. Long throws, long balls and putting anything in the mixer—they're not called the Stoke Rugby Club for nothing. 

If it weren't for Tony Pulis' consistent refusal to condemn reckless tackling, I'd almost have some grudging respect for Stoke. Whether I like them or not, Pulis has come up with a formula that keeps them in the Premier League.

So, watching Swansea this season has been interesting. They've shown that teams with a limited budget don't have to play brutal football to survive. They have four players who are currently in the Premier League's top 20 for average passes made per game (Williams, Rangel, Britton and Caulker), and Joe Allen has the league's ninth-best pass completion rate. 

Stoke have shown that they can beat teams who play a passing game, although their supposed dominance over Arsenal is greatly overstated. However, Swansea have players who will remember all too well what it's like to play against more physical teams in the lower divisions.

As such, I fancy Swansea to win this one. Indeed, Stoke's recent form has been miserable. They haven't won a game since January 2. 

Swansea to win 2-1.

Fulham to Edge out QPR in West London

QPR have thrown considerable money at the problem of Premier League survival.

They've changed their manager and bought in the likes of Bobby Zamora and Djibril Cisse on big wages, but they've not been able to stop the rot. 

Since Hughes took over from Warnock, he's only won one out of four league games, including two eminently winnable games against Wolves and Blackburn.

I still fancy them to stay up, but it will be a close run.

Fulham, on the other hand, have been in fairly decent form since Christmas, beating Arsenal, thrashing Newcastle and edging out Stoke. Defeats to Everton and Blackburn were undoubtedly disappointing. But Fulham currently have one of the Premier League's in-form players with Clint Dempsey, and Bryan Ruiz looks like a player who will only get better.

Hughes was a strange appointment, given that he's never really achieved a great deal of success anywhere he's managed, with perhaps the exception of the Welsh national team. I'm not sure how committed he is to the cause and that might prove decisive in close matches like this.

Home advantage could swing this in QPR's favour, but I think Fulham may just nick it. A score draw may well be the most likely result. 

City to Thrash Blackburn, but Will We See Tevez?

Saturday's late kickoff in Manchester should see City ease past Blackburn. 

Blackburn have picked up big wins against Arsenal and Manchester United this season, but they've only won five games in total. They were hammered by City earlier in the season, and a similar result should be on the cards on Saturday.

It's hard to give a team with unlimited funds too much credit for occupying the top spot in the league, but it's still a joy to watch players like Kun Aguero and David Silva. If these two play on Saturday, it could be a bloodbath.

Since Christmas Blackburn's form has picked up a little and they, quite amazingly, find themselves outside of the drop zone going into Gameweek 26. I imagine that that they may try and set up in a 10-0-0 formation and hope for a point. Stranger things have happened in the Prem. 

The big story may well be off the pitch though. Will Carlos Tevez make an appearance, or will his exile continue? For the sake of any integrity the Premier League has left, let's hope we don't see him on the pitch this weekend. 

City to win by three or four.