Premier League Week 11 Predictions: Highlighting Most Thrilling Matchups

The pick of the EPL games this weekend sees league leaders Arsenal travel to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United.

Arsene Wenger’s side sent out a warning to the chasing pack when they brushed past in-form Liverpool last weekend, and a win over United would reinforce their title credentials.

The Red Devils have started to find some form in recent weeks and they will be desperate for all three points on Sunday as they look to close the eight-point gap between them and Arsenal.

Elsewhere, Andre Villas-Boas will be eager to inject some creativity into his Spurs side when they host Newcastle, while both Chelsea and Liverpool will be hoping to return to winning ways when they take on West Brom and Fulham respectively.

Here’s a full breakdown of Matchweek 11 and an in-depth preview on the two matches most likely to have you on the edge of your seat.

Date, time	Home	vs.	Away	Prediction
Nov. 9, 3 p.m. GMT	Crystal Palace	vs.	Everton	Everton win, 0-2
Nov. 9, 3 p.m. GMT	Liverpool	vs.	Fulham	Liverpool win, 3-1
Nov. 9, 3 p.m. GMT	Chelsea	vs.	West Brom	Chelsea win, 2-1
Nov. 9, 3 p.m. GMT	Southampton	vs.	Hull	Southampton win, 1-0
Nov. 9, 3 p.m. GMT	Aston Villa	vs.	Cardiff	Draw, 1-1
Nov. 9, 5:30 p.m. GMT	Norwich	vs.	West Ham	Draw, 1-1
Nov. 10, 12 p.m. GMT	Tottenham	vs.	Newcastle	Spurs win, 2-1
Nov. 10, 2:05 p.m. GMT	Sunderland	vs.	Man City	City win, 0-3
Nov. 10, 4:10 p.m. GMT	Swansea	vs.	Stoke	Swansea win, 2-0
Nov. 10, 4:10 p.m. GMT	Man United	vs.	Arsenal	United win, 3-2

Man United vs. Arsenal

Arsenal have gradually silenced their doubters with each passing victory, and another three points this weekend may just muzzle them completely.

After overcoming their biggest challenge to date at home to Liverpool, courtesy of strikes from Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey, Wenger’s charges head to Old Trafford to take on a Manchester United side unbeaten in their last seven games.

United have had the upper hand in recent years. In the last 15 outings between the sides, the Red Devils have won 11, drawn two and lost just two—per 11v11.

Sir Alex Ferguson had Arsenal’s number and United fans will be hoping that David Moyes can pick up where his predecessor left off.

Against Liverpool, Arsenal managed to contain Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge—the Premier League’s in-form strike partnership. The Gunners will need to be at their very best again this weekend when they face an equally daunting, albeit very different, challenge when Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie come at them.

Rooney and van Persie have collectively been responsible for five goals and five assists in United’s last three league games, and they will relish the chance to take on the Arsenal back four, who have coped well with the challenges thrown at them this season.

The key to a United win will be the performance of their two wingers. Neither Spurs nor Liverpool successfully exploited Arsenal’s narrowness in midfield, and Moyes will need to look out wide if he’s to lead his side to victory.

The players who line out on the left and the right for United will need the confidence to take on Kieran Gibbs and Bacary Sagna before feeding the front men.

For Arsenal, the key to success will be through the middle. The Gunners' version of the Holy Trinity—Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil—are central to everything their side does. The puppet masters pull the strings on the pitch and Wenger will hope that his main men can overrun United’s sometimes-static midfield.

Michael Carrick has been forced into the anchor role during his time at United—despite it not being his natural position—and Moyes will likely turn to him again on Sunday to direct proceedings in the middle of the park.

Arsenal will be happy with a draw, but Manchester United may just nick it. They can’t afford to lose and they will likely be the more attack-minded side come kick-off time.

They showed glimpses of the ruthlessness they are capable of when they sent three goals past Fulham in 13 blistering first-half minutes at the weekend.

Having said that, write Arsenal off at your peril. They have proved their critics wrong week after week and they are flying high on confidence.

The only thing certain is goals. This fixture has produced 34 of them in the last 15 games, and there have only been three scoreless draws since the turn of the century—per 11v11.

Prediction: Manchester United 3-2 Arsenal

Tottenham vs. Newcastle

You wouldn’t necessarily associate the word thrilling with Tottenham this season, but with Newcastle the visitors to White Hart Lane, there is definitely potential for entertainment this weekend.

Andre Villas-Boas’ side have found the net just nine times in their opening 10 league games. A combination of their formation, a lack of creativity and the form of Roberto Soldado are to blame, but the visit of the Magpies represents a chance for Villas-Boas to shake things up.

Despite a clean sheet against Chelsea, Newcastle have looked porous at the back. They had conceded 16 in nine games before last weekend and Villas-Boas should use this opportunity to release the shackles from his team.

The Portuguese boss has goalscorers and creativity in his side—they just haven’t found a way to make it click in the attacking third of the pitch.

Spurs currently sit fourth in the table, thanks to their impeccable defensive record. Six clean sheets demonstrate their stinginess at the back.

Newcastle’s last two games summed up everything that is good and bad about Alan Pardew’s side. Defeat to bottom-of-the-table Sunderland in the Wear-Tyne derby was followed with a victory against title contenders Chelsea. The results don’t make sense, but then again, not a lot has made sense around St James’ Park in recent months.

Newcastle have the players going forward to trouble Spurs, but the White Hart Lane faithful will be hoping the action occurs at the other end of the pitch.

If Villas-Boas can free up his team, then Spurs will pick up all three points—and they might even bag a few goals in the process.

Prediction: Tottenham 2-1 Newcastle