Premier League Week 17 Fixtures: EPL Picks and Predictions

Arsenal and Manchester City will finally clash in Week 17 of the 2015-16 Premier League season, a match between title favourites that could have massive implications on how the rest of the season plays out.

The Gunners have overcome a number of injury concerns to surge ahead of the Citizens on goal difference, while City have lost two of their last four but still have more raw talent and depth than any other team in the league.

Elsewhere, Manchester United will host Norwich City, Liverpool will travel to in-form Watford and Tottenham Hotspur face a trip to Southampton.

Here's a look at the full schedule for Week 17, as well as some predictions:

Date	Home	Away	Prediction
Saturday, Dec. 19	Southampton	Tottenham Hotspur	1-2
Saturday, Dec. 19	Stoke City	Crystal Palace	1-1
Saturday, Dec. 19	WBA	Bournemouth	2-1
Saturday, Dec. 19	Chelsea	Sunderland	1-0
Saturday, Dec. 19	Everton	Leicester City	2-2
Saturday, Dec. 19	Manchester United	Norwich City	1-0
Saturday, Dec. 19	Newcastle	Aston Villa	0-0
Sunday, Dec. 20	Watford	Liverpool	1-1
Sunday, Dec. 20	Swansea	West Ham	1-3
Monday, Dec. 21	Arsenal	Manchester City	1-2

Francis Coquelin's Absence Will be Key to Arsenal vs. City Clash

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It's remarkable how well the Gunners have coped with the absence of star midfielder Francis Coquelin, the team's top bruiser and ball-winner. The Frenchman suffered an injury during the 2-1 loss against West Bromwich Albion on Nov. 21, but Arsenal haven't lost a single Premier League match since then.

Expectations were Coquelin's absence would ruin Arsenal's form heading into the festive period, as Arsene Wenger's squad didn't contain a solid replacement capable of impacting matches the way the 24-year-old does.

But Mathieu Flamini has stepped up in his absence, and Aaron Ramsey has flourished since moving back to central midfield. The Wales international believes it's still his strongest position, as he told Lloyd Webb of the club's official website:

"

I'm really enjoying it. That’s where I feel I play my best football and can have an effect on the game.

I've scored a couple and had a couple of assists as well in the three games I've played there. So I'm delighted with the way things are going in there, hopefully I can continue to do well there.

"

Ramsey is more of an attack-minded player, however, and while Flamini deserves praise for the way he has handled himself so far, Arsenal have yet to face an attack as potent as City's.

Kevin De Bruyne didn't start in their win over Swansea City, but he's expected to join David Silva in City's starting XI on Monday, providing the side with a serious attacking boost.

De Bruyne and Silva are two of the best creators in the Premier League, and Wilfried Bony has more than held his own as Sergio Aguero's replacement, per WhoScored.com:

Add Raheem Sterling's raw pace to the equation and you end up with a potent attack that's almost impossible to stop. Arsenal have been in strong form of late, but this is the one match where Coquelin's midfield heroics would be sorely needed.

Poor Liverpool Run Set to Continue

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Liverpool have looked like a much-improved club under new manager Jurgen Klopp, but a series of injuries have led to a poor run of form lately—the Reds have gained just one point out of their last two matches.

Unfortunately, they'll travel to Watford at the worst possible moment. The Hornets have won their last three and suddenly find themselves in seventh place in the standings, defying all pre-season expectations.

Their strong attacking play has been a big reason for their success. Troy Deeney is starting to find his best form, while Odion Ighalo has been one of the breakout players of the year.

Per football writer Jonas Giaever, the Nigerian can no longer be ignored:

Those two forwards will come up against an injury-depleted Liverpool defence on Sunday.

Dejan Lovren became the latest to suffer a nasty-looking injury against West Brom, and while it's unclear exactly how much time he will miss, he seems unlikely to be fit in time for the match against Watford, per James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo.

Mamadou Sakho is nearing his return, but he lacks match rhythm and will immediately have to go up against one of the league's most in-form attacking duos, unless Klopp decides to move youngster Emre Can into the centre-back spot.

Either way, the Reds won't match up well with Watford, who are riding a wave of momentum and will be keen to keep it going.

Containing Ighalo is difficult enough with a healthy group of defenders, and Liverpool's ongoing concerns spell disaster.

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