Welcome to a special midweek edition of The Athletic’s Premier League predictions challenge, where Arsenal’s players need only to look at my recent experience to see how quickly a title challenge can fall apart.
I was coasting, thinking my lead at the top of the table was unassailable. I didn’t worry about the number of times my predictions were saved by a scrappy late goal from a set piece. I just thought that underlined how prescient I was.
And then suddenly, almost in the blink of an eye, I was knocked off the top of the table by six-year-old Wilfred.
Now, barely a week later, I find myself in third place, with the readers’ resurgence continued by Manchester United fan James. With my title challenge disintegrating, I find myself full of self-doubt.
Are Arsenal heading the same way? Personally, I don’t think so. I keep saying they’ll be fine, despite having seen their lead cut to four points by Manchester City.
But as the past few weeks have underlined, my predictions are far from reliable. So Arsenal had better beware.
Each week since the season began in August, four of us — six-year-old Wilfred, the guest subscriber, the algorithm and I — have been predicting the Premier League results.
We’re awarding three points for a correct scoreline and one point for a correct result. There’s also a bonus point for any correct “unique” prediction, so while three of us picked up three points apiece for backing Newcastle United to win 2-1 at Tottenham, the subscribers landed four points for Aston Villa’s 1-0 victory over Brighton, which James alone got spot-on. James also picked up a bonus point for being the only one to back Bournemouth and Liverpool to win at Everton and Sunderland respectively.
James won a highly impressive 12 points, which I’m aghast to say has taken you lot — the subscribers — into second place above me.
Honestly, it was bad enough losing to a six-year-old. But being overtaken by the subscribers? That is not a good look for me.
And even the dreaded algorithm is closing the gap on me. I really need to get a grip.
This is an unusual week. We have one midweek Premier League game, with Wolves vs Arsenal brought forward to avoid a clash with next month’s Carabao Cup final, and then the usual round of fixtures at the weekend.
We weren’t sure how best to do it, but to keep things relatively simple, we decided this week’s guest subscriber should do Wednesday’s game as well as the 10 weekend games — and then whoever gets matchday 31 (the weekend of the Carabao Cup final) will have a reduced fixture programme.
That means an extra responsibility for this week’s guest subscriber, Jack, a 32-year-old Arsenal fan from London.
Good luck, Jack.
Wolves vs Arsenal, Wednesday, 8pm UK/3pm ET
Jack says: With relegation looking almost certain, Wolves will be trying to avoid setting the lowest points record and could have a go at the league leaders — what’s to lose? Arsenal have lost some confidence and have been inconsistent recently. A strong showing against bottom-of-the-league Wolves might give them the kickstart they need to push in for the title.
Wolves 0-2 Arsenal
Oli says: Wolves came so close to snatching a draw at the Emirates Stadium in December: holding firm for 70 minutes before an unfortunate own goal from goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, equalising in the 90th minute, and then falling to another own goal, this time from Yerson Mosquera, in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
They look a stronger team now, having lost just three of their past 10 games in all competitions. But strong enough to damage Arsenal’s title challenge? I’m not convinced. It might take a while to make a breakthrough, but ultimately, Mikel Arteta’s team should win comfortably.
Wolves 0-3 Arsenal
