00:00Having played 14 match days in the Premier League, it'll be interesting to see, of course,
00:03who we think is the closest challenger to Arsenal in the title race of the Premier League.
00:08We'll look at this as well as some interesting matches to look forward to as the weekend draws near.
00:15Here is, of course, the latest edition of the Nutmeg here on Guardian TV.
00:19My name is Ayomide Daniels.
00:26And, of course, it's the latest edition of the Nutmeg here on Guardian TV.
00:30And today we are looking at the title race, which is building up already towards the festive season.
00:36I'm joined by Kay here in the studio.
00:38Kay, it's great to have you.
00:39I know it's Arsenal's happy days, maybe not glory days,
00:44because you still don't have anything to show for the multiple wins in the last three seasons or thereabouts.
00:49But, you know, you're looking at how they started the season, full credit to them.
00:54Great business in the summer and they've started really strong.
00:56Yeah, well, you know, Ateta has been there for quite a couple of seasons now.
01:01And I think we have the momentum.
01:02We have the squad depth to a reasonable extent now.
01:06But I feel like it's still quite heading there, you know, because the Premier League, you know, anything can happen.
01:11Before we entered, what's it called, October, it was Liverpool, you know, offline.
01:16And, you know, in the space of a month, they're already at 13th on the log.
01:19So that's what the Premier League is all about.
01:21If you are not so careful, you might think you are offline as a stands for.
01:24So I wouldn't be so carried away by the recent, you know, results coming our way.
01:29Of course, it's a good one as an Arsenal fan, but this is not the pinnacle of it all.
01:34We still have quite a lot.
01:35Like you mentioned, yeah, it might look like you're trying to, you know, maybe throw a shade the other time.
01:39But you said nothing to show for.
01:40But it's actually a reality.
01:42You talk about recent fixtures now.
01:44You know, one of the recent games we saw about Arsenal was Chelsea, 1-1.
01:49But somewhat, Arsenal didn't pull their weight against Chelsea despite the numerical advantage.
01:57Is that a level of concern that when push comes to shove, it'll be difficult for them to show the mentality required?
02:06Do you think or feel that with seasons gone by as well?
02:10Well, I wouldn't want to say that because, of course, Chelsea, there is top side.
02:13And, of course, they also have, you know, the momentum as well.
02:17You know, they've not lost in 11 matches before the game against Arsenal.
02:21And for that particular game, fine, I must say that it's one of the, let me say, the worst we've played this season.
02:26You know, in terms of performance and all that.
02:28But you always have a bad day in the office.
02:30I think the Chelsea game is just one of those ones that you have to, you know.
02:33And I'm so sure that whether it be to me in previous seasons, we'd have lost that game even in some cases.
02:39True.
02:39But, of course, we could see that they still put on the shift despite the fact that this was a very poor game for Arsenal.
02:45So, I wouldn't want to say that.
02:47No, I'm not sure how much you rate Chelsea as a tie-two challenger.
02:51Some will still, Ogan said the last time that they are neither here nor there.
02:55They are inconsistent.
02:57I think he nailed it.
02:58I think he nailed it.
02:59But what you say about Man City, at the weekend, during the midway, by the way,
03:04they played 5-4 against Fulham away from home.
03:06Massive game.
03:07Massive.
03:07That was a basketball game.
03:09Nine goals.
03:10And you don't get to see that often.
03:12But at some point in that game, they led 5-1.
03:15It was a near capitulation.
03:17Just like you mentioned that, you know, Awe is also saying the Arsenal game and Chelsea.
03:21Like, is it because Arsenal are maybe shaking or not?
03:24It happens.
03:24Look at Manchester City.
03:25You were leading 5-1 at some point.
03:27And, you know, Fulham almost, you know, end the point.
03:31And I think they really deserve that point in that game.
03:33By the way, Salma, too crazy.
03:34And it will be fantastic goals.
03:36All the goals in that game were top-notch.
03:38And I was like, wow, this is a football game.
03:40But it's one of those things that happen in the Premier League.
03:42You are not just so sure.
03:43Like I said earlier, you shouldn't be too confident that, oh, look, I'm offline and all that.
03:47Anyone can humble you in that league.
03:49So we're going to do quick fire predictions just before we end this episode of the Nightmare.
03:52Aston Villa will play Arsenal.
03:54Arsenal are travelling to, of course, Aston Villa.
03:57Man City at home against Sunderland.
04:00Sunderland are one of the stronger things starting the season.
04:04And Bournemouth, they are experiencing a bit of a downside lately.
04:08But Chelsea are travelling to play them as well.
04:11So quick predictions.
04:12Arsenal away at Aston Villa.
04:14Man City at home to Sunderland.
04:16And Bournemouth hosting Chelsea.
04:19Tricky ties.
04:20All these three are tricky features.
04:21But, of course, Arsenal, Aston Villa last season, it was not what we expected.
04:26But I still feel this.
04:27Yeah, it looks like that bougie fixture.
04:29It's always there, yeah.
04:30But I hope this time around we can just get over the line and nick the maximum three point.
04:35We do need that, I must say, because when Manchester City now is breathing on our neck, we must win that.
04:40Can Man City hold off Sunderland?
04:43Because Man City, we don't have a problem with the attack.
04:45You look at what Ireland is doing.
04:47Sure, they always go.
04:48Already during the midweek, 100 goals and the fastest player to do that in the Premier League.
04:52That's my answer.
04:53100 goals in the Premier League is the fastest.
04:56I don't have a problem with how City will do up front.
05:00I think the bigger problem is how they contend with Sunderland in defence.
05:04I think they should be worried.
05:06You know, the game against Arsenal, Sunderland, Arsenal, Sunderland, Liverpool.
05:09You know, these are games you need to see and look at this Sunderland side.
05:12You are so like, these guys are from the Championship.
05:14You're just like, wow.
05:15You know, they can hurt you.
05:16And they're in the top five.
05:18It's really commendable.
05:19So, I think Manchester City should be very, very, very wary of that team.
05:23They can hurt you.
05:24And, of course, they might as well not let him go.
05:27That's one of the things.
05:28You might score them.
05:29But I must also say that they are also capable of also shutting you attack off.
05:32Now, Von Moth suffered another one-year loss in midweek against Everton.
05:37Now, they want to try to get back to winning ways.
05:41It's been a spell of bad results in the last couple of games.
05:44But Chelsea are one of the stronger sides as well.
05:46Do you think...
05:48Also, another tricky tie.
05:49Do you think Chelsea can do this away from them?
05:51Another tricky tie for Mariska.
05:51I do feel they can.
05:52They should.
05:54But then again, I'm not so sure.
05:55Like I said, you know, it's a tricky tie.
05:57If I'm going to go for this, I think I'm seeing a draw in the game against Chelsea.
06:01And then for Manchester City, Sunderland, Manchester City should be able to nick it.
06:06That's the expectation.
06:07Yeah, no matter how difficult it is.
06:08You tell me Arsenal will do it.
06:09And then Arsenal to win.
06:10I know.
06:11Not so well like in terms of the margin.
06:14But maybe a 2-1 win for Arsenal.
06:16Right.
06:17Well, let's know what your take is in the comment section.
06:20These three games are Stonevilla at home to Arsenal.
06:24Manchester City entertaining Sunderland.
06:26And Bonnors hosting Chelsea right in the Premier League fixtures.
06:30Of course, you can be part of all we do here by hitting the subscribe button on YouTube and tapping the notification bells also to get all our latest content here on Guardian Nigeria.
06:42You can also follow us on social media.
06:43We're at Guardian Nigeria across all platforms.
06:46That's the march we'll take on today's episode of the Nutmeg.
06:49And thank you very much, Gabe, for being a part of it.
Be the first to comment