The English Premier League will resume this weekend after the International break, the league resumption is a big joy for football lovers across the globe and I am not exempted.
Amongst the actions, we will see this weekend are two key derby matches, one in London and the other in Manchester.
The Manchester Derby
Talking about the Premier League derby, these two suddenly became arch rivals even though their achievement are very much higher than each other. They weren't deep rivals when I was younger because Manchester United was in command but somehow, Mancini and his boys made the Manchester derby famous.
I remembered the lousy neighbors' chant then, the atmosphere at Old Trafford and Etihad was always electrifying, and I was always eager to see the energy both sides bring into the match.
The Manchester derby last season wasn't fun, it lacked the vibe it brings every season. Thanks to Ragnick but this season will be the rise of a new dawn for the Manchester derby. Manchester United wasn't what we use to know them to be last season and they didn't start 2022/23 well either.
Losing to Brighton and Brentford in their first two matches raise questions about Ten Hag's claims of turning the club around for good.
While many feared he might not succeed at Manchester United, some believed in his legacy.
They announced their readiness for the league with a victory over Liverpool and they have won all their Premier League matches after that which include a win over Arsenal who currently holds the top spot on the Premier League table.
I have seen several posts about the matches and most of them predict Manchester City to punish Manchester United like we saw last season but I don't think it wouldn't be a soft show like we saw last season.
Manchester City is doing great but they have conceded a few goals unexpectedly this season. The team's prowess in attack has helped them secured a win or draw in those encounters and they won't be lucky every day. One thing Manchester United has improved on very well is their defense, the presence of Lisandro Martinez and Tyrell Malacia has helped the team a lot and those boys could do the unexpected against the ferocious Manchester City attack.
Manchester United's defense was nothing to write about against Brentford and Brighton but they have only conceded three goals in all competitions after those two matches. They conceded one goal each against Liverpool, Arsenal, and Real Sociedad which should tell you the strength of the team defense, and with Casemiro's inclusion as a defensive midfielder, they will definitely take things to the next level.
Manchester City can depend a lot on their midfield and attack but it would be a great mistake if they concede goals first in that encounter. The absence of their injured defenders will be a huge blow to them while United will also miss Rashford in action.
The North London Derby.
Arsenal and Tottenham aren't arch rivals but they sure do have a score to settle. Spurs ended Arsenal's Champions League dream in the previous season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Both teams were in great shape towards the end of the last season and it made the battle for the last available Uefa Champions League ticket very tough. Tottenham was victorious against Arsenal and they grabbed the ticket for the 2022/23 Uefa Champions League as they kicked Arsenal to play in the Europa.
The defeat was a huge blow to Arsenal as they went on to lose the match after against Newcastle United which completely condemned them to the Europa League. It would be their first meeting since then and you can tell how much anger the Arsenal boys will bring into the match. They will definitely match into the field to seek revenge which is quite possible because both sides have protected their home dignity for some time but Arsenal's injury scare might be a setback for Mikel Arteta again this season.
Arsenal's dominance in the Premier League this season has been quite impressive and seeing them sit at the top of the league tells a lot about the team's determination.
Tottenham isn't doing bad either and this derby will twist things if it goes in favor of one team.
They have new signings that have been doing tremendously well since their arrival and without a doubt, I believe that they will make a huge difference for both teams but the injuries might create an imbalanced performance in the derby.
The derby matches will definitely give us a lot to talk about even after the weekend and I am certain about that. For bet lovers, there will definitely be nothing less than two goals in those encounters.
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