EPL preview: Mikel battles Musa as Iwobi, Iheanacho set to take scoring form to clubs


The English Premier League resumes today after the International break and our attacking duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi would love to take their scoring boots from the National team to their club sides as both youngsters were on target for the Super Eagles in the World Cup qualifier against Zambia.
For Iheanacho and his Manchester City side, they will host Everton as they try to quickly recover from their first loss of the season which they suffered against Tottenham on match-week 7. The Citizens have had an unusual dry run, picking up just one point from their last two games in all competitions after starting the season with nine straight wins. Pep Guardiola will be slightly worried about Sergio Aguero’s form as the striker has gone four games for club and country without scoring, while the Spaniard will also be sweating on the fitness of talisman Kevin De Bruyne, who has been out of action since the 24th of September.
Ronald Koeman has seen his Everton side also hit a dry patch after a run of four straight wins, picking up only one point from six. His mood will be boosted by the news that Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka and Romelu Lukaku are all fit for the trip to the Etihad as he will need every help he can get to stand a chance of getting something from the Citizens.
Alex Iwobi’s Arsenal will host Swansea and their new American manager, Bob Bradley at the Emirates this afternoon with the hopes of securing a victory that might put them at the top of the table if other results go their way. However, they would have to be wary of the Welsh side who have picked up only one point from their last six games as the players would want to impress their new manager with a convincing display against the gunners. The Swans have a great record at the Emirates, winning two and drawing one of their last three games there. The gunners will do well not to take them for granted.
Arsenal have been in scintillating form, with five wins on the bounce in the league and are a team brimming with confidence, it will be hard to see past a victory for them in today’s game.
Other Nigerians might be in action in the EPL this weekend. In the day’s first kickoff, Super Eagles Captain, John Mikel Obi’s Chelsea will host Ahmed Musa’s Leicester City, while on Sunday, Odion Ighalo and Isaac Success’ Watford will be guests of Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.
Chelsea returned to winning ways in their last game before the International break, beating Hull City 0-2 on the road, after they had suffered back to back losses. Antonio Conte and his men know that a victory in this game would be huge for them as not only would it be morale boosting(their two losses came against two of the top four teams from last season), it would help put them on the edge of the top four, albeit temporarily.
This Leicester team seem to be a shadow of the side that took the league by storm last season, playing swashbuckling football built from a resilient backline to a razor sharp attack. They are currently 12th in the league table, with 8 points, four below Chelsea and their away form has been dreadful. They rank last on the table on away games played alone as they have lost all three away games and have conceded a whooping ten away goals, scoring only three. They need a victory to get their title defence (if that is still a possibility) back on track. The last four meetings between these two sides in all competitions have seen both teams scoring at least a goal so we should expect a thrilling game.
Isaac Success’ header helped Watford grab a point against Bournemouth in their last league game before the break and he would be hoping to get a starting shirt when they take on Middlesbrough tomorrow.

Comments

creativity and news door

NFF tasks Rohr to improve on Eagles ON October 24, 2016 6:20 AM

Peter Of P-Square Live At The Hawthorns: ‘Chelsea Will Win EPL Tittle Tonight!’

Governor Okowa begs Christians to pray for Nigeria