Premier League Fixtures 16th October 2010 Part 1

Arsenal v Birmingham City
The last time Birmingham beat Arsenal away, Wales were yet to qualify for the World Cup. Imagine that. If that run is broken, it will be Arsenal’s third consecutive defeat. I’d rather not imagine that.
Aaron Ramsey is on target to return next month for Arsenal. He’s not training with his team-mates yet but it won’t be long now.

Aston Villa v Chelsea
Aston Villa are unbeaten at home this season. You don’t know how much I hope that continues.
James Collins has a black eye from playing for Wales but that won’t keep him out of the team.

Bolton Wanderers v Stoke City
Stoke haven’t won away at Bolton since Aaron Ramsey was a foetus. But Bolton haven’t won at home since last season.
Sam Ricketts will probably be on the bench unless Owen Coyle thinks one of the other defenders messed up last time.
Danny Collins returns from international duty perhaps with a bit of bruised pride but that won’t be enough to keep him out. He and Ryan Shawcross should be in defence for Stoke City.

Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur
Fulham remain unbeaten but Tottenham shouldn’t be too worried as most of Fulham’s games are draws, drawing games is a habit Mark Hughes picked up when he was at Manchester City.
Simon Davies could make his 300th career start against his former club Tottenham.
Gareth Bale will start for Tottenham as long as Harry Redknapp doesn’t want to give him a bit of a rest before their Champions’ League match. He could play at left back as Benoit Assou-Ekotto is a doubt. Gareth has created more chances than any other player in the league – 20.

Manchester United v West Bromwich Albion
Manchester United have thirteen points. West Brom have eleven. Yes, these teams seem to be pretty evenly matched. Even so, an Old Trafford league win for West Brom will be their first for 32 years.
Ryan Giggs could return from a hamstring injury although if he does, he’ll probably be sharing the bench with Michael Owen rather than starting. Owen Hargreaves’ surgeon has been going around telling people that Owen could be back in the squad this weekend but Sir Alex Ferguson says the surgeon doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
Boaz Myhill wasn’t in Wales’ squad against Switzerland due to a training injury so he could miss out for West Brom too although BBC Sport don’t seem to know about it.