Sutton’s Premier League predictions v JayO

Arsenal were top at Christmas but have lost their past two Premier League games and are out of the FA Cup – so, can they get their season back on track against Crystal Palace on Saturday?

“It feels especially important Arsenal win this one, not just to keep up with leaders Liverpool but with Manchester City coming to the fore too.”

Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests.

The winter break means the current set of fixtures are staggered over a two-week period. For part two of week 21, he takes on singer-songwriter and Arsenal fan JayO.

JayO’s latest track ‘Often’ is a fusion of Afrobeats and R&B. His biggest hit ’22’ has had more than 100m global streams.

JayO grew up in Tottenham and still lives there, but his heart was taken by their north London rivals – he fell in love with Arsenal at a young age and trained with the Junior Gunners as a boy.

The 24-year-old, who helped launch the Gunners’ third kit in August, told BBC Sport: “Why Arsenal? Why not!?

“As a kid growing up, watching them play was memorable. Seeing players like Cesc Fabregas, Thierry Henry and Robin van Persie made me want to pick a ball up and say ‘I support the Gunners’.

“Those three, plus Jose Antonio Reyes and Samir Nasri were my heroes. They made the game flow for me.

“I actually met Fabregas when I was 11. I remember him scoring a 30-yard goal, and he made me believe I could score from the half-way line.

“My favourite players right now would be Gabriel Martinelli and William Saliba, because I like what they do when given the opportunity to play in space.”

Arsenal were five points clear at the top of the Premier League at the same stage last season, the same margin they trail leaders Liverpool by at the moment, so JayO feels they are still right in the race.

“As a team, I still think we are there,” JayO added. “Every team can lose some games but the team mentality has to remain the same.

“The aim is to be a solid side who always puts up a fight but of course we want titles to our name.

“There is still a long way to go but we have to aim as high as we can – that means going for the Premier League and Champions League this season.”

Chris Sutton and JayO were speaking to BBC Sport’s Chris Bevan.

A correct result (picking a win, draw or defeat) is worth 10 points. The exact score earns 40 points.

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SUTTON’S PREDICTIONS

SATURDAY, 20 JANUARY

Arsenal v Crystal Palace (12:30 GMT)

Crystal Palace went out of the FA Cup against Everton on Wednesday but they definitely had one eye on this game with the substitutions Roy Hodgson made.

You know what Hodgson will do here – he will shut up shop and try to frustrate Arsenal, then hope to get something on the break, a lot like the Eagles did against Manchester City before Christmas.

They have the quality to hurt Arsenal that way, but I still think this game is more about whether the Gunners can find a way through Palace’s defence.

Of course there are question marks over Mikel Arteta’s side after their recent results, especially in attack where they have not been taking their chances.

They need to find a way of changing that and I suspect they will, but this prediction is really what I’m hoping for more than anything else.

I want to see Arsenal in the title race and challenging Manchester City at the end of the season. For that to happen, they will have to hang on in there during spells like this.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-0

JayO’s prediction: Hopefully the mighty Gunners can get back to winning ways. 3-0

Brentford v Nottingham Forest (17:30 GMT)

This is a massive game for all sorts of reasons, with both teams just above the relegation zone.

Brentford have only taken three points from the past 24 available and have lost five in a row in the league, but they have Ivan Toney available again after his eight-month ban, which is a huge lift.

We don’t know what condition Toney is in physically and mentally after such a long lay-off, but he has been scoring goals for the B team and in behind-closed-doors matches. Now they need him to do the same for the first team.

Nottingham Forest are 15th, a point and a place above the Bees, after winning their past two league games but they must be concerned about where a possible points deduction would leave them if they are punished after being charged for breaching financial rules.

So, there is a lot for both teams to play for and I can see this being a real battle. Brentford’s home form has been disappointing of late, with three defeats in four games, but I am still going for them to edge it, just.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-1

JayO’s prediction: Even though they are struggling a bit at the moment Brentford can be solid at home. 2-1

SUNDAY, 21 JANUARY

Sheffield United v West Ham (14:00 GMT)

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder decided not to take his squad to warmer climes during their winter break, and his message to his players is that only hard graft will get them out of trouble now.

The Blades are bottom of the Premier League and eight points adrift of safety, so they have got a heck of a lot of work to do.

Their schedule last month meant Wilder did not get much time on the training pitch with his players after taking charge at the start of December, so at least he has had a chance to do that in the past couple of weeks.

It will be interesting to see what difference it makes, because their position means they need results quickly.

They are the lowest scorers in the top flight so they also need goals, which is why they have brought in Ben Brereton Diaz on loan from Villarreal, but it’s going to be hard for them to break West Ham down.

The Hammers will be smarting after Tuesday’s FA Cup defeat to Bristol City but they did make a few changes for that game, and I just don’t see them being beaten again here.

Neither side have a possession-based style of play, so they won’t particularly want the ball. It is going to be tight, and it’s got draw written all over it.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-1

JayO’s prediction: 0-3

Bournemouth v Liverpool (16:30 GMT)

We’ve seen how Manchester City have done without Erling Haaland up front in the past few weeks – now it is Liverpool’s turn to cope without Mohamed Salah, who is away with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations.

The Reds are without the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold too, which is another big blow, especially for a tricky game like this one.

I hope Liverpool win, just as I hope Arsenal beat Palace, because I want to see a title race that goes to the wire and City’s form is beginning to look ominous.

The defending champions have already welcomed one ‘bazooka’ back from injury in Kevin de Bruyne to boost their attack, and they have got another to come when Haaland is fit again.

This is going to be a real test for Jurgen Klopp’s side, though. Bournemouth lost at Tottenham in their last league game at the turn of the year but they created enough chances to win that game.

I was sceptical about Cherries boss Andoni Iraola at first, perhaps because Gary O’Neil didn’t deserve to be sacked in the summer, but after a slow start he has shown why you should always give new managers time to get their ideas across.

Before that defeat at Spurs, Bournemouth were on a run of seven wins and a draw from their previous eight league matches. They are well-organised and will be poised to press Liverpool, and I have a feeling they will get something from this game.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-1

JayO’s prediction: Liverpool will struggle here. 2-1

MONDAY, 22 JANUARY

Brighton v Wolves (19:45 GMT)

This is a very hard one to call, because both teams are in decent form.

As I’ve said previously, Brighton are yet to hit the heights of last season but they are still eighth and are still hard to beat. They have only lost one of their past six league games and, since the end of October, have suffered only two defeats in 16 games in all competitions.

Wolves got past Brentford in the FA Cup in midweek and have won three in a row in the league. They are also organised and resilient and carry a goal threat too, which made it difficult to know what to go with here.

The fact Brighton are at home swung it in their favour for me… but I would not be surprised if this ended up a draw too.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-1

JayO’s prediction: Brighton will be too good for Wolves, especially at home. 3-0

How did Sutton do last time?

Sutton made a strong start in part one of week 21, with four correct results from five games, including one exact score, for a total of 70 points so far.

He leads singer-songwriter Declan McKenna, who got two correct results, with no exact scores, giving him 20 points.

You can see the rest of Declan’s predictions, for part two of week 21, below. He is not forecasting a happy afternoon for Arsenal when they face Palace, which may have something to do with him being a Spurs fan.

“Sadly for Arsenal I think they’ll find it tough against Roy Hodgson’s barmy army,” McKenna said. “A Declan Rice hat-trick of own goals, here we go!”

JayO also made predictions for the first five games and, like McKenna, has 20 points so far.

How did you get on?

The three draws caught you out – you had gone for Burnley to beat Luton, Aston Villa to win at Everton and Tottenham to get the better of Manchester United at Old Trafford.

*Win, draw, loss prediction based on highest % of vote for each match.

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