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Premier League questions: Can Arsenal improve defensively at the Emirates?

Arsene Wenger gives instructions to Arsenal's Hector Bellerin
Image: Arsenal have conceded twice as many Premier League goals at home this season (eight) as they have away from home (four)

The Premier League returns for another round of fixtures this weekend and there are plenty of jinxes to be broken.

Super Sunday will serve up a triple-header this weekend, kicking off with Watford against Stoke City from 11.30am on Sky Sports 1 HD.

That will be followed by Arsenal's match against Bournemouth, with the day's action coming to a close when Ronald Koeman takes his Everton side to former club Southampton.

Elsewhere, league leaders Chelsea will look to end Tottenham's unbeaten start in the league, while Sunderland are bidding to end a 33-year winless streak at Anfield.

With of a busy weekend of top-flight football almost upon us, we take a look at the pressing questions ahead of those 10 matches…

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Sunday Preview

Will Deeney finally go 100 up for the Hornets? (Watford v Stoke City - Nissan Super Sunday, 11.30am, Sky Sports 1 HD)

It has been almost two months since Troy Deeney scored for Watford, with a goal against Bournemouth marking his 99th for the club.

Deeney has since gone five games without scoring for the Hornets, but the influential skipper deserves credit for helping Watford occupy eighth in the Premier League, having played all but 12 minutes in the league this season.

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Meanwhile, Stoke are looking to return to their October form which saw them take 10 points from four games - Mark Hughes' side have picked up just one point from two matches so far in November.

Joe Allen scored twice against Sunderland
Image: Joe Allen inspired Stoke to pick up 10 points in four league games last month

Can the Gunners improve defensively at home? (Arsenal v Bournemouth - Nissan Super Sunday, 2pm, Sky Sports 1 HD)

Arsenal boast the worst defensive record at home of all Premier League challengers this season.

The Gunners have conceded twice as many Premier League goals at home this season (8) as they have away from home (4).

Arsenal will have to improve defensively if they want to compete for honours come May next year, while three league wins from six at the Emirates this campaign is hardly title-winning form.

Bournemouth will be chasing a first victory against Arsenal, having lost all three of their previous meetings with Arsene Wenger's side.

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Watch Eddie Howe showing of some of his skills as he takes Bournemouth's training ahead of their Premier League match with Arsenal

Will Koeman return to haunt the Saints? (Southampton v Everton - Nissan Super Sunday, 4.15pm, Sky Sports 1 HD)

After making the switch from Southampton to Everton in the summer, Ronald Koeman will face his old club for the first time as Toffees boss on Sunday.

And while it is has been debated whether this was a sidewards step for Koeman, his Everton side currently sit seventh in the Premier League, with Southampton down in 11th.

Everton's Romelu Lukaku enjoys playing at St Mary's, having scored three and assisted one in four Premier League appearances at Southampton.

Meanwhile, Southampton will hope to rediscover their form in front of goal after firing blanks in their last two league matches at home - they haven't gone three games without scoring there since February 2015.

Right choice for Koeman?
Right choice for Koeman?

Was Ronald Koeman right to swap Southampton for Everton? We weigh up the cases for and against.

Will the Clarets upset City once again? (Burnley v Manchester City - Saturday, 12.30pm)

When Manchester City last travelled to Turf Moor in March 2015, a George Boyd winner for Burnley dented City's hopes of defending their Premier League crown.

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Saturday Preview

The result could not prevent Burnley from being relegated that season, but having secured an immediate return to the top tier, Sean Dyche's side currently sit 12th in the table after 12 games.

Burnley have won three of their last four home games, while they entertain a City side who scored the highest tally (15) of goals away from home in the league this season.

And Sergio Aguero will be keen to make his mark on Saturday - the striker has scored against 28 of the 30 different teams he's faced in the league, with Burnley one of the two that he is yet to score against (0 goals, 1 app).

Sergio Aguero goal celeb, Manchester City v Sunderland, Premier League
Image: Sergio Aguero has scored 31 goals in his last 33 Premier League appearances for Manchester City

Can the Baggies make it three on the spin? (Hull City v West Brom - Saturday, 3pm)

West Brom followed up a 2-1 victory over champions Leicester City with an impressive 4-0 win at home to Burnley on Monday Night Football.

The Baggies have not won three successive league games since November 2012, when then-manager Steve Clarke guided them to four on the trot.

However, they must overcome the obstacle of beating Hull at the KCOM Stadium, having never recorded an away win against the Tigers in the Premier League (D1 L2).

West Brom manager Tony Pulis
Image: Tony Pulis has won his last three PL matches against Hull, all with different teams (Stoke in 2010, Crystal Palace in 2014 and West Brom in 2015)

Will Vardy down Boro again? (Leicester City v Middlesbrough - Saturday, 3pm)

Despite having two Premier League goals in 12 appearances this season, Jamie Vardy has scored in all three of his previous starts against Middlesbrough in league competition.

Vardy's record has contributed towards Middlesbrough failing to win any of their last 12 league clashes with Leicester (D6 L6); making it Boro's longest current winless streak against any team.

Leicester will be in a buoyant mood after securing qualification for the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday.

And although their Premier League defence has all but grinded to a halt, the Foxes remain difficult to beat at the King Power Stadium this season, losing just twice in all competitions (W6 D2).

Jamie Vardy in action at  Old Trafford
Image: Jamie Vardy has scored in all three of his previous starts against Middlesbrough in league competition (three goals in total)

Can the Black Cats finally win at Anfield? (Liverpool v Sunderland - Saturday, 3pm)

Liverpool have never lost a Premier League match against Sunderland at Anfield (W7 D8).

The Black Cats last won a league game at Liverpool in 1983, making it their least-favoured away ground among the teams currently in the top tier.

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In order to pull off a rare win, they will look towards star striker Jermain Defoe, who has been involved in 21 of Sunderland's 41 league goals in 2016 so far (51 per cent - 18 goals, 3 assists).

Liverpool's firepower comes in the shape of Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho, with the pair combining to create 16 goalscoring chances for one another this season, more than any other duo in the league.

Liverpool's Roberto Firmino celebrates scoring his side's fourth goal of the game with Philippe Coutinho (right) during the Premier League match at Anfield
Image: No two players have combined to create more goalscoring chances for one another in the Premier League this season than Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinh

Is Pardew one game from the sack? (Swansea v Crystal Palace - Saturday, 3pm)

Both Swansea and Crystal Palace are on a miserable run heading into Saturday's match at the Liberty Stadium.

The Swans have not won since the opening day of the season, and are yet to win under Bob Bradley after the American replaced Francesco Guidolin at the helm.

Palace meanwhile, sit bottom of the pile for points won per game in 2016 from England's top four divisions.

This sorry stat has been compounded by their recent form, losing five league games on the bounce, and media reports suggest Palace boss Alan Pardew could face the sack in they fail to win this one.

Pardew
Image: Crystal Palace have the lowest points per game ratio in England's top four divisions this year

Will it be 30th time lucky for Spurs at Stamford Bridge? (Chelsea v Spurs - Saturday, 5.30pm)

Tottenham have won none of their last 29 visits to Stamford Bridge in all competitions (D11 L18) since a 2-1 win in February 1990 - just six of the 23 players to appear for Spurs this season in the Premier League had been born before this victory.

Spurs must upset the odds if they are to maintain their unbeaten start in the league this season, and Mauricio Pochettino's men come up against an in-form Chelsea.

The Blues are currently top of the table having won six successive league games - a startling return to form after they were humbled in a 3-0 defeat at Arsenal in September.

This will be their first meeting since Chelsea ended Spurs' hopes of lifting the Premier League trophy last season, and the visitors will be out for revenge on Saturday evening. 

Chelsea's Eden Hazard celebrates scoring his side's second goal of the game v Tottenham, Premier League
Image: Eden Hazard equalised against Tottenham in May of last season to end Spurs' title hopes

Can Mourinho defy the history books? (Manchester United v West Ham - Sunday, 4.30pm)

Interestingly, in each of his five full Premier League seasons as a manager, Jose Mourinho's league placing after 12 games has been his final league placing that season - Manchester United are currently sixth after 12 games this campaign.

And it appears Mourinho faces an uphill task to break into the current top five, with fifth-placed Tottenham five points ahead of United going into the weekend's fixtures.

However, United will be confident of picking up three points, having lost just two of their last 23 league games against West Ham at Old Trafford (W20 D1).

The Hammer are teetering above the relegation zone in 17th currently, and they were target a first win at United since 2007, when Carlos Tevez's winner helped them avoid relegation.

Manchester City's Carlos Tevez wears a West Ham United shirt as he leaves the field of play after the final whistle, v Man City, May 2010
Image: West Ham haven’t won at Old Trafford since their 1-0 victory in May 2007, in which Carlos Tevez found the net to help the Hammers avoid relegation

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