This week's festive Super Sunday sees two Christmas crackers which should be a couple of fantastic games.
After all the over indulging at Christmas, sit back, put your feet up and relax as, from 1pm, Sky Sports 1 &HD1 brings you coverage of Arsenal v Aston Villa. Both sides are in fantastic form and soaring high at the top of the table - but they will certainly not want to gift their rivals three points in this fixture.
Fabregas: vital to Arsenal's hopes
Then from 3.30pm we're off to the KC Stadium where Hull City will be taking on title-chasing Manchester United.
Sky Sports expert Paul Merson gives his views ahead of both games...
Arsenal v Aston Villa
1.30pm, Sun, Sky Sports 1 & HD1
Last year Aston Villa beat Arsenal 2-0 at the Emirates and they absolutely battered them. They deserved to win and were the much better team on the day. This year the clash between two of my old sides is going to be a very, very big game.
If Fabregas doesn't play I don't see Arsenal winning, that's how important he is to them.
Paul Merson
Quotes of the week
Arsenal v Aston Villa
1pm, Sun, Sky Sports 1 & HD1
Hull City v Manchester United
3.30pm, Sun, Sky Sports 1 & HD1
Arsenal have got their eye on the league title after a series of good results and some more performances from Chelsea and Manchester United have put them back in the hunt. Arsenal will be favourites to win but Villa are playing really well - even if their performances are going under the radar at the moment.
If Villa can get three points, and then beat an out-of-form Liverpool a couple of days later I would be shocked if they didn't finish in the top four - even if they got four points from those two games.
Villa have already beaten three of the top four this season with wins over Manchester United and Liverpool away from home and a 2-1 victory at Villa Park against Chelsea and they will go into this game with no fear of Arsenal. They're a young, enthusiastic side and they won't go to the Emirates to sit back.
Martin O'Neill's side are nowhere near the finished article but they certainly won't melt away at the end of the season like they did last year.
They've also got an on-fire James Milner in their side - I bet he wishes it was May because he would definitely be on the plane to South Africa playing the way he is at the moment.
Arsenal will be hoping their main man, Cesc Fabregas, comes through a fitness test before the game because he will be a big factor in the outcome of this match. They need him to play in this game.
MERSON'S MAGIC MAN
Cesc Fabregas - If he doesn't play I don't see Arsenal winning. That's how important he is to them. He drives them forward and he's the one who is going to open Villa up.
PAUL'S PREDICTION
Home win - This is a really tough one. It shows how much Villa have come on that I'm not 100 per cent certain Arsenal will beat them at home. However, Arsenal won't forget last year - when Villa became only the second team other than Man U to beat Arsenal well at the Emirates - and for that reason, assuming Fabregas plays, I predict Arsenal will win 2-1.
Hull v Manchester United
4.00pm, Sun, Sky Sports 1 & HD1
If ever Hull were going to beat Manchester United at home this is it, when Sir Alex Ferguson's side have so many defenders out injured. However, I still hardly give them a chance - even if they've got a little more than usual.
United were exposed by their defensive problems at Fulham last week but I don't think Hull have got enough up front to hurt Man U, that's the problem. They haven't got a Bobby Zamora - although, they did try to sign him in the summer. He ripped Michael Carrick apart and made him look like the makeshift centre-half he is.
Apart from the defensive problems, I don't think United have got out of second gear yet this season and they are only four points behind Chelsea. They've been unlucky with injuries to lose six top centre-halves all at once. Chelsea lost the league a few years ago when John Terry and Petr Cech got injured - though, I don't think United's title chances are at risk yet.
Meanwhile, after a good November Hull have struggled in the past few weeks. At Arsenal Giovanni missed a crucial penalty which could have made it 1-1. If he scores that then it becomes a different game - you get more air in your lungs, you have something to hold on to, Arsenal would have been knocked sideways...
It was the turning point in the game, then two minutes later it's game over and you are looking at a potential cricket score.
It will be interesting to see how other results affect this game. If teams around Hull all lose then it is like a free game for them, a free swing and they can go for it. However, if the teams around them all win then it's a different kettle of fish.
However, the pressure could also be on Manchester United if Chelsea beat Birmingham earlier in the day.
I can't see Phil Brown resting players like Mick McCarthy did with his Wolves side. I don't think McCarthy would have done it at home. This year we've seen Wigan beat Chelsea at home and Fulham beat Man U at home, so teams are prepared to have a go now. So, I don't see them resting players but I still don't think they'll have enough to beat United.
MERSON'S MAGIC MAN
- Wayne Rooney. I wouldn't like to see Man U play without him in the team. He's is absolutely top draw for them. He makes things happen, he's got a great work rate, everyone else bounces off him, he chases lost causes, he gets the crowd going. If he played a bit closer to Dimitar Berbatov - like Robbie Keane used to do - then United would have a really good partnership there.
PAUL'S PREDICTION
- Away win United will have too much for them and I think if it gets to 2-0 Phil Brown will start pulling his best players off ahead of the other games they've got over Christmas. I'm going for 4-0 Man United.
Comments (17)
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Mark Sandhu (Arsenal fan) says...
I think the game will be close with or without Fabregas. But if he does play then arsenal have got little bit more in opening villa up, as they have one of the best defensive records in the league. Also arsenal have struggled againt villa at the emirates drawing and losing so it will be close. But if Vermaelen is on form and almunia doesen't do anything silly, Arsenal ll win the game due to their extra skill and quality. No doubt Aston villa will battle but form is temporary, class is permanent and arsenal have class. Arsenal 2-1 Villa !
Posted 13:55 26th December 2009
Shane Skinner (Arsenal fan) says...
In all honesty i am quite confident due to the form where in and averaging over 2 points every home match which proves where a brilliant side at home. But in fairness to Aston Villa who are on sensational form they are a good side and have beaten three of the top four. But in my opinion i think it will be 2-1 to the Gunners! c'mon!
Posted 00:36 26th December 2009
Jedu Armar (Arsenal fan) says...
I am 16, and what I think Wenger has forgot is that we have a number of class midfielder that all as good as each other. I think its going to be very hard to choose a quad seeing that at the moment they all all on form playing great football and they all on form. What i recon should happen is Wenger should play a diamond formation in the midfield, with Fabregas playing his usual central midfield role and have Song playing quite defensive, then have Diaby playing attacive sitting just behind Merida who will be playing a high role.Then on the wings we should have Walcott and Arshavin
Posted 22:14 25th December 2009
Nazir Kamani (Arsenal fan) says...
If Arsenal come out with no hand brake on, they should win. If they get complacent like they do every few games, Villa will take the advantage. Arsenal need to be hungry from the get go as the title is in sight.
Posted 18:13 25th December 2009
Jack Bowman (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...
Arsenal are a mediocre team without RVP and Fabregas. They will have most of the possession in this game but get beat by villas counter attacks. This season represents the changing of the guard with the big 4 becoming the big 5 of manu, chelsea, villa, spurs and man city with arsenal and liverpool left behind!
Posted 17:21 25th December 2009
Mark Lee (Arsenal fan) says...
Merson I think your wrong when you say we will only win if we have Fabregas fit. We are not just a one man team and I think some of you old arsenal boys need to have a little faith in your old team. I have to say your not as bad as Ian Wright when it come to criticism, but this Arsenal team have proven alot of you pundits wrong this season. Alot of you did not think Arsenal would be where they are at present. I think Arsenal we win 2-1 with or with out Cesc, and I would love to see him play on the day.
Posted 01:22 25th December 2009
Ben Appleby (Aston Villa fan) says...
I think this game is too close to call. Not too much will change from last season. Arsenal will press and have the majority of the possession, and Villa will hit them on the break when they can. While defensively Villa have improved, it only takes one of those intricate Arsenal moves to get through, and Villa will have to press the game which will fall into Arsenal's hands. I'm going to sit on the fence and say 1-1. A victory against Liverpool 2 days after will see us with a good 4 points that will set us up for the rest of the season.
Posted 22:33 24th December 2009
Kevin Webster (Arsenal fan) says...
Personally, I agree with Merse to some degree. Arsenal are a strong team when playing well and especially when Fabregas is playing. He creates chances out of nothing and can turn a game with a single pass. However, if he does not pass the physical beforehand, I still feel Arsenal will win the game - narrowly!! There is so much attacking class within the Arsenal team, with Arshavin, Nasri, Rosicky, Denilson, Walcott et al they can always create a chance from nothing. I feel a 2-1 victory to Arsenal will do the boys justice and keep them in reach of Chelski and United.
Posted 21:40 24th December 2009
Toba Gyan (Manchester United fan) says...
I dont know about Rooney. For me he is out of form, getting frustrated all the time, giving the ball away time and again, and not scoring goals (take the penalties away). all these flaws are masked by the fact that he runs all over the pitch, so he looks like he is effective. For me he has to do more for the team offensively, open things up and create assists for the team. Having said that, he does need help like he used to help cristiano ronaldo.
Posted 17:18 24th December 2009
Lyndon Heritage (Arsenal fan) says...
Arsenal will only win this if Arshavin is in form or we have another long(er) range goal from midfield, a bit like denilson's effort. Brad Friedal is one of, if not the best, goalkeepers in the premier league at the moment. Without Van Persie and Eduardo not being able to finish his dinner at the moment, we will need some magic. If the game is equal I think villa might snatch it. If Arsenal are their usual selves, we will win 2-0.
Posted 16:33 24th December 2009
Steve Goddard (Manchester United fan) says...
I think we have to get a settled back four again, we have been lucky so far to still be in the hunt. We are looking frail at the back and not much happening up front. I agree with Fergie, we need to be more adventourous up front. I think we will beat Hull, but only just!! We need to buy in January, some of the players we are using are just not up to it, what do we do when Scholes and Giggs call it a day??
Posted 12:49 24th December 2009
Danny Bailey (Aston Villa fan) says...
sorry merse, i think that villa are on such a high at the moment, theres no better team in country at present and cant see anything other than a stalemate or villa win. weve quality all over the park unlike arsenal who rely on there top players
Posted 11:52 24th December 2009
Jimmy Fasan (Manchester United fan) says...
You guys like deceiving yourselves about Wayne Rooney, He is more of a liability than asset. What position exactly does he play in. I will say he plays more in the defence than attack. What is he doing playing corner kicks when he should be the beneficiary of such balls. He fools everybody by running all over the field to cover the fact he is not scoring. People now talk of work rate instead of goals. They have just chosen the best three players in the world and the best eleven in Europe, is he included. That says it all and i am a man u fan
Posted 11:49 24th December 2009
Pierre Kassar (Arsenal fan) says...
i wonder why arsenal have this amount of injury players every season . they should get a world class striker this year to replace van persie i.e: Dzeko from wolfsburg and why not Villa from Spain he is a world class player who didnt play champions league this year , so we should spend on such player . i hope arsenal can do it this season winning something because if not , we can easily loose fabregas and many other good talented players....
Posted 11:41 24th December 2009
Gary Powell (Aston Villa fan) says...
i thinks its going to be an end to end game but think Villa will ride it through and predict a 0-0 draw
Posted 11:20 24th December 2009
Emeka Buckers (Arsenal fan) says...
Cesc is always a huge influence on the pitch anyday but if he's not playing against Aston Villa, Ramsy can always fill into that position. Dont forget we've got Denilson too. Yes it will be a cracker but am positive we'll win by 2-0. Am sure the players know how important this match is. gunners 4 life!
Posted 11:20 24th December 2009
Nathan Ashley (Arsenal fan) says...
I believe that even without fabreags arsenal can win. Per game arsenal have 4-8 shots at goal now if we put them away at the right times regardless of what side we put out we'd win. If we can't win this game we don't deserve to win the league!
Posted 10:37 24th December 2009
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