Forget the Royal Wedding, this weekend all eyes will be on the Premier League with some cracking fixtures to look forward to. Premier League matches don’t get much bigger than Arsenal v Manchester United, and Sir Alex Ferguson knows that three points at The Emirates Stadium will all but guarantee the title for Man United. Chelsea still have a slim chance of retaining their crown, but they’ll have to beat Tottenham at Stamford Bridge, who themselves are trying to secure another season in the Champions League. There’s also Liverpool v Newcastle at Anfield, which will see Andy Carroll come up against his former club.

Here’s how the country’s newspaper journalists think the weekend’s action will pan out…

Steve Bates:

[youtube lwYIzYh-s9I]

[divider]

Andy Dunn:

[youtube _7w96pk5ij4]

[divider]

Shaun Custis:

[youtube wh0j36r_-OQ]

[divider]

Continue to the NEXT PAGE for the predictions in full…

Football Writers’ Association Predictions – Week 39

Current April standings

1. Steve Bates – 22 (6)

2. Martin Lipton – 22 (7)

3. Patrick Barclay – 21 (7)

4. Des Kelly – 21 (5)

5. Shaun Custis – 18 (5)

6. Andy Dunn – 15 (3)

7. Glenn Moore – 14 (5)

[divider]

Overall standings

1. Steve Bates – 184

2. Martin Lipton – 179

3. Shaun Custis – 177

4. Glenn Moore – 172

5. Des Kelly – 170

6. Patrick Barclay – 166

7. Andy Dunn – 165

[divider]

Patrick Barclay (The Times)

Home Team

Away Team

Arsenal

V

Man United

A

Blackburn

V

Bolton

A

Blackpool

V

Stoke

H

Chelsea

V

Tottenham

H

Liverpool

V

Newcastle

H

Man City

V

West Ham

H

Sunderland

V

Fulham

D

West Brom

V

Aston Villa

H

Wigan

V

Everton

A

Birmingham

V

Wolves

A

BLACKBURN V BOLTON: Another roasting for the Rovers

Des Kelly (Daily Mail)

Home Team

Away Team

Arsenal

V

Man United

A

Blackburn

V

Bolton

A

Blackpool

V

Stoke

A

Chelsea

V

Tottenham

H

Liverpool

V

Newcastle

H

Man City

V

West Ham

H

Sunderland

V

Fulham

D

West Brom

V

Aston Villa

D

Wigan

V

Everton

D

Birmingham

V

Wolves

H

Arsenal v Man United: Arsene Wenger said there was no shame in finishing second – and promptly slipped to third. United were marvellous in midweek and are within touching distance of the title. A win at Arsenal will make the trophy a formality.

Shaun Custis (The Sun)

Home Team

Away Team

Arsenal

V

Man United

A

Blackburn

V

Bolton

A

Blackpool

V

Stoke

D

Chelsea

V

Tottenham

H

Liverpool

V

Newcastle

H

Man City

V

West Ham

H

Sunderland

V

Fulham

D

West Brom

V

Aston Villa

D

Wigan

V

Everton

H

Birmingham

V

Wolves

D

BLACKPOOL V STOKE – Stoke are in good form bouyed by that FA Cup semi-final win. Blackpool though are in a relegation dogfight and need a victory but I expect a draw.

[divider]

Continue to the NEXT PAGE for more predictions…

Andy Dunn (News of the World)

Home Team

Away Team

Arsenal

V

Man United

H

Blackburn

V

Bolton

H

Blackpool

V

Stoke

A

Chelsea

V

Tottenham

H

Liverpool

V

Newcastle

H

Man City

V

West Ham

H

Sunderland

V

Fulham

A

West Brom

V

Aston Villa

H

Wigan

V

Everton

A

Birmingham

V

Wolves

H

Chelsea v Tottenham: Chelsea are on a real roll at the moment and they’ll want to put the pressure on Man United, and I think they will. Tottenham probably now realise that fourth place is just a little bit of a long-shot now.

Martin Lipton (The Mirror)

Home Team

Away Team

Arsenal

V

Man United

A

Blackburn

V

Bolton

D

Blackpool

V

Stoke

D

Chelsea

V

Tottenham

H

Liverpool

V

Newcastle

H

Man City

V

West Ham

H

Sunderland

V

Fulham

D

West Brom

V

Aston Villa

H

Wigan

V

Everton

D

Birmingham

V

Wolves

H

Steve Bates (The People)

Home Team

Away Team

Arsenal

V

Man United

D

Blackburn

V

Bolton

A

Blackpool

V

Stoke

H

Chelsea

V

Tottenham

H

Liverpool

V

Newcastle

H

Man City

V

West Ham

H

Sunderland

V

Fulham

D

West Brom

V

Aston Villa

D

Wigan

V

Everton

A

Birmingham

V

Wolves

H

Man City v West Ham: With the big prize of a Champions League place tantalisingly close Roberto Mancini’s stars should be too strong for a West Ham side fighting against the drop   

Glenn Moore (The Independent)

Home Team

Away Team

Arsenal

V

Man United

D

Blackburn

V

Bolton

D

Blackpool

V

Stoke

H

Chelsea

V

Tottenham

H

Liverpool

V

Newcastle

H

Man City

V

West Ham

H

Sunderland

V

Fulham

D

West Brom

V

Aston Villa

D

Wigan

V

Everton

A

Birmingham

V

Wolves

H

Birmingham v Wolves: Wolves desperately miss Kevin Doyle while Birmingham are climbing out of trouble – home win