🔗 Share this article

The Gunners' 10-game winning streak came to an end by the Black Cats prior to the international hiatus, but can the English top division frontrunners recover against local foes Tottenham this weekend?

"{I believe like Arsenal are miles ahead of Tottenham currently but Spurs boss Thomas Frank will have a plan for this match," remarked football expert Chris Sutton.

"The Spurs manager will attempt to nullify Arsenal, who have not always been at their scintillating finest this season - but Mikel Arteta's team typically still find a way to win."

Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League fixtures this season, against AI, fans and a range of special visitors.

In the twelfth round, he takes on singer Olly Murs, who is a Manchester United supporter.

The singer's latest record, Knees Up, is out on Friday.

Soccer and Parenting Life

Murs is a skilled soccer player as well as a successful singer and has been a star of multiple Soccer Aid games over time - but he is not intending a professional comeback as a player.

"{I actually played in a charity match the other night for a friend of mine," he explained. "The team was losing 3-1 when I was substituted in the 60th minute, and they proceeded to win 4-3, so you can read into that what you want!

"I still love football, but I injured my joint a few years ago and it even now hasn't fully recovered. I hope I could play more but the uncertainty of the game means it's too dangerous for me in my profession to do it seriously again.

"Plus I am forty-one now, and we are not all Cristiano Ronaldo, are we!? No, I am very happy not playing football and I am preparing for the time that my child or son decides to play instead."

Murs and his spouse Amelia Tank have a young family, their daughter and their son, and he is prepared to emulate his dad by becoming their manager.

"I won't push football on our kids but I've previously told my wife that if they do get the bug for it then I will have to go and get my coaching badges - and I will probably be coaching their weekend football side," he said.

"I observed my nephews play a lot, and I really got into it, and I obviously was involved with a soccer team for a while too.

"My father coached with us when I was a child, which is likely where I get it from. He coached our team for several seasons and had a wonderful time with it. That could be the future for me as well, and I am looking forward to it!"

Top Division Predictions

Weekend, 22 November

• Turf Moor, 12:30 GMT

The Blues might have to wait a bit longer for Cole Palmer's comeback from fitness issues but their offense is now more potent with Pedro and Delap both back fit.

In my opinion this game will be quite tight, however. The Clarets are well organised and their sole at Turf Moor defeats so far have been against Liverpool and Arsenal.

This smells of a 1-1 draw to me, but I am actually going to go with the London side to edge it for what would be their third consecutive league win in a row.

Sutton's forecast: 1-2

Olly's prediction: The Blues will be superior. 1-3

Artificial intelligence's prediction: 0-2

• Vitality Stadium, 15:00 GMT

Bournemouth have lost their past two games - although both of them were away - but they got absolutely spanked by Villa last time out which surprised me.

On the other hand, the Hammers secured back-to-back victories before the hiatus and, although both of those games were at their stadium, they do look competitive again.

West Ham's sole away victory this campaign came at Nottingham Forest in the summer, when their boss Nuno Espirito Santo was still Forest coach.

Therefore, what exactly do I predict here - will it be the Hammers continuing their streak under Nuno, or Bournemouth responding?

I will go with Bournemouth, because I think what happened against Villa was a anomaly.

Sutton's forecast: 2-0

The guest's prediction: The home team are doing well but the visitors have picked up under their boss. 2-2

AI's prediction: 1-1

• Amex Stadium, 15:00 GMT

The Bees were seen as one of the favourites for the drop before the season started, but they have surprised a few observers under their manager and are in fine fettle with three wins in their last four matches.

My son advised me to get Bees forward Igor Thiago in my fantasy soccer squad a few weeks ago and, guess what, I didn't listen.

Thiago will likely find the net again on the weekend but I am still not going to select him or back Brentford at Brighton's ground.

The Bees have not had great success on the travel this season, and the Seagulls are always strong at home. Brentford will try to hit them on the counter-attack but I think the home manager's side carry much more of a danger.

The analyst's forecast: 2-1

The singer's prediction: This could be a match where you think there is going to be a many scores but it actually proves to be quite tight. 1-1

AI's prediction: 2-1

• Craven Cottage, 15:00 GMT

It is a massive fixture for Fulham, who have lost five of their last six games.

They have have plenty of quality in their squad but it still seems like they could be sucked into a drop zone battle.

Regarding the Black Cats, well they are the surprise package of the Premier League campaign so far.

The away side's display in the 2-2 tie with Arsenal last time out was superb. We have not seen any other team disrupt the North London side like that this season, and they were more than a match for them.

The logical choice would be to back the visitors here, because they are obviously able of roughing Fulham up too and, the last time they were in this part of London, they beat the Blues at the end of October.

However I am not going to choose that. Instead, I really need to carry on opposing the away team with my forecasts. I am taking a lot of credit for their good results because they evidently love to prove me wrong.

Looking at Fulham's at Craven Cottage record, the only team they have lost to is Arsenal. Their manager's team will be extremely desperate for a positive outcome, so I am going to say they will secure three points.

The expert's prediction: 1-0

Olly's prediction: I'm aware Sunderland are performing strongly and additionally that the hosts are on a bad run... but Fulham have nonetheless been decent at Craven Cottage this season. 2-0

The algorithm's outlook: 2-0

• Anfield, 15:00 GMT

It is a tough fixture to predict. Liverpool have suffered seven of their past 10 games in all competitions, but could they be among the sides who benefit from the {international break|