Christmas Week Fixtures

There’s nothing like English football during the Christmas period. It takes on a unique atmosphere, the air filled with good spirits as well as spirits consumed. But it also draws a year to a close, offering the prospect of hope that a corner can be turned with flagging fortunes revived or a good start maintained. The crowd has more of a family feel to it. With relatives all coming together, it’s not unusual to see big groups all sitting together even in those matches where it’s difficult to get tickets. In this post, we look at the Premier League fixtures which take place in London over the festive period between 26^th December and 31^st December. Remember to plan well ahead for the Boxing Day fixtures on 26^th December – public transport runs but trains and tube journeys can often be delayed by engineering works. Always best to check before you travel. 26^th December 2016 Watford v Crystal Palace, Vicarage Road, kick-off 12.30pm Both sides have been among the goals recently with Crystal Palace hitting 4 against Swansea and 3 against both Southampton and Hull. That’s ten goals in three games, the same total the Eagles had managed during the preceding seven games. 2016 has been a tough year for Alan Pardew. Palace have been under the cosh winning just six games in the past twelve months. They’ve put their losing streak behind them though and recently enjoyed a mini-revival. However, the year finishes with a mind-blowing schedule which sees them play Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and West Ham United. Tough games and London derbies; it’s hard to see Palace taking many points in this spell. And Watford won’t make it easy. A 3 – 2 win over Everton in early December took them to the dizzy heights of seventh in the Premier League, just three points off the Europa League places. Many people had them favourites for the drop when the Italian Walter Mazzarri was appointed head coach. An unimpressive spell at Inter Milan had ended badly and Watford was an unlikely choice, on the pitch at least. But things have gone well for him and the Hornets are flying high. Both sides won the respective away games of this clash last season but Watford supporters are sure to view this as three points there for the taking. These games are always tight affairs but never dull. And this year, Palace can’t defend and Watford are free scoring; there’s no way this is going to finish goalless and with Watford doing well, this is a match well worth making your way to the London borders for! Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion, Emirates Stadium, kick-off 3pm Arsenal rarely lose this fixture and while Albion are obdurate opponents, this Gunners squad is in the mood for goals. Arsène Wenger’s men hit the top briefly with a 3 – 1 win over Stoke City in mid-December but have tricky games at Goodison Park against Everton and then the big pre-Christmas clash with Manchester City. Win them and maybe they will convert some more fans to their cause; winning the title was deemed a step too far before the campaign began but not anymore. Or not for the moment anyway. Traditionally a home banker, Arsenal have been making short work of defences at the Emirates this season, no matter the class of the opposition. They’ve only lost this match once in the Premier League era and twice in the last thirty-three years. It’s also one where they score plentifully. Albion’s manager Tony Pulis may have been the lead party-pooper for Arsenal in his Stoke days but the Gunners have been ruthless against his Albion sides. This is a match not to be missed with goals aplenty expected. Chelsea v Bournemouth, Stamford Bridge, kick-off 3pm Bournemouth pulled off a staggering victory in last season’s corresponding fixture but they surely won’t do it again, will they? Antonio Conte has Chelsea firing on all cylinders. At the time of writing, they have won eight on the trot and rarely concede. The Italian has switched to his favoured 3 – 4 – 2 – 1 and nobody has found a way of grabbing more than a goal against them since. And Chelsea are scoring plenty as well; 23 in their last seven Premier League matches. And it’s taken them to the top, deservedly so. However, they won’t take Bournemouth lightly. The Cherries made Arsenal work for their 3 – 1 win at the Emirates recently, following that up with a fantastic comeback against Liverpool, pulling back a 1 – 3 deficit to 4 – 3 and very nearly repeating the feat at Burnley the following week. They fell just short in a 2 – 3 defeat but scared the Clarets half to death. It should be a cracking match with Bournemouth a capable attacking foe. And Jack Wilshere will be fired up to give his Arsenal club a boost in the title race. 31^st December 2016 Chelsea v Stoke City, Stamford Bridge, kick-off 3pm Prepare for a night on the town with Stoke City’s visit to west London. The Potters have been resurgent following an appalling start to the season and will hope for the best in this fixture. Mark Hughes side were uncharacteristically naïve when taken apart by Arsenal in the second half of their recent encounter and the former Chelsea man will be hoping his squad has learned those lessons for this match. It has been a far from happy hunting ground for Stoke. They haven’t won a league match at Stamford Bridge in 42 years. That’s almost as long as Tottenham fans have been waiting to lift the league title. This should be a cracking match and the perfect aperitif for the evening’s partying.