Tipsters: Bad start for new-look Gunners!

Cape Town – A new manager in Unai Emery, a supposedly beefed-up defence, in particular … but Arsenal are still going to start the new English Premiership season on the back foot at home.

So say as many as six of the seven Sport24 forecasters, no doubt influenced, of course, by the fact that the visitors to the Emirates Stadium for a tasty Sunday clash are defending champions Manchester City.

Last season, City romped to a 3-0 win in London toward the end of the season, all the goals coming in the first half.

Each round of the 2018/19 campaign, a group of our staff has a crack at predicting the results – do the exercise yourself, if you like, and see how you compare afterwards.

Compiled by Rob Houwing (Newcastle-partial), the others are Garrin Lambley (Everton, and defending champion), Lloyd Burnard, Tashreeq Vardien, Baden Gillion and Lynn Butler (all Man Utd) plus Craig Taylor (Liverpool).

Three points are awarded for an entirely correct score-line, and one for right result.

OUR FORECASTS:

MANCHESTER UNITED v LEICESTER

Friday, 21:00

Rob: 2-1

Garrin: 2-0

Tashreeq: 2-1

Lloyd: 1-0

Lynn: 2-1

Craig: 1-0

Baden: 2-1

Last season: 2-0                

NEWCASTLE v TOTTENHAM

Saturday, 13:30

Rob: 1-1

Garrin: 1-2  

Tashreeq: 2-3

Lloyd: 2-2

Lynn: 0-2

Craig: 0-2

Baden: 0-3

Last season: 0-2                                               

FULHAM v CRYSTAL PALACE

Saturday, 16:00

Rob: 1-1

Garrin: 1-1

Tashreeq: 3-2

Lloyd: 2-0

Lynn: 1-1

Craig: 1-0

Baden: 1-0

Last season: Not applicable                                     

HUDDERSFIELD v CHELSEA

Saturday, 16:00

Rob: 0-1

Garrin: 0-2

Tashreeq: 1-2

Lloyd: 1-2

Lynn: 1-3

Craig: 0-2

Baden: 1-2

Last season: 1-3                                         

WATFORD v BRIGHTON

Saturday, 16:00

Rob: 2-1

Garrin: 1-1

Tashreeq: 1-2

Lloyd: 1-1

Lynn: 1-0

Craig: 1-1

Baden: 2-1

Last season: 0-0                                            

BOURNEMOUTH v CARDIFF

Saturday, 16:00

Rob: 2-1

Garrin: 2-1

Tashreeq: 2-3

Lloyd: 1-1

Lynn: 1-0

Craig: 2-1

Baden: 1-1

Last season: Not applicable        

WOLVES v EVERTON

Saturday, 18:30

Rob: 0-0

Garrin: 1-1

Tashreeq: 3-2

Lloyd: 2-1

Lynn: 0-1

Craig: 1-1

Baden: 2-1

Last season: Not applicable                                                  

LIVERPOOL v WEST HAM

Sunday, 14:30

Rob: 2-0

Garrin: 2-0

Tashreeq: 3-0

Lloyd: 3-0

Lynn: 2-0

Craig: 3-1

Baden: 2-1

Last season: 4-1                                             

SOUTHAMPTON v BURNLEY

Sunday, 14:30

Rob: 1-0

Garrin: 2-1

Tashreeq: 2-1

Lloyd: 0-0

Lynn: 1-1

Craig: 0-1

Baden: 1-2

Last season: 0-1      

ARSENAL v MANCHESTER CITY

Sunday, 17:00

Rob: 1-1

Garrin: 1-2

Tashreeq: 1-2

Lloyd: 0-2

Lynn: 1-2

Craig: 1-2

Baden: 1-3

Last season: 0-3