Weekend Premiership

Not at bad start at all from Tom here, with two from three – only Everton were unable to oblige.

The first live game of the new campaign comes at the Emirates on Saturday lunchtime and it doesn’t get much tougher for West Brom on their return to the top flight than a trip to play Arsene Wenger’s side. The two teams were labelled as the best ‘footballing’ sides in their respective divisions last season, Arsenal finishing third in the Premier League with the Baggies wining the Championship, and it is hard to imagine anything other than a decent, attractive encounter.

I won’t be playing on the game in North London but moving onto the 3.00 kick-offs and Everton, at odds against, look terrific value to get the better of Blackburn. The visitors appear in turmoil, before a ball is even kicked in anger, and I’ll be looking to take them on.

Paul Ince’s arrival as manger following Mark Hughes’ departure to Manchester City seems not to have gone down too well with the players at Ewood Park (there is talk of press up punishments in training, incredibly) and, having lost two of his key men in Bentley and Friedel, it looks like being a long season for the guv’nor.

While I think Everton will not quite hit the heights of previous campaigns this time around, others look to have improved past them, they are still a formidable side at home and David Moyes is sure to have them fired up. Goodison Park is never an easy place to go to and the confidence in the bet is strengthened following a late bid this week for the away side’s Roque Santa Cruz. His head is sure to have been turned by interest from his old boss and I take the Toffees to start with three points.

While I want to be with Everton at home, one host I’ll be laying this weekend is West Ham. They entertain Wigan at Upton Park and look plenty short enough at just 2.00 to get the better of their stubborn opponents.

West Ham, like Blackburn, look set for difficult season and Alan Curbishley has his work cut out if he is to win back the support of some fairly despondent Hammers fans. With Valon Behrami the only significant arrival during the summer and Bobby Zamora departed, they’ll struggle to match last season’s efforts when finishing 10th, despite the return of some key men after injury. Wigan, in contrast, have strengthened in plenty of areas and I really like the look of their back five. A solid unit, they don’t concede too many and are always a a threat on the break too.

At the prices, I can’t turn down the opportunity to have Wigan and the draw on my side at even money and I am also encouraged by their excellent record at Upton Park in recent times. It’s two wins and a draw for the Latics when the sides have met in East London in the Premier League and Steve Bruce will be delighted to take a point on the opening day. That will do for me also.

On Sunday, plenty of the attention will be focused on the live games, at Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford, as the two title favourites start their campaigns but my eyes were drawn to the odds against about Aston Villa beating Manchester City and I think that price is more than fair.

Both were in Uefa Cup qualifying action on Thursday but while Villa romped to victory, City were humiliated at home by Danish side Midtjylland. All is certainly not right at Eastlands at present and Villa, perhaps, should be a shade of odds on.