Arsenal Football Club are, without a doubt, one of the biggest clubs in England. They are also one of the most parsimoniously run. You often hear people tell you that ‘football is a business’ – and few clubs showcase that more than the Gunners. However, one positive of the last few years is the growing number of academy kids who have grown into the squad.

Say it quietly, but the one who might be likely to make that step-up next is young Joe Willock.

What makes him so special?

Really, it’s hard to pin down one attribute with Willock. Having already played in the UEFA Europa League final, he’s got top flight experience far beyond someone of his age normally. However, he’s also made a big impression in early pre-season games for Arsenal, with the 19-year-old having already made a big impact on the USA tour.

One thing that makes him stand out is that he appears to be a rapid learner. Already, Willock looks a more rounded player than last year. His developmental rate is very impressive, and manager Unai Emery has been very quick to talk up his ability to learn and progress.

If there is one thing that should really put Willock in the spotlight, it’s that ability to improve and grow to a whole new level without much gametime. That’s an important attribute for a player who might not see huge amounts of gametime this year.

Any concerns or doubts?

Really, the doubts are with his club rather than the player himself. Arsenal have endured rather than enjoyed the summer window, and now look set to have a tough fight for UEFA Champions League qualification on his hands. Willock might find himself playing at the top-end for a club who’s struggling to justify their place at the top.

That can be tough for a youngster, so the concern is more likely to be that he could get engulfed in another negative Arsenal season rather than any specific doubts about quality.

For some time now, the Norwich City ‘dream’ has been slowly eroding into a minor nightmare. Norwich have a pretty shocking record against Manchester United, too, having lost three of the last four games to them 4-0. With a poor run of form that is now beginning to stretch far beyond what many would have expected, can the Canaries sing when they really need to get a tune?

Norwich City news

The canary is almost certainly beginning to sing down the coalmine for the Premier League’s most exciting newcomers. Poor performances are beginning to stack, and 21 goals conceded by late October makes for worrying reading. They’ve lost four of their last six, and look in pretty poor form.

Since they bested Manchester City, the club has been on a steady spiral of poor results. Six losses so far is already a concern, and Daniel Farke must quietly be getting concerned.

Manchester United News

Thankfully for Norwich, their big-name opponents aren’t in much better condition. The Red Devils are on a similar run of just one win in their last six, though they have only lost two in that time. With both teams sitting on a paltry two wins, and just 10 goals scored, United at least can say they have conceded only the 9.

For United, it’s likely to be a big change-up from the team that frustrated Liverpool so well. They will be expected to come out and play this time; can they do that, though?

Verdict

United win – but only just. Norwich simply lose too many goals and spend far too long in games under pressure. Silly mistakes and daft errors are commonplace in both teams, but we think that United will make the least crucial mistakes in this one – meaning they should get the three points.

After both teams were surprisingly promoted last year, it’s fair to say that the start to life in the Premier League has been challenging. Both Norwich City and Aston Villa have had some good results so far, but also they’ve endured some chastising defeats. It’s hard to know exactly where both teams will end up in the league, but a win here for either would be essential. Momentum is needed as we edge towards the wild festive period, so both teams could use something here to put them in position for the most demanding part of the football calendar.

Norwich City News

The injuries are fair piling up for the Canaries. Alongside two first team keepers Ralf Fahrmann and Tim Krul, other important players missing include Mario Vrancic, Timm Klose, and Onel Hernandez. The lack of numbers means that Norwich will likely stick with a similar line-up to what they have used recently; manager Daniel Farke does not really have the luxury of changes.

Michael McGovern is likely to take place in nets, with Ben Godfrey and Grant Hanley coming in.

Aston Villa News

Meanwhile, Villa are likely to be without Matt Targett, Henri Lansbury, James Chester, and Wesley. All four players have been important for them – though Chester has yet to play this year – meaning that Dean Smith has similarly limited options in some places.

Jonathan Kodija is back, though, and the big Ivorian could be an essential addition to their first team as the season begins to move towards its most extensive period in terms of fixtures.

Verdict

Hard to say for sure, but we would suspect that Norwich will have a good chance of picking up something. Villa have made a worrying habit of conceding daft goals, and with Norwich scoring at least 2 goals in each of their last 3 home games in the league, we can see them scoring a few here. Villa are winless in 3, but both sides are quite unreliable at present: a draw feels likely.

In a season of massive transition and change for Chelsea FC, expect to see a lot of faces you have never seen before. As outside of Christian Pulisic and Mateo Kovacic, signings are not coming through the door. While 40-plus players have returned after their loan contracts ran out, new manager Frank Lampard has been quick to praise a youngster who has waited patiently for a chance: Billy Gilmour.

What makes him so special?

The youngster gave up the chance to play for Glasgow Rangers in a bid to try his luck at Chelsea, giving up the opportunity for regular game time to come to London. What makes him so special, though, is his ability: he’s very un-Scottish. A fantastic passer with wonderful vision and excellent balance on the ball, Gilmour stands out as he looks more like a European midfielder than a British one.

He’s very impressive on the ball, with the former Rangers player having immense close control and a fantastic range of passing. If Chelsea are looking for a spark in the middle, someone with composure to handle the pace of the game even when things are at their most wild is a huge boon to any side.

Any concerns or doubts?

The fear with Gilmour is the pace and intensity of the Premier League might be just too much at this moment in time. While his passing and his ability to read a game should see him make it one day, this season could see limited appearances due to his small stature and the immense number of midfielders the Blues have.

It will be interesting to see what they do next. If Gilmour does miss his chance to get gametime this year, though, the resumption of signings next summer could kill his chance. If a chance comes along, he’ll need to compensate for his slight physical frame as best he can.