Premier League predictions: Chris Sutton v golf superstar & Arsenal fan Ian Poulter – and AI

Arsenal‘s mental strength was questioned when their previous Premier League title run-ins faltered under Mikel Arteta, but one of their most famous fans feels their mindset will not be an issue this season.

Golf superstar Ian Poulter, renowned for his own rock-solid self-belief and dominant performances under pressure in the Ryder Cup, feels Arteta has that side of things under control.

«I definitely don’t need to give them a pep talk about it,» he told BBC Sport. «Mikel has got that nicely covered and they are in the right place. He really backs them up 100%, even if they make mistakes.

«Experience counts here, too.

«Some of them have got some scar tissue of not getting over the line in the past but, mentally, you would hope Mikel has got the players more together than ever just by saying ‘look you know you are good enough and we now have a deep enough squad, so you have every reason to go into every game more confident than you were before’.»

You can watch Poulter play for Majesticks GC at the LIV Golf event in Adelaide, Australia from 12-15 February on TNT Sports.

He is also taking on BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton – as well as the BBC readers and AI – by trying to predict the results of this week’s midweek Premier League matches on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Do you agree with their scores? You can pick your own below.

The most popular scoreline selected for each game is used in the scoreboards and tables at the bottom of this page.

A correct result (picking a win, draw or defeat) is worth 10 points. The exact score earns 40 points.

Before turning to golf, 50-year-old Poulter was a keen footballer and had trials with Arsenal’s north London rivals Tottenham aged 13.

«I am so glad that never worked out!» he explained. «I had two left feet, and it turned out everyone else Spurs have signed since has got two left feet as well.

«As soon as I turned 16, my focus was 100% on golf, and every waking minute of the day was about me being my own boss and telling myself that if I worked hard enough I would achieve big things.

«But I do miss football. I miss the kind of team camaraderie it gave me and I think that’s why I’ve always loved the Ryder Cup as much as I’ve loved it.

«It’s because that’s where I can get the team aspect, the bonding and learning to how to win as a team, as well as the disappointments that come with that as well – I’ve always loved the dynamic of that extra pressure.

«Obviously going out to play golf for yourself is fine and you can take the hit if it doesn’t work out, but having that the extra weight of playing for your peers and your captain is nice – if you can deal with it.»

Chris Sutton and Ian Poulter were speaking to BBC Sport’s Chris Bevan.

The AI predictions were generated using Microsoft Copilot Chat – we simply asked the tool to ‘predict this week’s Premier League scores’.

Leeds turned Chelsea over at Elland Road in December but they are not the same force away from home and this game smells of Chelsea revenge to me.

The Blues have made a good start under new boss Liam Rosenior, with four wins out of four in the league. Cole Palmer has hit form too, and they should win this fairly comfortably.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-0

Ian’s prediction: We annihilated Leeds a few days ago, and could have scored way more than the four we got. Chelsea look pretty solid at the moment too. 3-0

AI’s prediction: 2-1

Everton did well to fight back to beat Fulham late on at the weekend, but they could have been more than just a goal down at the break, while Bournemouth were unlucky only to draw with Aston Villa. They peppered Villa’s goal with shots.

I am going to go a bit leftfield here because although Everton beat Bournemouth earlier in the season, it was only thanks to a late deflected effort by Jack Grealish.

I usually back Everton at home, and I’m usually wrong… so I am going to do something different this time. I am backing Bournemouth to pinch it.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-2

Ian’s prediction: It will be close but Everton to take it. 1-0

AI’s prediction: 1-1

Tottenham captain Cristian Romero let his manager down with his red card against Manchester United, and now he is facing a four-game ban.

It’s fine for Romero to be a motor mouth on social media, calling the club’s recruitment «disgraceful», but he clearly needs to concentrate on his own game because he has been wild in the challenge again.

For a manager like Thomas Frank, who is under pressure, that is the last thing you need.

Poor old Eddie Howe is feeling the heat at Newcastle too, though. We had callers in to 606 at the weekend saying it is time for a change – my reaction was ‘what!?’.

I really don’t get that thinking at all, and not just because Howe’s the guy who ended their long wait for a trophy, less than a year ago.

His squad is stretched now because of the Champions League and their run to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, and he also had everything around Alexander Isak’s exit to deal with at the start of the season, when it wasn’t his doing.

Howe just hasn’t been able to replace Isak, either. Yoane Wissa has taken a while to get up and running and Nick Woltemade is very different to Isak in that he likes to come to the ball all the time.

People are saying a change of voice might help, but what about backing the guy who has given you so much happiness? I don’t understand why you’d want him out.

This is a very difficult game to predict for various reasons, but we do know Spurs are poor at home and Newcastle aren’t great away.

I still think someone will win it, but I am going to sit in the middle anyway, and go for a draw.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-1

Ian’s prediction: A point apiece. 1-1

AI’s prediction: 1-2

Both of these teams have found a bit of form, and West Ham’s victory over Burnley was huge for them in their fight against the drop.

It seems Manchester United can do no wrong under Michael Carrick, who has often been linked with the West Ham job down the years but goes back to his old club looking for a fifth straight win.

I think he will get it, too. We had some callers into 606 thinking United would be Arsenal’s biggest challengers from now on, which seems a stretch, but there is no doubt they are on a bit of a high.

This is the sort of game where idiots like me can get sucked in and get on the Carrick bandwagon… I am wary, but I am still going to be positive and jump on board too.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-2

Ian’s prediction: I don’t like to say it but United have won their past four games and they have actually looked really good. They have got the bit between their teeth. 0-2

AI’s prediction: 1-2

Brighton have only won one of their past 12 league games so the worry for them has to be that they will get sucked into the relegation scrap.

It was a 4-3 home defeat by Aston Villa in December that was the start of this poor run for Fabian Hurzeler’s side, and I don’t see it ending at Villa Park.

I’m surprised that the Seagulls are struggling. I looked at their bench against Crystal Palace at the weekend and thought ‘blimey, they’ve got a good squad’ but they are underperforming and the fans seem really split on Hurzeler, and have been for a while.

Villa were lucky to get a point against Bournemouth at the weekend and I couldn’t believe how Lucas Digne just let Rayan run past him for the Cherries equaliser. He seemed to give up and it was astonishingly bad defending.

Unai Emery’s side have lost their past two home league games, against Everton and Brentford, which worries me.

Will it be a hat-trick of home defeats, or will they come good again? I’ve got to back my old team, so I am going with my heart here and saying Morgan Rogers will make the difference.

Sutton’s prediction: 3-1

Ian’s prediction: Villa might stumble again. 0-0

AI’s prediction: 2-1

Crystal Palace’s win over Brighton was a huge result for them and the Eagles are definitely not short of firepower – if anything they have got too many centre-forwards now, but that’s a good problem to have.

Burnley have had it though – I thought that before they lost at home to West Ham on Saturday, but there can’t be any doubt they are going down now.

I don’t think the Clarets will get anything here, either, but their fans seem to have turned on manager Scott Parker which I really don’t like.

This is the guy who got them up but because the other promoted sides, Sunderland and Leeds, are having better seasons, that has gone against him.

Just on the eyes, whenever I’ve watched them, Burnley have been competitive and have been in games.

I just think there needs to be a bit of patience from their supporters, but of course they are entitled to their opinion.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-0

Ian’s prediction: Burnley really need a win but they won’t get one. 1-0

AI’s prediction: 1-0

Was Sunday’s late comeback to win at Anfield the game that will spark Manchester City’s title bid?

Time will tell, but I am not convinced. I still think the issues that saw City fall behind in the first place will still cost them in future games too.

Fair play to Pep Guardiola’s side for turning things around with six minutes to go, because their record at Anfield was so poor and a point would not have been enough for them.

But I just don’t see this City team controlling games anymore in the way they used to. In the past, if you got a result against City you were either fortunate or had to play exceptionally well, but this season I’ve seen them let teams back into games on numerous occasions.

Sunday was no different. They were getting mauled in the second half by wave after wave of Liverpool attacks, before the chaos at the end. Gianluigi Donnarumma’s save was a big moment and I was delighted that Erling Haaland stuck his penalty away because he’s captain of my fantasy team and that gave me a good score.

As a neutral, I hope the title race lasts until the final few weeks of the season but I just feel like City will drop too many more points before then.

Fulham are a good footballing side and almost got something from City at Craven Cottage in December – I was there, and City only just held on for a 5-4 win.

Marco Silva’s side have been hard done by in their past couple of games because they had plenty of chances in their defeat at Manchester United, then could have been well ahead at the break before they lost to Everton too.

This time? Well I think Fulham will score at Etihad Stadium too, and they are due a bit of a break. Maybe they will get it against City, but I am still going for a home win.

Sutton’s prediction: 3-1

Ian’s prediction: City will win this one. 2-0

AI’s prediction: 3-0

I was at Elland Road on Friday and Nottingham Forest were insipid in their defeat by Leeds – they were really flat.

This is a real pressure game for Forest, and in many ways it is the worst possible fixture for them. Wolves are hopeless so, if Forest win, their fans will say ‘well we should be beating them, because they are rubbish’.

Lose or even drop points, however, then you can imagine the atmosphere and the mood of the fans, and the pressure that will put on the players.

I don’t mean pressure in terms of any calls to sack Forest boss Sean Dyche, but the negativity there will be around the team, when the mood of the fans can be massive when a team is fighting the drop.

Leeds are a great example of that, actually. Just look at the positivity at Elland Road recently and how that has helped Leeds in the past few weeks. It was a very different story when the fans were unhappy earlier in the season.

As for Wolves, well they are not under any pressure any more.

They are playing for pride which is totally different to Forest’s situation, where every point counts – and this is going to be a nervy night for the home fans at the City Ground.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-1

Ian’s prediction: Forest to edge it. 1-0

AI’s prediction: 2-1

The Liverpool fans seem to have had enough of Arne Slot, which again makes no sense to me. Just because they aren’t going to win the title again doesn’t mean they aren’t building anything.

It seems that making the Champions League places is like the title used to be now – as in, if you don’t make the Champions League then the manager has got to go. It drives me potty.

I know Sunderland lost at Arsenal on Saturday but I still enjoyed their performance.

That might sound odd because they were beaten 3-0 but I still thought the Black Cats were competitive, and they were really physical too. They matched Arsenal for long spells of the game.

So, Liverpool will know what to expect when they try to become the first team to win at Stadium of Light this season, and this is going to be a very difficult game for them.

Slot needs a positive result here, for Liverpool to keep in touch with the teams above them in the race for the top four. My only concern about Sunderland is whether they can bring that same physicality again, but I still don’t think Liverpool will win.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-1

Ian’s prediction: I just have a feeling Liverpool can sneak this one. 1-2

AI’s prediction: 0-3

Can Brentford produce another shock after beating Aston Villa and Newcastle in the past couple of weeks? No, they can’t.

Keith Andrews has done an incredible job as Bees boss and they will make life difficult for Arsenal because they are well organised and dangerous on the break.

But I still think Arsenal will win because of their sheer power that means they can run through anything.

This might not be the most entertaining game to watch, because Brentford will sit in and defend, and counter.

Arsenal will deal with that, and then find a way of scoring. A deflected goal will probably decide it.

People might say the way they win games is not pretty but there is still a lot to admire about Arsenal and, in the end, no matter what anyone says, it is all about winning, isn’t it?

Arsenal are very good at winning games, and I am expecting them to win this one too. In my opinion, they will go on and win the title too, because of the quality of their squad and how good they are defensively.

As much as you want beauty to triumph over a beast, City are still far too flaky for that to happen.

Sutton’s prediction: 0-2

Ian on Arsenal‘s title hopes: I feel pretty confident, even with the couple of slip-ups we’ve had in the past month. We’ve got the strength in depth we need where other players can step up when we are missing players through injury.

If Viktor Gyokeres can start filling the onion bag up and Bukayo Saka can bag a few as well then that would be nice, but we look so good from set-pieces anyway. Our scoring stats from open play could be a bit of an issue but as long as we are scoring and winning then it doesn’t really matter.

Ian’s prediction: This is going to be a non-stressful win. We will be 2-0 up, concede a stupid goal but then finish the game off. 1-3

AI’s prediction: 1-2

Chris and AI both got four correct results with no exact scores from the 10 games in week 25, giving them a total of 40 points apiece.

His guest, Gladiators star Apollo, was right about Manchester City’s win at Anfield [everyone else went for a 2-2 draw] and ended up on 70 points thanks to four correct results including one exact score.

But the win went to the collective efforts of the BBC readers, with five correct results and one exact score [Bournemouth’s 1-1 draw with Aston Villa] for a tally of 80 points.