Premier League Tipsheet: Eight bets from 8/13 to 6/1 for Saturday

• The Gunners to bounce back

• Chelsea will fend off crisis for time being

• City set to find fifth gear

Aston Villa v Arsenal (12:30) - A quick retort

Are the wheeling coming off Arsenal's title challenge?

To suggest so feels too dramatic and premature at this juncture but certainly what transpires at Villa Park might well be season-defining coming off the back of three winless games, scoring only twice into the bargain.

A good start therefore would be a tremendous boon and it's one that might be possible given that Villa have conceded 26% of their goals in 2022/23 inside the opening 15 minutes. The Gunners for their part are yet to be breached in that time period.

Despite losing consecutively to Leicester and Manchester City, the hosts are an improving proposition under Unai Emery but this one is all about Mikel Arteta's collective and how they respond to self-doubt.

They will begin brightly, for sure. Beyond that, this year's title race will be defined one way or the other.

Brentford v Crystal Palace (15:00) - Honours even

The Bees are unbeaten in 10 while Palace have yet to win in 2023, but the key to this fixture lies in their 1-1 draw earlier in the season. Between them, these sides have shared the honours in 38.6% of their games.

Discipline is also a factor, with the Eagles receiving the third most cautions to date in the top-flight and they will need that, ahem, commitment to withstand a Brentford side who are flying, averaging a healthy 1.8 goals per 90 since way back in October.

Referee Paul Tierney incidentally has dished out the second highest number of yellows this term.

Brighton v Fulham (15:00) - Ride Solly ride

Aleksandar Mitrovic and Willian are both doubts for the visitors and that's not only significant for their overall quality, but because of their threat at set-pieces. For all that Brighton have been excellent this term, an inability to defend corners and free-kicks has proven to be an Achilles Heel with a remarkable 46.4% of their goals conceded coming from these means, plus pens.

Still, the Seagulls are unbeaten in five and flying high, with Solly March and Kaoru Mitoma stand-out performers. Between them the pair have contributed 14 direct goal involvements in Brighton's last 10 outings.

Moreover, March has averaged 1.5 key passes and 2.2 shots per 90 in 2022/23.

Chelsea v Southampton (15:00) - Keeping crisis at bay

Decent first-halves at West Ham and Dortmund this past week does suggest that Chelsea's sustained woes are easing but wastefulness of chances continues to be their undoing. In their last 12 fixtures in all comps Graham Potter's flailing Blues have accrued 134 attempts on goal. They've scored a meagre six times.

That needs urgently addressing and it may well be improved upon here against managerless Southampton who have kept just one clean sheet in their last 18 - perversely to Manchester City. The Saints are shot through with problems at present and no team has lost more games post-Qatar.

It's telling that Chelsea's two league victories since mid-October have both come at home against sides struggling for form. On each occasion it was a narrow win to nil.

Everton v Leeds (15:00) - Let battle commence

Nerves will be jangling at Goodison for this relegation ding-dong that is decidedly hard to call even if Everton do possess a number of advantages.

They have a manager for starters, and furthermore one who has implemented shape and purpose into a side that was sorely in need of both. Leeds meanwhile have only won once on their travels all season and it should be noted that when the Toffees are desperate for a result the fans typically raise the decibel levels and see them over the line.

Even so, any scenario could conceivably play out this Saturday so in betting terms we turn to cliches. Good old reliable cliches.

In a fractious affair, the midfield will be a key battleground and a combative Amadou Onana will be front and centre.

Nottingham Forest v Man City (15:00) - Corner kings

As Joe Dyer points out, City are favourites once again to secure another title having won at the Emirates midweek, and clearly galvanized by the recent Premier League charges there are ominous signs that Guardiola's men have rediscovered the high gears. Very conceivably their loss at Spurs will ultimately be seen as the storm before the calm dismantling of all-comers.

The Blues certainly dismantled Forest back in late August, blasting six past them with Erling Haaland scoring a trademark hat-trick, but this is a different Steve Cooper side they face now, more cohesive, and confident and this shows at the back.

In their first six home games, Forest faced 5.2 shots on target per 90. In their last five outings at the City Ground that has dramatically decreased to 1.8.

One aspect they have struggled to improve upon however is corners won, and its revealing that Forest's league low of 70 contrasts so greatly with City's 6.3 per game.

Wolves v Bournemouth (15:00) - Another bite at the Cherries

Wolves are ever-improving under Julen Lopetegui but to illustrate how low the bar was previously set they have scored nearly a third of their season's tally in their last two games.

Still, three wins in four is a marked upcurve for a side that recently had niggling relegation concerns and the hosts should have more than enough to extend on their recovery against a stagnated Bournemouth. The Cherries have lost their last six away fixtures, managing to score in only one of them.

Seven of their last 12 conceded have come before the break.

Newcastle v Liverpool (17:30) - A case for the defence

Since losing to a 96th minute heart-breaker at Anfield last August, the Magpies have embarked on a 17-game unbeaten run founded on a defensive parsimony that seriously impresses. By being breached every 218 minutes across five months it has afforded the forwards an off-day or two without any loss of momentum.

There have been more off-days than on in recent weeks from a stumbling Newcastle front-line so a return to fitness for Alexander Isak is welcomed. The Swede has already scored from a full outing and two cameos and should feature prominently here.

As for the Reds, it feels too early to say they're out of the woods following a routine derby win over unambitious opposition. The restorative effects of keeping a clean sheet, plus Mo Salah and Cody Gakpo getting on the score-sheet however should not be under-stated.

Expect corners to be in plentiful supply at St James Park. Combined, they have averaged 6.6 per 90 all term.