Matchweek 12 Preview

Sorry about the two week gap between posts, I was going to do a matchweek 11 preview but I got chosen as a news-week editor for Staffslive and that sort of took priority over this past week or so, not to mention a night-out in Leeds last week too, but let's get started!

The lunchtime kick-off on Saturday is the highly anticipated North London derby where Arsenal will welcome fierce rivals to Tottenham to the Emirates Stadium. Last season's encounter saw Tottenham breeze into a 2 - 0 first half lead and it looked as if Arsenal's poor season would continue, but Bacary Sagna & Robin Van Persie goals before half-time got Arsenal level and after the break a goal from Tomas Rosicky and a Theo Walcott brace got Arsenal's season back on track and they ultimately toppled Spurs from third spot on the last day of the season.
Arsenal can welcome back Jack Wilshere who returns from a one-match suspension after picking up two yellows cards against Manchester United two weeks ago but Arsene Wenger will sweat over the fitness of Olivier Giroud (calf/hamstring), Theo Walcott (leg), Mikel Arteta (hip) and Bacary Sagna (leg) who will face late fitness tests but goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny is close to returning from the ankle problem which has kept him out. Gervinho (ankle), Tomas Rosicky (hamstring), Abou Diaby and Kieran Gibbs (both thigh) all stay on the sidelines.
Tottenham will be without Mousa Dembele again as the midfielder continues his recovery from a hip injury. Aaron Lennon, Jermain Defoe and Kyle Walker are all struggling with hamstring problems and will face late fitness tests while long-term absentees Scott Parker (Achilles), Younes Kaboul & Benoit Assou-Ekotto (both knee) continue their rehabilitation.

Liverpool welcome Wigan to Anfield looking for their third win of the season and looking to extend their seven match unbeaten run while Wigan will be looking to repeat their famous win at Anfield last season.
Pepe Reina is set to return in goal for Liverpool after missing the last four league matches with a hamstring injury. Midfielder Jonjo Shelvey is fit after a thigh problem while centre-back partnership Daniel Agger (groin) and Martin Skrtel (illness) are expected to be fit.
On-loan winger Ryo Miyaichi is available after missing five games with a hip injury. James McArthur is a doubt due to a dead leg while Albert Crusat (knee) and Antolin Alcaraz (groin) are still out.

High-flying West Brom will welcome third place Chelsea to The Hawthorns with the Londoners looking to return to winning ways after picking up just two points in their last three matches.
Steve Clarke will be without Ben Foster who is recovering from groin surgery and Gareth McAuley is a doubt after picking up a hamstring injury on international duty. The Baggies will be hopeful that Youssouf Mulumbu will be fit after a hamstring injury of his own while on-loan Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku is not eligible to face his parent club.
Chelsea could welcome back Ashley Cole after missing two games with a hamstring injury, John Terry will be out for around three weeks with a knee injury he picked up after colliding with Luis Suarez in the 1 - 1 draw vs. Liverpool. Frank Lampard is a doubt with a calf injury and Roberto Di Matteo will assess all players who travelled with their national teams in midweek.

Aston Villa will travel to the Etihad Stadium looking for their second win in 14 games to face a Manchester City team that are unbeaten in the league this season.
The defending champions can welcome back James Milner and Joleon Lescott who have recovered from hamstring and back problems, respectively. Gael Clichy may also be fit after missing France's midweek international with a back injury of his own and Samir Nasri has recovered from illness. Italian striker Mario Balotelli could be in contention after being dropped last weekend but rumours surfaced of yet another rift between him and Roberto Mancini. Jack Rodwell (hamstring) and Micah Richards (knee) are not ready to return yet.
The Villains can welcome back defenders Eric Lichaj & Nathan Baker who return from suspension & injury respectively. Darrent Bent, Chris Herd, Richard Dunne, Charles N'Zogbia and Joe Bennett are all still out.

Newcastle United welcome Swansea to St. James' Park with the Swans having never won a Premiership match in November.
The Magpies could be without Papiss Cisse after complications over registering a back injury with the Senegal national team and they could invoke the FIFA five-day match rule, ruling the striker out of the match against Swansea. Alan Pardew will be without Yohan Cabaye (groin), Jonas Gutierrez (knee), James Perch (thigh) and defender Fabricio Coloccini who is suspended. But Newcastle can welcome back Danny Simpson (shoulder) and Demba Ba (shin) and Cheick Tiote who has served his three-match ban.
Swansea will be without summer signing Ki-Sung Yeung who will miss out with a hamstring injury, while Kemy Agustien is struggling with a toe injury. Leon Britton could miss out with a knock while winger Pablo Hernandez is recovering from an ankle injury, but Chico Flores could return from a dead leg.

Southampton travel to face QPR at Loftus Road in what is a proverbial six-pointer for the two bottom clubs, with QPR still searching for their first league win of the season.
On-loan Man United defender Fabio is back from his hamstring injury but club captain Park Ji-Sung (knee) is unavailable. Bobby Zamora is doubtful with a hip injury while Ryan Nelsen and Jamie Mackie should both be fit despite missing international games during midweek. Hogan Ephraim is available after a hamstring problem and Kieron Dyer could return from yet another injury. Andy Johnson is still out with a knee problem while Stephane M'Bia is still suspended.
Southampton will be withou Frazer Richardson and Richard Chaplow but Guly De Prado could return to the Southampton squad.

Reading will play host to Everton at the Madejski Stadium still looking for their first win in their return season in the top-flight while Everton will look to keep up their early season fight for a Champions League spot.
Reading could be without winger Jimmy Kebe who has a thigh problem, while Brian McDermott will definitely be without Alex McCarthy (shoulder), Danny Guthrie (thigh) and Jem Karacan (knee).
Kevin Mirallas will miss out with a hamstring injury, as will Darron Gibson who has a thigh injury. Victor Anichebe (hamstring) and defender Tony Hibbert (calf) are doubts.

Norwich welcome Premiership leader Manchester United to Carrow Road with a good home record having won three of their last four but Manchester United will be bouyed after coming back from two goals down against Aston Villa in yet another comeback.
Norwich will be without Russell Martin who has a back problem but Alex Tettey should be available after a back problem which kept him out of Norway's midweek friendly. On-loan striker Harry Kane continues his recovery from a broken metatarsal.
Forward Wayne Rooney (ankle) is a major doubt for Man United as is defender Johnny Evans (groin). Robin Van Persie is expected to be fit after missing Holland's friendly in midweek.

The only fixture on Sunday sees Fulham welcome Sunderland to Craven Cottage with Martin O' Neill's team looking to end their torrid run.
Kieran Richardson won't be fit to face his former club after picking up a hamstring injury in the 3 - 3 draw against Arsenal. Simon Davies (hip) misses out, as does Chris Baird who is suspended while Mahamadou Diarra (knee) and Mickael Tavaras (hamstring) are big doubts.
Steven Fletcher (calf) and Kieren Westwood (thigh) missed their respective internationals in midweek and are doubts for the Black Cats while Phil Bardsley (hamstring) and Lee Cattermole (knee) remain doubts.

The Monday night game will see West Ham welcome this season's draw specialists Stoke City to Upton Park with the high-flying Hammers looking to maintain their good start to the season.
James Collins could return to the West Ham starting line-up with Guy Demel also pushing for a start. Matthew Taylor has returned to training following a calf problem while Jack Collison (knee) and Ricardo Vaz Te (shoulder) are still out.
Tony Pulis is monitoring the fitness of Glenn Whelan who limped off during Ireland's friendly with a hamstring problem. Dean Whitehead is missing out due to suspension and Rory Delap (hernia) and Marc Wilson (broken leg) are definitely out. Michael Owen is a doubt for the Potters with a hamstring injury but Stoke manager Pulis will be hopeful that Jon Walters and Charlie Adam will be fit after both picked up knocks.