Chris Sutton vs Royal Blood's Ben Thatcher: Premier League predictions analyzed

Arsenal are expected to extend their strong start to the Premier League season when they face Aston Villa on Monday, despite Villa’s recent losses of key players.

Defending champions Arsenal secured a dominant 6-1 victory over newly promoted Coventry in their opening match last Saturday. Meanwhile, Villa have seen several first-team regulars depart during the summer transfer window, including midfielder Douglas Luiz and striker Ollie Watkins. BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton believes these changes will not significantly hinder Arsenal’s progress.

“There’s only one winner with this,” Sutton said. “Aston Villa had a slow start last season. They’ve lost big players and I just think Arsenal are going to run all over teams this season.”

Sutton made predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season by comparing his assessments with those of musicians, analysts, and fans. In a recent segment, he debated scores with Royal Blood drummer Ben Thatcher, a lifelong Brighton supporter.

Thatcher expressed confidence in Brighton’s ability to adapt despite losing forward Danny Welbeck and defender Jan Paul van Hecke. “I just trust in Tony Bloom,” he said. “He knows better than anyone about these things because he has done it so many times before. They have sold so many world-class players, and we have nurtured so many great players to replace them.”

Sutton and Thatcher also weighed in on several other fixtures:

Crystal Palace’s visit to Manchester City (Sutton: 1-3, Thatcher: 1-3) – City are expected to extend their strong form under new manager Ayyoub Bouaddi, though their defensive transitions remain a concern.

Liverpool’s match against Newcastle (Sutton: 2-1, Thatcher: 2-0) – Alexander Isak is tipped to rediscover his form after a difficult start at Newcastle.

Bournemouth hosting Everton (Sutton: 1-1, Thatcher: 1-2) – Everton’s recent improvements under David Moyes are seen as a key factor.

Coventry facing Hull City (Sutton: 2-0, Thatcher: 1-0) – Both teams are expected to compete fiercely as promoted sides aiming for early points.

Tottenham’s game against Newcastle (Sutton: 2-1) – Spurs are favored at home despite a poor start, while Newcastle are viewed as counterattacking threats.

Sutton generated additional predictions using AI, which produced outcomes for six matches. Readers can submit their own scores on the BBC Sport predictor game for a chance to earn points based on accuracy.

Results and tables reflect the most popular selections each week, with correct outcomes worth 10 points and exact scores worth 40.

Royal Blood’s fifth studio album, *Dead Company*, is due for release in November.