F365 Premier League Treble: Manchester United exposed, Arsenal to fly, Spurs in crisis

It's another big weekend of Premier League action, with a number of managers in need of a win to ease the pressure going into the international break.

Everton will be out to expose Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's tactical naivety, while Arsenal, despite their upturn in form, remain just one defeat from a crisis. Nuno Espirito Santo's Tottenham meanwhile, may just be emerging from theirs if the midweek European win is anything to go by. However, that will quickly be forgotten should they fail to beat Aston Villa.

Football365 have cast their eye over the weekend fixtures and picked out an interesting treble which has been boosted by our colleagues at Planet Sport Bet! Here's their thinking...

Man Utd vs Everton: Solskjaer's tactical deficiencies to be exposed

Manchester United go into this game against Everton having lost three of their last five games in all competitions, with only their performances against Newcastle United and Leeds United being particularly dominant this season.

They are playing less like a team, more like a group of disparate individuals, with the same level of tedious consistency that has been a hallmark of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's reign. There's no real tactical strength, nor pre-coached possession moves, meaning United look incredibly one-dimensional. Granted, there was romanticism in their last-minute win against Villarreal on Wednesday, but it is clear that such victories merely paper over the cracks.

A decade ago, Solskjaer would be a top manager. He is good at motivating his players, can create a good atmosphere and is able to organise a defence, as demonstrated by United's miserly record against the 'Big Six' clubs. However, there is none of the positional structure we see at other big clubs and as players improvise their moves, United tend to think only one or two steps ahead, making it easy for opponents with a clearer game-plan to overrun them.

None of this is particularly revelatory, but the penny is only now starting to drop with some commentators. This may only accelerate this weekend against Everton, who will likely adopt a tactic of sitting deep to thwart United's front-line. Last week Villa demonstrated United's vulnerability on the break and Everton adopt a similar counter-attacking style.

Therefore, expect Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend to go at the United full-backs while Abdoulaye Doucoure and Allan's counter-attacking will be a real threat. Rafael Benitez is a manager with real tactical nous so expect him to expose Solskjaer here.

Betting: Back double chance Everton/Draw at 13/8

Brighton vs Arsenal: What will happen when Gunners are tested?

After a torrid start to the season during which the only thing Mikel Arteta was ever likely to win was the Premier League sack race, the pressure is now off following a run of four straight victories for Arsenal.

Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe have shown excellent technical ability, the Gunners have been tactically astute, and their movement and positioning have been strong of late. However, it's worth bearing in mind that these four wins include two against the bottom teams in the Premier League - Norwich and Burnley - AFC Wimbledon and a mauling of a Tottenham side that were beyond abysmal.

It is therefore fair to say that Saturday's trip to Brighton could be their first real test since their upturn in form.

The Seagulls go into the game off the back of a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace on Monday, but Patrick Vieira's outfit really should have won the game as they prevented Brighton from building any momentum. As a result, Arsenal's high pressing game and the swiftness of their interchanges in the transition should be too much for Graham Potter's expansive style of play.

This will be a game with plenty of space between the lines, suiting Arsenal's more technically gifted players, so we're backing them for the win here.

Betting: Back Arsenal to win at 6/4

Tottenham vs Aston Villa: Spurs lurching from one crisis to the next

Toxic is probably the word to describe the atmosphere at Spurs right now and this was certainly on display after Tottenham's 3-1 capitulation to Arsenal last Sunday. There has very much been a change of fortune between the two north London sides, with Arsenal rising as swiftly as Spurs are falling. Nuno Espirito Santo has only been in charge at Spurs for 10 games, but having won his first three, it's surprising to see just how bitter things have become already.

The reality is that Spurs fans may not have gotten over the Jose Mourinho era; they're a little skittish and quick to anger when performances provide memories of those tedious final months under the Portuguese.

This is not to say that the feelings of the fans are wholly invalid. From the European Super League debacle through to the Harry Kane saga, it is clear that Daniel Levy is not running the club well. Only this week, the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust have demanded a meeting with the club to explain their long-term plans, "how success will be measured" and "how the club's DNA will be regained".

Writing off Nuno so early is likely to be counterproductive but Levy has thrown away many years of hard work under Mauricio Pochettino by appointing successive counter-attacking managers and a director of football who clearly prefers reactive tactics.

This is therefore probably not the best time to face an Aston Villa side that are buoyant after their 1-0 victory at Old Trafford last week. They are just the type of industrious, organised and counter-attacking team to thwart the Tottenham midfield and hand them another defeat. We expect them to do so.

Betting: Back Aston Villa to win at 12/5

READ MORE: Nuno's odds to leave Tottenham tumble after derby defeat