Nuclear Wessel: The Premier League returns

Dana Wessel produces the K-TWIN Morning Show on 96.3 K-TWIN Monday-Friday 5:30am-10:00am, hosted by Mark Rider and Eric Perkins/Rena Sarigianopoulos of KARE 11. After an unwanted international break, the Premier League is back this weekend, and so is Dana.

I dunno about you, faithful Nuclear Wessel readers, but I was lost all weekend without the Premier League. Having an international break just three weeks into the season was awful and unnecessary - although I did love the 1-0 USMNT win over Czech Republic. Young guns, baby! I just felt sad. Imagine how someone would feel if their dog ran away, so they got a new dog and THAT one ran away, so they got another one and THAT one ran away. OK, it wasn't that bad, but it kinda felt like it.

I am writing most of this from a plane heading to NYC, so I don't have the battery life to go on some barely coherent rant about something that has nothing to do with soccer. Let's get straight to the matches!

No. 1: Arsenal vs Manchester City at Emirates Stadium
When: Saturday at 6:45am on NBC Sports Network
Last year: This one ended in a one-all draw a year ago after Mathieu Flamini scored an equalizer in the 53rd.

Talk about hitting the ground running! One-and-a-half title contenders squaring off in the fourth week of the season, and it's a rematch of the Community Shield from a few weeks ago.

I'm still a little bit surprised by the 3-0 win by Arsenal in the Shield match. Granted, if English football was the dating scene, the Community Shield is the "mid-week afternoon coffee date." But it was an impressive win nonetheless, and should have been a big shot of confidence for Wenger's side.

That said, a lot has changed since then. Neither team is coming into this match selling commemorative scarves of their last matches. Manchester City dumped a match at home to Stoke City 1-0, their first loss at home since Chelsea beat them by the same scoreline last season. Meanwhile, Arsenal could only muster a draw at newly-promoted Leicester City a week after doing the same at Everton.

Arsenal fans had to be delighted to see new signing Danny Welbeck bag a brace for England during the midweek break. I presume he'll make his debut Saturday. He knows a thing or two about big matches against City.

As far as City goes, the last thing they want is to fall further behind Chelsea early in the season. Yes, the defending champions spent very few days in first place last season, and still won the trophy. But they were gunning against an over-achieving Liverpool side and a not-fully-developed Chelsea side. It was essentially a one-horse race with them being the only horse. This year is different. Chelsea are much improved and have come out of the gates flying. This is the type of early match where waking up is a no-brainer.

I won't take the easy way out and pick a draw, although I really want to. City 2-1.

No. 2: Chelsea vs Swansea at Stamford Bridge
When: Saturday at 9:00am on NBC Sports Network
Last year: Chelsea beat the Swans 1-0 at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day last season. Eden Hazard had the game's only goal in the 29th minute. Party!

Undefeated Swansea visits undefeated Chelsea for a clash for the top of the table!

There are only two perfect teams three weeks into the Premier League season and they meet Saturday morning at Stamford Bridge. This was expected out of Chelsea. Swansea? Not so much. The Pride of Patrick Reusse not only have nine points, but they have only allowed a single goal. Granted, they have yet to play any teams of real substance - no, Manchester United does not count - but you can only play the matches on your schedule. And so far, the Swans have looked good. In fact, their last loss may have been against Minnesota United in July.

But any talk of this Chelsea team with their new summer toys taking time to develop has been put to rest in the first three matches. It has been two weeks, and I think my nerves have finally calmed down from that 6-3 match at Everton. Yes, Chelsea's defense looked shaky at times, but they will be fine in the back. This is a Jose Mourinho team we are talking about; the only question is if they could score goals. 11 in three matches, with four of them coming from Diego Costa, has Chelsea fans smiling and the other 19 teams trembling.

Swansea are playing well and deserve credit, but they will be up against it at Stamford Bridge, as the most of the Premier League is. But Chelsea can't take their opponent lightly, and must give them the respect they deserve. The home side are coming off an emotional win two weeks ago, and an international break where the entire team was scattered around the world. It's time to get back to business and refocus.

No. 3: Liverpool vs Aston Villa at Anfield
When: Saturday at 11:30am on Big Boy NBC
Last year: A weird match last January at Anfield between these two. Villa got up 2-0 but Daniel Sturridge scored right before the break to cut the deficit in half. Stevie G added a penalty in the 53rd to level things at two, but there would be no winner from either side.

Nice little Saturday triple-dip! The best three matches are all on Saturday this weekend. The only Sunday match? QPR vs Manchester United. Yikes. I'd rather watch Chris Berman take a bath.

In another one of those early table oddities. Villa are actually in third right now. That's what a 1-0 victory over Stoke, a scoreless draw vs Newcastle* and a 2-1 win over the mighty Hull City can get a team three matches into the season.

*I watched most of that match and, granted it is my fault for having nothing better to do, but woof. I wrote down the names of everyone who played on a piece of ancient parchment, and I am going on a quest around the world to get $20 from every single one of them. I want something for my time. I deserve it. And if you watched, so do you.

Alright, that'll do it this week. I will be checking out the matches at some soccer bars in the Big Apple. I imagine they are just like Minneapolis soccer bars but more New Yorkie? Is that a word? Whatever. I'll report back next week if anything stands out.