On August 5th, 2010, 33 Chilean miners got stuck in a mine and were down there for 69 days. While their story has been covered in depth, one aspect has not been mentioned anywhere else…Chile is a nation of football fans and these 33 guys have completely missed the first seven matches of the Premier League season. Just for them, here’s a look at the weekend’s fixtures with a Chilean Miner’s view (i.e. what you would have expected had you not seen anything in the last 69 days) weighed up against how the rest of us see the games.

Arsenal v Birmingham

Miners’ View: Arsenal too strong at the Emirates and won’t have any trouble dispatching with a middle of the table team.

Rest of us: Having slipped up at home to West Brom, followed by a loss away at Chelsea, Arsenal will be intent on not suffering three straight league defeats.  Birmingham have not started well, however, and lost at home to Everton last time out.

Prediction: Miners will prove to be right and that West Brom game will (unfortunately) be a minor blip on Arsenal’s otherwise formidable home form.

Bolton v Stoke

Miners’ View: Bolton tough to beat at home, Stoke not so good away from the Britannia.  Likely to be a narrow home win.

Rest of us:  Bolton have played three home league games so far, and drawn all of them.  Stoke started poorly, but have won 4 and drawn 1 of their last 5.

Prediction: An inevitable, scrappy, bore draw: 0-0. A game so dull that you’d almost consider going back in the mine rather than sit through it. Almost.

Fulham v Tottenham

Miners’ View: Fulham always good at home, Tottenham now resilient away from home under ‘Arry. A must watch game (even Chileans love Tottenham, in my world view at least)

Rest of us: Van der Vaart has shown he can win any match almost single-handedly, but the rest of the team might be distracted with a trip to the San Siro in midweek to look forward to.  Fulham are actually unbeaten thus far this season, but have also only won once.

Prediction: I can’t decide who will win but I feel confident the score line will be 2-1 to somebody.

Man United v West Brom

Miners’ View:  West Brom will be cannon fodder for United and will not put up much of a fight in an away game at one of the top four teams.  Coule be the sort of game where Rooney is rested, with Berbatov given the chance to impress.

Rest of us: Man Utd’s strike force has been the complete opposite of what you would have expected. Berbatov back to looking more like his old self from his Tottenham days, Rooney struggling with “injuries” and personal issues. West Brom won at Arsenal in their last away game and are level with the team from Woolwich and Spurs for fourth place.

Prediction: United to win, but in a close game.