English Premier
2010-02-10 - Arsenal vs Liverpool
A Sports Betting Pick by Gooner
Football: England, Premier League 2009/2010
Wednesday 10th February 2010 - Kickoff 7:45pm
Arsenal (3rd) Home : 9-1-2 35:14
Arsenal's run of games against the best that the Premier League has to offer continues for a 4th game with Liverpool coming to the Emirates - and so far the Gunners have come up short with two losses and a 0-0 draw at Aston Villa.
Arsenal's problems have been compounded by an long injury list and a manager that simply seems unwilling to consider the transfer list as an option - with Mr Wenger instead prefering to come up with new and unique formations that don't actually involve playing anyone up front.
Wenger pointed out that Arsenal actually had more possession against Chelsea, but I'd like to point out to Le Professor that unless Michael Platini pulled a swift one at UEFA during the Xmas break its still goals in the back of the net that BLOODY matter !!
Mr Wenger - Stop treating major Arsenal fixtures as a DAMN training exercise - or trying to prove that you can win with a side under 20, and start building up an experienced squad that can handle an inevitable run of injuries during a tough competitve season will ya !!
Ahem - let's just say Arsenal will be understrength (again!) for this game up front and leave it at that.
Arsenal Team News :
Incredibly, Arsenal may actually field a recognised striker with Nicklas Bendtner pressing for his first start since October.
The Gunners, are still missing striker Eduardo, Van Perise and Carlos Vela.
Injured : Djourou (knee), Vela (knee), Eduardo (hamstring), Gibbs (foot), Merida (ankle), Van Persie (ankle)
Liverpool (4th) Away : 4-3-5 12:15
Liverpool's form has been very good recently, with five wins and two draws in their last seven games, but it's a run that is not really fooling anybody as most of the winning has been done at Anfield against weak opposition.
The last two away games for Liverpool have resulted in draws at Stoke City (1-1) and Wolves (0-0), with goals still an obvious problem, and the main reason for an improved run of results has been a tighter defence.
So it might be significant that Greek defender begins a three-match ban for his sending off against Everton.
Additionally, Liverpool are without Torres still, and so Dirk Kuyt will lead the line up front. Yes I know he scored the winner against Everton - but he's just not in the same class.
Liverpool Team News :
Martin Skrtel is likely to be recalled in his place, but midfielder Alberto Aquilani misses the game due to illness.
Suspended : Kyrgiakos (three matches)
Injured : Aquilani (illness), Benayoun (broken rib), Johnson (knee), Torres (knee)
The Betting Verdict
Liverpool are a good side, but I have them rated as more like Aston Villa, Everton (and Arsenal) than either Man United or Chelsea.
Taking the respective home/away records, I have Arsenal as having about 2/3 of a goal advantage in this HOME game and at around 55% likely to win the game - and so the prices of 2.10+ on a home win is well worth taking.
But Liverpool and Arsenal have drawn four of the last six league games at all venues, with a 1-1 scoreline coming up three times, and so a correct score bet on 1-1 would also be a good saver.
The Statistics :
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Pick :
Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool
BEST BETTING TIP :
Take ARSENAL TO WIN at a better than fair price.Put 1/5th of the stake on a 1-1 CORRECT SCORE BET as a useful bit of insurance. Best price is 7.50 at Canbet
