English Premier
2011-12-31 - Arsenal vs QPR
A Sports Betting Pick by Lamps
Football : England : Premiership
Saturday 31st December - Kickoff 3:00pm
Arsenal
5th placed Arsenal missed a great chance to leap frog Chelsea into 4th on Wednesday when they failed to beat lowly Wolves. However they can put that poor result behind them and take it out on another side in the bottom half when they host newly promoted QPR.
Arsenal's last 4 games read W-L-W-D which come off a great run that saw the Gunners win 5 of the previous 6. That latter run saw the side get right back into the title race and the race for a top 4 finish. The last 4 games are not bad with Arsenal taking 7 from 12 points but they worked so hard to catch others up that they can't allow sides at the bottom to allow them to fall behind again.
At home the Gunners despite drawing to Wolves last time out rank 3rd in the home table with 20 points from a possible 27. Liverpool won at the Emirates back in August and Fulham managed to grind a 1-1 draw as Wolves did but everyone has come away with nothing.
In the last 5 home games Arsenal has scored 9 goals at nearly 2 a game conceding just 3, all with the away side scoring the single goal. Wolves, Fulham and Stoke managed to find the back of the net and all 3 are not prolific away scorers. Wenger must be concerned that his makeshift defence may give up a goal to most sides and that puts pressure on the side going forward. Thankfully the Gunners have scored 34 goals this year and should be ok this weekend.
Arsenal Team News
Abou Diaby, Santos, Fabianski, Gibbs, Jenkinson, Miyaichi, Sagna and Wilshere are all missing for Arsenal this Saturday.
Wenger may rest Van Persie with the Fulham game just around the corner. However, I'm going to make a pick on this game assuming he starts and should be supported by Gervinho and Walcott.
Song, Ramsey and Arteta make up the midfield but once again at the back Wenger will go with 4 centre backs as all his full's are injured at the moment.
QPR
16th placed QPR are slowly week after week getting closer to the bottom 3. With 17 points they have a 3 point cushion from the relegation zone but if they lose to Arsenal they could enter the new year in the bottom 3.
Warnock's side last won back in mid November some 7 games ago with 4 defeats in that run. Whilst the performances have not been the worst, it's all about points at the end of the day and this side must not ruin their good start to the season.
Unfortunately for them away to Arsenal isn't the best of matchups. The away form ranks 10th in the league which isn't bad at all with a record of 3 wins and 5 defeats from 9 played.
The wins have come at Everton (0-1), Wolves (0-3) and Stoke (2-3). The first two were back in August/September whilst that Stoke win was their last win all season.
The side has only 1 draw on the road all year and I can't see them drawing with the Gunners. Both sides like to attack and lets be honest the 2 sides to draw at Arsenal both needed huge amounts of luck with the keepers making some sensational saves. I'm not saying Kenny can't be a hero, but after drawing to Wolves I think the Gunners will be fired up for this one.
QPR Team News
Dyer, Ferdinand, Hulse and Rowlands miss out for Warnock's side in this tough visit to Arsenal.
Mackie and Wright Phillips should support Helguson up front with the midfield of Barton, Derry and Faurlin expecting to do a lot of off the ball running in this one.
At the back Kenny is over his recent injuries and I feel must replicate Hennessey's performance v Arsenal in the Gunner's last game if Rangers are to take a point in this one.
The Betting Verdict
I do fear for QPR in this one, I read they have only lost 1 of the last 8 to Arsenal but obviously this goes back to the mid 1990's so we can ignore head to head.
After Arsenal drew to Fulham at home they smashed Wigan 4-0 and whilst that scoreline is extreme I really wouldn't be surprised if they won this by 3-4 goals.
Rangers have a much "easier" game v Norwich at home in a few days and this game is one they have already wrote off for me. I see the Gunners winning whether they rest RVP or not.
I'm taking Arsenal -1.75 goals on the Asian Market to get back to winning ways and put the pressure on those above them once again. Home win.
Good Luck
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Arsenal 3-1 QPR
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
Take Arsenal -1.75 AH at 2.05 with Bet365
