English Premier
2013-02-02 - Arsenal vs Stoke City
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 2 February 2013 - Kick Off 3pm
Arsenal
It was a tremendous fightback from Arsenal to earn a point against Liverpool during the week, but overall one point was not really good enough with ambitions of closing the gap on the Champions League places. That means the pressure is on the Gunners to ensure they pick up three points in this one against Stoke City.
It wasn't the worst point in the world thanks to the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea also failing to win, but Arsenal will want to improve on their 6th place in the Premier League and also close the gap from the current 4 points to Spurs. Arsenal have a 6-3-3 record at the Emirates Stadium, scoring 32 goals and conceding 18 in those games.
Arsenal have lost 1 of their last 5 games in all competitions, while they had won 3 of their previous 4 games before the 2-2 draw with Liverpool here on Wednesday. The side had won 4 of their previous 5 games at home before the game against Liverpool and they have now lost just 1 of their last 6 at home in all competitions.
Kieran Gibbs has been ruled out for the next three weeks while Gervinho remains at the African Cup of Nations. Mikel Arteta needs a late fitness test to determine his availability.
Stoke City
There isn't going to be a long run in a Cup competition for Stoke City to enjoy at the back end of this season and the main ambition for Tony Pulis is finishing in the top half of the table. There have to be some concerns with the recent defensive performances of the side, especially after blowing a 2 goal lead against Wigan Athletic in their last game.
Stoke are 10th in the Premier League table and they have earned 30 points so far this season, leaving them close to the magical safety mark of 40 points, the first port of call for them at the start of any season. They remain a weaker side on their travels where they are 1-6-5 this season, scoring 8 goals and conceding 16 in those games.
The side have now failed to win any of their last 8 games in all competitions, while they have won just 1 of their last 12. Stoke have failed to win any of their last 5 away games since a 0-1 win at West Brom and they have lost back to back away Premier League games at Manchester City and Swansea.
Marc Wilson is the only doubt in the Stoke squad, but there could be some movement of players leaving the club as I am writing this with 4 hours of the transfer window still to go.
Head to Head
Stoke City and Arsenal drew 0-0 at the Brittania Stadium earlier this season and that ground remains a difficult one for the Arsenal side to negotiate.
It has been a different story at the Emirates Stadium where Arsenal have beaten Stoke every time they have hosted them- in fact, Arsenal have won 10 in a row at home against Stoke City going back to the early 1980's.
Prediction
Arsenal's sloppy defending is going to cost them massively sooner rather than later as far as I am concerned, but that shouldn't be the case when they face Stoke City on Saturday.
The way Stoke have been defending over the last month of the season does not bode well for them in this one as Arsenal can certainly create chances at home.
The Gunners have usually been too good for Stoke at the Emirates Stadium and they do usually win these games comfortably enough. The defending is a concern that they will concede, but Arsenal should expose the current defensive problems and win this by at least a couple of goals.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Arsenal 3-1 Stoke City
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
I'll back Arsenal -1.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.25
