English Premier
2008-05-04 - Arsenal vs Everton
A Sports Betting Pick by chappers
- English Premier League -
Emertites
4th May 2008PM KO 1.30pm (live on Sky)
Arsenal (3rd EPL)
Played 36 with 77 points
Arsenal still have a slight chance of the league title but I think every Arsenal fan I think will admit that the title has gone for this season at least as they would have to win both of their games and hope that both Manchester United and Chelsea lose of both theirs and to be honest this is not going to happen. The season for Arsenal has been a good one (for me anyway) as I think this team is ready to take off, maybe not next season but very soon. They have at times played the best football of the season but also at times they have been very annoying and even more so when you gamble on them.
This season they have a record of 22-11-3 which is impressive and a few less draws could have easily seen them still be in with a chance of the title, and when you also consider that most of those draws came in the last couple of months of the season, then Arsenal really did give it a good go this season and without doubt will be up there next season, challenging once more for the title. At home this season they have not lost a game but have managed five draws and like the form overall these draws have cost them. Manchester United have only drawn once at home this season (however united have lost at home). So I've no doubt that next season Arsenal will be looking on ensuring that they don’t drop as many points as this season in front of their own fans.
When you see the current home form of Arsenal you can see how they have slipped up with a record of 3-3-0. And when you shorten the games to four then its 1-3-0 so like I’ve already said these draws have cost them dear and when you consider that the draws at home were against Boro and Villa it shows that they really have slipped up. However they have now won twice on the bounce. Scoring eight goals as they have beaten two bottom half teams in Reading (2-0) and Derby (6-2), so while this has once more given them a slight chance they have played teams who you would really expect them to beat.
Everton (5th EPL)
Played 36 with 62 points
I think I read somewhere that the current total points that Everton have is their highest Premier points total and if this is true then it shows how good Everton have been this season. And with two games left to play they have to ensure that they keep it going if they want to make sure that they hold on that fifth place. Three more points in either this game or at home to Newcastle on the last day of the season will do it as they are currently three points ahead of Villa who also know that if they slip up that Everton will gain that all important fifth place. At one point there was a good chance that they could have made the Champions League but to be honest I don’t think any Everton fan will really complain about the season they have had.
Everton have an overall record this season of 18-8-10 which for me doesn’t tell the whole story as they have lost every game this season when they have played against the teams above them in the table so that means that they have only lost three times to teams below them. And which ever way you look at it this is quite impressive, so next season it's same as this but they have to ensure that they do manage to beat or at least get points from the "big four" if they do want to push on and make the top four themselves. Away from home they have also been impressive with a record of 8-4-6 and if they do manage to win in this game then they could end the season with the joint second best away record in the league.
Despite having a great season it has gone a little flat for Everton in recent weeks with only one win in the last seven games and that was at home against bottom place Derby. During this time they have lost three times and while two of these could have been expected when they lost to Liverpool and Chelsea but the 1-0 defeat at Fulham, I think said that while Everton are a cracking team they still have a long way to go. This season should be looked back fondly by Everton fans as it has been a good one even if they did lose to Liverpool twice, but they will have to ensure that fifth spot if they want to end it in style.
Head to Head
Arsenal have a cracking record at home to Everton, which has seen them win five from the last six games. One of those games saw the London side win 7-1. However last time out Everton did draw 1-1 and with the current draw culture in Arsenal this could be an omen.
Verdict
Everton have an awful record against the big four this season and have played them seven times this season in the league and lost seven times, so it doesn’t look good for them going into this game. Also factor in that Everton are not really in good form anyway, then this game will be an Arsenal win for me.
However it wouldn’t be for the first time that Arsenal have let me down this season, so while I do think this game will go to the home team, it wont be easy and it should mean 90mins of stress related football and maybe a one goal winning margin for Arsenal.
The bookies have Arsenal priced at around the 1.61 margin, which seems fair enough and for me decent value.
So Arsenal to win it is.
The Statistics :
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Pick :
Arsenal to win the Match
