English Premier
2012-04-11 - Wolves vs Arsenal
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Wednesday 11 April 2012 - Kick Off 7:45pm
Wolves
Wolves once again took the lead in a Premier League game and failed to pick any points, a situation which has left them adrift at the bottom of the table and almost certain to be playing in the Championship next season. Terry Connor has said the dressing room is not fractured, but performances on the field tell a different story.
The team are bottom of the Premier League table and find themselves 6 points from safety as well as having a much inferior goal difference. With just 18 points left to play for, it will take a miracle for Wolves to turn this around now, especially in the form they are in. The side are 3-2-11 at home this season, scoring 19 goals and conceding 38.
They have now lost their last 6 Premier League games and have picked up just 1 point from their last 21 available in the League to have become adrift at the bottom. Wolves have lost 8 games in a row at Molineux in all competitions and their defensive displays have been really poor as they have conceded at least 2 goals in 9 of their last 10 games here.
There are no new injury concerns for the home side in this game, although Roger Johnson is hoping for a recall having been dropped for the loss to Stoke City on Saturday.
Arsenal
Arsenal secured a big three points on Sunday afternoon as they beat Manchester City, but Monday would have been just as enjoyable for them as their chances of playing in the Champions League next season were enhanced without them taking the field. The likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea failed to win games on Monday, meaning Arsenal can begin putting some distance between themselves in 3rd and the teams below them.
The Gunners will begin this game in 3rd place in the table, but could open up a 5 point gap over Spurs and Newcastle United in the two places immediately below them, and also move 7 points clear of Chelsea in 6th. Arsenal are 7-2-7 away from home this season, scoring 28 goals and conceding 29, although they will want to put in a better performance than when they last met a team in the bottom 5 of the table.
The team were beaten 2-1 when they visited 17th placed QPR recently, that being their only defeat in their last 8 games in all competitions of which they have won 7. Arsenal had won 3 away games in a row in the League before that defeat to QPR, while they have failed to beat 3 of the 4 sides they have faced that currently sit in the bottom 5 places.
Laurent Koscielny will miss this game through suspension and could be replaced by Johan Djourou. Kieran Gibbs is a doubt and his place will be taken by Andre Santos.
Head to Head
Arsenal and Wolves drew 1-1 at the Emirates Stadium earlier this season.
The Gunners have won on their last 5 away visits to Wolves going back to the early 1980s, including a 0-2 win here last season.
Prediction
Wolves have been really poor in recent weeks and they look like a team that has perhaps given up on staying in the Premier League. The defending has been very poor, while the dressing room is apparently in a state of conflict and this all leads to them having a tough ending to the season.
Arsenal are not really a nice pick at odds on considering they have lost at Blackburn Rovers and QPR this season, while failing to beat Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium, but they have been playing some decent football recently and were impressive against Manchester City.
However, as I say, I think they are too short, while they are also not that attractively priced to win by a couple of goals so I will instead focus on how I think the Gunners will play here.
You can back Arsenal to grab at least 3 goals at 2.60 and that looks the most reasonable way for me to get involved in them for this game.
Wolves have conceded at least 3 goals in 5 of their last 6 home games in the League, while Arsenal have scored at least 3 goals in 2 of their last 3 visits to this ground in the Premier League.
While Arsenal have not won at some of the grounds of the teams down the bottom, they can at least point to the fact they scored 3 in a losing effort at Blackburn Rovers, while also grabbing 4 at Wigan Athletic and there is every chance they can do the same against a Wolves team that seems to drop their heads when they fall behind.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Arsenal Over 2.5 Team Goals @ 2.60 (Coral)


