English Premier
2012-03-21 - Everton vs Arsenal
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Wednesday 21 March 2012 - Kick Off 8pm
Everton
David Moyes celebrated ten years in charge at Goodison Park recently and he will be looking for his side to continue their performances against the best teams in the League. In his tenure, Everton have always been a really tough place to visit, and it has proven no different this season.
The Toffees are focusing more of their attention on the FA Cup and their prospective Semi Final meeting with local rivals Liverpool, but they will not want to lose any momentum before the Quarter Final replay with Sunderland next week. Everton are 10th in the Premier League table, but will move as high as 8th if they can win this one. They are 6-3-5 at home this season, scoring 15 goals and conceding 13 so far.
Everton had been unbeaten in 9 games in all competitions before a recent 3-0 loss at Liverpool, while they have won just 1 of their last 4 games following a 1-1 draw with Sunderland last Saturday. That draw against Sunderland stopped a run of 5 consecutive wins at home in all competitions, including 3 straight Premier League wins over Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.
David Moyes will take no risks with his squad so Seamus Coleman, Jack Rodwell and Darren Gibson will all be missing with injuries. Steven Pienaar is back in the squad and will be looking to do his parent club, Spurs, a favour here.
Arsenal
Arsenal have showed tremendous character and belief in their recent results after many would have expected their season to fold after being knocked out in the Champions League and the FA Cup. However, their performance in the second leg against AC Milan in the Champions League seems to have given them belief in the League, a belief that could see them leapfrog Tottenham Hotspur sooner rather than later.
The team are 4th in the Premier League table, but they have reduced their 10 point deficit from Spurs to just 1 point, while they are 3 points clear of Chelsea in 5th place as the race for the Champions League places for next season. The Gunners have a 6-2-6 away record so far this season, scoring 26 goals but also conceding 27.
Arsenal have picked up 4 consecutive wins in all competitions, while confidence must be on a high thanks to back to back League wins courtesy of goals coming in added time at the end of games. They have also recorded a 5-2 win over Spurs after being 0-2 down, but most of their positive results have come at home. The team have won just 2 of their last 7 away games in all competitions, and both of those wins have come thanks to late, late goals.
Andre Santos is back in contention following a three month lay-off, although Arsenal could stick with the same XI that beat Newcastle United last week.
Head to Head
Arsenal beat Everton 1-0 earlier this season thanks to a Robin Van Persie special goal.
Goodison Park is a tough place to play football, but Arsenal have won 3 of their last 4 visits here in the Premier League including a 1-2 win here last season.
Prediction
Arsenal have been on a good run of form recently, but they have also had a touch of fortune on their side as it has taken late goals to win at Liverpool and at home to Newcastle United and they should have really lost the first of those games.
This should mean the team are full of confidence that it is their destiny to win a place in the Champions League, but I also don't particularly want to back a team that has struggled to win away games consistently and one that has needed late goals to win games in general.
Everton have proven time and again that they get 'up' for games like this although there is also the issue of a FA Cup replay on their minds which could see David Moyes rest some players. However, wins over Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur here in recent weeks means Everton should be confident that they can cause another surprise at Goodison Park.
Arsenal do have a great record at Goodison Park, winning 3 of their last 4 visits here, but I have found another way to get involved in this game than backing a team that has not consistently found performances away from home.
Late goals have been a feature of Arsenal games in recent weeks, while their last 3 away wins have come thanks to an 85th minute, 89th minute and 93rd minute winner.
Add to this the fact that the last 5 games between these sides at Goodison Park in the Premier League has seen a goal in the last 5 minutes of the game and the evens being offered by Paddy Power for a goal after the 73rd minute looks a little nice and worth chancing.
I can see this being a tight game which means one, or both, of the teams could be pushing for a goal as time is running out and so that is the way I will be on this game.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Everton 1-1 Arsenal
