Opta Stats: Arsenal to finish off stellar week in style

With the help of Opta, Christian Crowther plucks out four bets to accompany the weekend's Premier League entertainment...

 

Wigan v Arsenal (Saturday, 12:45, Sky Sports 3)

There have been 18 goals netted in the last four Premier League meetings between these two sides at the DW Stadium, with at least four in each encounter

Arsenal quelled the doom mongers' murmurings in style this week by stuffing Reading 5-2 at the Madejski Stadium before announcing the re-signing of five of their young British stars. Jack Wilshere's commitment to the club is probably the biggest positive for Gunners fans, following consecutive seasons of big-name exoduses from The Emirates. Arsenal's play against the Royals had Gary Neville purring on Monday and, with injury-plagued Wigan seemingly in freefall, Arsenal could be in for another boot-filling exercise.

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Manchester City v Reading (Saturday, 15:00)

Reading have faced more shots than any other side in the top five European league this season (313)

This is the sort of damning stat that goes hand-in-hand with teams at the lower ends of their respective divisions. In Reading's case, this now means the bottom of the Premier League, following an abysmal run of six consecutive defeats. A trip to face the champions at the Etihad Stadium is therefore a daunting prospect for a team that has shipped an average of over three goals per game in their last four league encounters, especially as City represent the most prolific shot takers in the league at 231.

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Tottenham v Stoke (Saturday, 15:00)

Spurs have scored the first goal of the game on more occasions than any other side in the Premier League this season (13 matches)

Despite Andre Villas-Boas' side being undone by a late, late show from Everton, their follow up win against Swansea made it 12 points from their last 15 available in the Premier League. Tottenham's impressive run owes a lot to their ability to take the game to their opponents from the first peep of the referee's whistle - backed up by the fact they haven't conceded a single goal in the opening 15 minutes of matches. As Tottenham's top marksman Jermain Defoe continues to get the nod from AVB, there aren't any better candidates to notch the first goal against the Potters.

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Liverpool v Fulham (Saturday, 17:30, ESPN)

The Whites have scored just three goals in their 11 Premier League trips to Anfield

Liverpool players' faces glowed just about the same colour as their shirts last Saturday as Aston Villa's youthful side ran riot at Anfield. Against Fulham, the Reds have a chance of immediate redemption against a side which generally make poor Premier League travellers away from the cosy confines of Craven Cottage. Liverpool's main problem for the last few seasons is an inability to register enough goals at home though - their 3-0 win against Wigan was the only time they have scored more than once in their last eight league games at Anfield - so a goalfest seems unlikely.

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Recommended Bets:

Back Over 3.5 goals in Wigan v Arsenal @ 2.68

Back Manchester City to score four or more goals v Reading @ 2.62

Back Jermain Defoe to score first v Stoke @ 6.3

Back Under 2.5 goals in Liverpool v Fulham @ 2.28

 

Bet HERE

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