Opta Stats: Prolific Arsenal to leapfrog Tottenham

12Apr 2013

England - Premier League

It's that time of the week when Christian Crowther uses the Opta stats to pluck out four bets for the weekend's Premier League matches...

Arsenal v Norwich (Saturday, 15:00)

Arsenal are unbeaten in four Barclays Premier League home meetings with the Canaries (W2 D2), averaging four goals per game over the last three

Those who wrote off Arsenal's top-four challenge following their derby defeat to Tottenham at the start of March clearly forgot that the Gunners made up an even greater gap last season. Now Arsene Wenger's team are poised to overhaul their fiercest foes once more having claimed maximum points in three consecutive matches - scoring at least twice in each. They couldn't have asked for more obliging opponents on Saturday than Norwich to help nudge them in front of Spurs in the table.

Best Bet: Back Arsenal to score three or more goals @ 2.1

Reading v Liverpool (Saturday, 15:00)

The Reds have scored in their last 10 away league games, the longest current run of its kind in the top-flight

Having been frustrated by some valiant West Ham defending last Sunday, visiting Liverpool should have no such trouble continuing their impressive scoring streak away from Anfield. Bottom side Reading own the leakiest defence in the Premier League, one of two obvious reasons why they find themselves propping up the field, the other being a severe lack of goals since dragging themselves briefly out of the drop zone in early February. Nigel Adkins' new side have only scored once in their last three home games.

Recommended Bet: Back Liverpool to win to nil @ 2.94

Newcastle v Sunderland (Sunday, 12:00, Sky Sports 1)

There have been five red cards in the last five league meetings between Newcastle and Sunderland; with four of these being given to the Black Cats

The thing that this tasty fixture needs is two calming influences in either dugout to help keep the players focused on the task in hand. Instead, they'll have to make do with emotionally charged pairing of Alan Pardew, fresh from his crowd-surfing stunt, and coiled spring Paolo Di Canio. With so much riding on this particular derby, expect tempers to be fraying at an even greater rate than normal.

Recommended Bet: Back there to be a sending off @ 5.0

Stoke v Manchester United (Sunday, 14:05, Sky Sports 1)

Sir Alex Ferguson's side have scored 27 goals in the opening 30 minutes of games this season, just one fewer than Stoke have managed in total (28) in the 2012/13 Premier League campaign

What Tony Pulis would give to borrow just one of United's stable of strikers seeing as his own crop of front men have forgotten where the net is. Even with his trustiest steed steed Robin van Persie undergoing a scoring drought, Fergie has still been able to keep the goals for column ticking over. Interestingly, the Red Devils have gone in to the break 1-0 to the good in four of their last five Premier League games.