Gunners carry on firing
Can Bournemouth stem their run of away defeats at the Emirates?
Travel sick Cherries
If only Eddie Howe could come up with a remedy for his side’s clear inabilities on the road!
The Cherries may be a competitive Premier League outfit at The Vitality but picking up points on the road continues to blight Bournemouth. Their most recent collapse, a predictable 0-3 loss at Anfield, was their eighth defeat in a row and the fifth occasion they’ve drawn a blank in the same spell.
Howe’s case hasn’t been helped with a couple of key injuries to David Brooks and Callum Wilson who were contributing frequently in the attacking third - 6 goals and 10 goals respectively - prior to having impressive spells curtailed by injury.
At least the duo were helping to compensate for Bournemouth’s deficiencies in defence which seems to become a worse version of itself every year.
The goals against column is currently the fourth worst in the league - only Cardiff, Huddersfield and Fulham have fared worse than the Cherries in leaking goals.
A questionable defence, together with a lack of potency further forward isn’t going to see Bournemouth end their miserable anytime soon, at least not at the home of one of the top 6 anyway.
Last five away:
vs. Tottenham L 5-0
vs. Man United L 4-1
vs. Everton L 2-0
vs. Cardiff L 2-0
vs. Liverpool L 3-0
Gunners going about their business
It’s all a bit quiet at the Emirates at the moment.
The annual groans which resonate from the Emirates aren’t as profound as usual which must mean Arsenal are winning games.
In fact, such has been their good form of late, especially at home, you may have missed the Gunners creeping back into the top 4 at the weekend
Sunday’s win over relegation threatened Southampton happened to be Arsenal’s seventh in a row at the Emirates and extends their unbeaten run of home games to 13 - only title chasing Man.City and Liverpool can claim to have a better home record than Arsenal.
The ease in which they saw off the Saints was typical of this group who seem have no problem putting the lesser sides of the division to the sword.
Bournemouth present another of those opportunities for the hosts. Should they play with the same intensity as Sunday and claim another 3 points, Unai Emery’s side will have the wind in their sails ahead of the North London Derby Saturday lunchtime.
Last five at home:
vs. Burnley W 3-1
vs. Fulham W 4-1
vs. Chelsea W 2-0
vs. Cardiff W 2-1
vs. Southampton W 2-0
Betting tip
Bournemouth are just woeful travellers who cannot be relied upon at either end of the pitch.
By contrast, you can count on Arsenal - renowned as the ultimate flat-track bully - to dominate their opponent and turn their superiority into a comfortable winning margin.
Nick’s tip:
Arsenal AH -1 (Arsenal to win by 2 or more)
5/7 (1.71)
BetVictor
