Arsenal's home form set to continue
On the 29th of January at 7.45PM Arsenal will take on Cardiff at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners will head into this match off the back of a convincing win over London-rivals Chelsea - just one of many impressive home performances this season. Cardiff on the other hand will head to North London having lost 0-3 away to Newcastle; a result that will have seriously worried everyone at the Welsh club.
Arsenal
A lot has happened since Emery took over the club from Wenger over the summer. They started strongly before dipping out of form, but now they've begun to show signs of improvement. If we are being honest, it's their away form that is the main concern. Five games without a win on the road, a stat that has understandably attracted some criticism.
At home though Arsenal are a great team, with only one loss and that was the season's first game against Man City. After that it's been nine wins and two draws. Recently, they've put together a run of five wins at home.
Their goal difference at home is 26-10 which means an average of 2.17 goals per game and 0.83 conceded per game
The number of goals scored is pretty much in line with their expected goals. Out of their nine wins at the Emirates, eight have finished with a goal difference greater than one. The Gunners can thank Lacazette and Aubameyang for these stats; together they have scored 22 goals. Arsenal's defence is still a little shaky, but since Koscielny has returned the situation at the back has improved a little bit.
There are still injuries to Bellerin, Holding, Mkhitaryan and Welbeck, but otherwise they'll be able to field a strong starting XI.
- League Position: 5
Cardiff
When their manager Warnock is not busy taking on the media, he' trying to steady the ship at Cardiff. In Wales, the Bluebirds have been able to cause their opposition some problems, but away from home it's a completely different story. Out of eleven played there has been one win, two draws and nine losses.
It was a complete fiasco in their last match where they lost 0-3 to Newcastle. What makes matters worse, is that they can't even claim to have been unlucky; these losses have rarely been by one goal only, rather they've often descending in to humiliating scorelines.
These thrashings have often come against teams much worse than Arsenal, 1-3 against West Ham, 0-3 against Newcastle, 0-2 against Bournemouth and so on. Over the last six fixtures, Cardiff City are the league's second worst team.
Their goal difference away from is 0.55 goals and 1.91 conceded
Those stats just go to show how bad they are away from home. They've underperformed a little according to their expected goals, but nothing of any real note. Cardiff's only real strength lies in the defensive partnership of Bamba and Morrison, but now Morrison is injured, as is Arter and Zohore.
- League Position: 18
Betting tip
Arsenal are, along with City and Liverpool, the league's best home team. At home they dictate the game, and get the most out of their star studded attack. They are very hard to stop at the Emirates. Cardiff don't have the quality in the team to challenge Arsenal at home, and they don't have the quality in defence to park the bus. Arsenal will no doubt go for one, two, three or perhaps more goals in this match.
I'm betting on Arsenal -1.5 at odds of 4/5 with bet365.
