Premier League betting tip: Wolverhampton Wanderers - Arsenal
Feb 02, 2021
Premier League: Wolverhampton Wanderers - Arsenal
Just seven days ago I sided with Arsenal away to Southampton and spoke at the time about their improved recent form, especially on the road and how they had prioritised the league heavily over the FA Cup, despite being holders of the latter ................
These two met here at St Mary's in the FA Cup on Saturday , Southampton named a strong starting line up and went for it from the off , scoring the only goal of the game early. I think that visiting head coach Mikel Arteta wanted to progress too and defend a trophy they won last season, but he made seven changes from the last league game and clearly gave today's fixture priority. The Gunners ended the weekend game the stronger, or rather they finally came to life late on, but surely we will see far more from them today and their starting 11 will definitely have an edge in freshness. Despite Saints having a 2 point lead in the table, Arsenal are 11 points better for xP and had been in their best form of the season until Saturday, winning all five league games since Christmas with four clean sheets and by an 11-1 goal difference. A win tonight would take them 8th and within four points of a Champions League place and Arteta will be judged on how close he gets to the top four and that will also determine have much is invested in the squad in the off season, basically, the Gunners need to go close, or to win the Europa League for his job security and the purse strings to be loosened.
Arteta and his coaching staff will have learned much from the weekend, it is rare you get to play roughly the same starting 11 twice inside a few days and he knows that Saints will come at them early as, in addition to that goal inside 24 minutes on Saturday, Southampton are an eyecatching 6-2-1 at home in the opening half of league games. Arsenal are ranked #7 for second half play and #6 on the road where they are 4-4-1 with a 6-1 goal difference, if we add in the six away cup games, that improves to 8-6-1 with a 15-3 goal difference and the Gunners are clearly at their best at both ends of the pitch and most comfortable away, after the break, when Arteta have been able to tweak a few things.
It is easy to see the first goal again being decisive, Kyle Walker-Peters' deflected effort on Saturday was the first time Arsenal had conceded in 508 minutes. Southampton have scored just one league goal in the last 522 minutes played .
The Gunners were comfortable 3-1 winners and then drew 0-0 with high flying Manchester United at the weekend, that is now 7 games unbeaten and the goal at St Mary's was the only one conceded in that sequence which has come since Christmas and through which, they have enjoyed a 14 point swing over Wolves, turning a six point deficit, into an advantage of 8. Arsenal are now just two points adrift of Tottenham in sixth and their great rival will be a "target" and 8 off Champions League pace. Arteta is said to have got pretty much what he wanted from the transfer window and also gets top striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang back after he missed a few games due to his mother's health, he trained yesterday and will be available if required.
I spoke about Wolves' problems ahead of a trip to Turf Moor to face struggling Burnley .................
Wolves feel if not fully in transition, a team that has lost so much more than two players with the transfer of Diogo Jota and frightening injury to Raul Jimenez and it feels like a piece of the heart of the team has been ripped out. The duo contributed 24 goals and 7 assists last season, Matt Doherty who has also left had 4 of each too and that is a lot of goal threat they have lost. All five non defensive players in the last start were aged 25 or less, the front two 18 and 20 and as good as they are, or will be, that is not a lot of experience to call upon when things are not going well. Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has been tinkering with formation changes and yes, I have changed my mind, they do feel a little in transition. One thing that has not really changed is Wolves habit of falling out of the blocks and they have been leading at the break in just 10 of 51 starts since the start of the 2019-20 season, trailing in 21 and a good chance today that Burnley can get a toehold in this game early doors.
Since writing that Wolves have taken just 3 points from a possible 24 .
2 units Arsenal -0.5 ball 2.21 asian line/Sportmarket.
Good luck !
We don't just sell football betting tips, as you can see there is an extensive analysis behind our asian handicap selections. Subscribing to our sports betting advice service need not break the bank. Learn more by visiting our subscriptions page.
Country:
Sport:
Competition:
Football Teams: