Bournemouth v Arsenal
07 Feb 2016 15:30 Bournemouth v Arsenal
Bournemouth host an Arsenal side struggling for consistent form this Sunday afternoon in the Premier League. Kick-off at 13:30.
Bournemouth started the season in poor form, and after losing at home to Newcastle they had lost 8 of their opening 12 matches, and were deep in relegation trouble. Things have certainly improved for Eddie Howes side, who have now only lost 2 of their last 12 Premier league matches and this has included memorable victories over both Chelsea and Manchester United. Here Bournemouth are coming off a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace and currently they sit in 15th place on 28 points, 7 above the drop zone. Bournemouth’s recent home record reads W4, D4, L4.
Bournemouth have hosted 4 sides placed in the Top 6 and their record reads a reasonable W1, D2, L1. Here they can be backed at around 3.90. If you do fancy the Cherries to do well, then you can keep the draw on your side and they can be backed +0.0/0.5 at around 2.15.
This is the first time that the 2 sides have met in the Premier League at Bournemouth.
The draw can be backed at around 3.50 and this does not look to offer any real value.
Arsenal are coming into this match in some poor form. Last Tuesday evening they drew 0-0 with Southampton at the Emirates, and the Gunners have now gone 4 Premier League games without registering a win, and indeed they have not scored in their last 3. Currently Arsenal sit in 4thplace on 45 points and they are now 5 points behind leaders Leicester. Arsenal’s recent away record reads a decent looking W8, D4, L3.
When facing promoted sides, Arsenal’s away record again is very strong and reads W7, D3, L0 and Arsene Wenger’s side can be backed at around 2.15 and this looks to offer some value. You can keep an element of the draw on your side and the Gunners can be backed on the -0.0/0.5 goal handicap at around 1.84.
As far as goals are concerned then we have some very mixed stats. In the case of Bournemouth this season, 5 of their 11 home games have seen 3 or more goals, and in the case of Arsenal 8 of their last 15 away games have finished with over 2.5 goals. However in the case of United 5 of their 8 away games have seen 3 or more goals scored. Here my ratings that suggest small value in over 2.5 goals which can be backed at around 2.20.
This is a vital game for the Gunners, who will be desperate for the victory to see them close the gap on the leaders. Here my ratings suggest that despite their recent poor run they are good value to win this game. Arsenal boast a very strong away record when visiting promoted sides, that in the last 5 seasons reads W10, D5, L2 and indeed they have won 8 of their last 11, whilst drawing 3. Here the risk v reward backing the away side on the handicap looks well worth taking on. So my recommended trade is Arsenal -0.0/0.5 at around 1.84.