Arsenal are coming into this game knowing that 2 points from their remaining 2 home games will see them finish 3rd in the table and will ensure that they avoid early season qualification for the Champions League next season. Arsenal are coming off a deserved 1-1 draw at Manchester United and currently they sit on 71 points which is 2 points above United. Arsenal’s recent home record reads a strong looking W10, D3, L2 although they have not won in their last 2 home games.
When playing teams of Sunderland’s stature, Arsenal’s record again reads a strong looking W9, D1, L0 with 6 of the 9 wins coming by 2 goals or more and the Gunners can be backed at around 1.30.
The recent head-to-head record at the Emirates is mixed and reads Arsenal 3 wins, 2 Draws and Sunderland 0 wins.
The draw can be backed at around 6.30 and this looks to offer some decent value.
Relegation threatened Sunderland are coming into this match in some decent form and they are now unbeaten in their last 4 Premier league matches. The Black Cats are coming off a hard fought 0-0 draw with Leicester and currently they sit in 16th place on 37 points. Sunderland need 1 point in their next 2 away games to avoid relegation. However after this game they visit champions Chelsea. Sunderland’s recent away record reads a fairly resilient W3, D7, L5
When facing the top Premier League sides Sunderland’s away record reads a very poor looking W2, D1, L7 and they can be backed at around 11.25. If you do fancy them to do well here then you are certainly better looking to keep the 1 goal loss on your side and Sunderland can be backed on the Asian Handicap +1.5 goals at around 2.10
As far as goals are concerned and with the line set at 3 then we have some mixed stats. When facing teams of similar opposition and looking at both sides last 10 respective home and away games. 7 matches have seen 4 or more goals, 6 have seen 3 and 7 have seen 2 or less scored. However only 3 of Sunderlands last 15 away games have seen 4 or more goals. My ratings suggest value on under 3 goals which can be backed at around 1.90.
This is a very interesting matchup and the reality is with Arsenal’s goal difference being 7 better than Manchester United’s a draw here would see both sides fulfil their objectives and this looks good value. My ratings suggest Arsenal should be opposed and as Sunderland have only lost 3 of their last 10 away to the elite sides by 2 or more goals then they are the value on the handicap. For my trade I am turning to the goal line where once again in recent weeks Sunderland have kept things tight and only 1 of their last 12 away games have finished with 4 or more goals and so my recommended trade is under 3 goals at around 1.90