This match sees top four hopefuls Arsenal host current champions Leicester City, who are still not mathematically safe from relegation.
Arsenal surprised many at the weekend by recording a 2-1 victory over Manchester City after extra time in the FA Cup semi-final. However, in the bread and butter of the Premier League, things are not going well with just two wins in their last seven, putting them down in 7th and seven points off the top four, albeit with a couple of games in hand over some of their rivals.
Talking about the Gunners’ strengths and weaknesses is actually pretty boring as we all know the situation. They are very good in attack, as proved by the fact they are the league’s fourth-highest scorers, but poor at the back, demonstrated by their record of just one clean sheet in their last six top flight matches.
Arsene Wenger’s side have been very good at the Emirates this season and they have lost just twice at home in the Premier League all season. They are currently on a three-match unbeaten run on home soil with seven goals scored and two clean sheets registered.
Leicester gracefully bowed out of the Champions League in their last outing. Whilst exiting any competition is a negative, at least the accusation that Leicester have spent time too much time focusing on European football can now go out the window as they look to ensure survival before pushing on properly next season.
Defence has been the Foxes’ main problem in the last couple of weeks with no clean sheets and eight goals conceded in their last four matches in all competitions. The now-legendary back-line that won Leicester the title last season certainly needs a bit of reinforcement over the summer. Going forward however, the Foxes have been very potent, finding the back of the net in all but one of their last 11 matches in all competitions – a record extending back to Claudio Ranieri’s time in charge of the club.
Ranieri’s successor Craig Shakespeare has been unable to improve Leicester’s away form and his first win away at West Ham is still Shakespeare’s only victory outside of Leicester as a manager. After that it has been grim reading with one draw and two losses from three matches. Going to an Arsenal side who are so good at home could spell trouble. However, the Gunners have a habit of losing this type of game so who knows?
Arsenal are the favourites here but, as mentioned above, I would not be looking to put too much on them here so instead have gone for something with a bit more flexibility. Neither of these sides have been good at the back of late so we should see plenty of goals.
Although I will admit that Arsenal are the more likely to come out on top here, the more flexible ‘Either Team to Win by Two Goals or More’ at Evens is a good option given the Gunners’ unpredictable nature at the moment.
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