PREMIER LEAGUE SATURDAY: The Striker previews ARSENAL v EVERTON, CHELSEA v NEWCASTLE and WEST HAM v MANCHESTER CITY all with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
ARSENAL V EVERTON
5.30pm What a wonderful Saturday from the Premier League this week on Betdaq Betting Exchange! Saturday serves up three cracking fixtures – Arsenal and Manchester City are back in action in the title race after tough nights away in the Champions League midweek, while we also have Chelsea hosting Newcastle. We kick off the action at the Emirates as Arsenal host Everton – Arsenal now sit seven points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table. That gap has to feel good inside the Arsenal camp, but there will be no complacency given they have thrown away leads on a title run-in before. It’s a tough schedule for the top sides involved in the Champions League at the moment – Arsenal drew 1-1 with Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their Round of 16 tie – and this fixture falls in between those legs so you could forgive them for having one eye on that second leg. However, this is a game that they will be fully expected to win. It’s no surprise that they come into the game as the red-hot favourites at 1.4 with Everton 10.5 and the draw is 5.1 at the time of writing. It’s hard to see past Arsenal here.
Everton, to their credit, are not a pushover. They arrive here in reasonable form too – wins in their last two games, 3-2 away to Newcastle and 2-0 at home to Burnley in midweek, have given them a bit of momentum. They have been much better with home advantage since Moyes returned though, even with moving stadiums. Their average xG created of 1.30 isn’t going to worry Arsenal though – Arsenal have an average xG conceded of just 0.91 which remains the best defensive figure in Europe. That 0.91 number is extraordinary considering how competitive the Premier League is. You’d have to expect Everton to come here and set up to frustrate rather than to open Arsenal up. Given how strong Arsenal have been at the back, I do feel that they can keep a clean sheet on the way to winning here – Both Teams Not To Score is trading 1.68 which in my opinion looks better value than Under 2.5 goals at 1.94 for example. Everton’s attack is unlikely to cause too many problems, I feel Arsenal can get the job done here in the kind of controlled, clinical performance they have made a habit of this season.
The Striker Says:
Two points win Both Teams Not To Score at 1.68 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/PLArEv
CHELSEA V NEWCASTLE
5.30pm Next we have another very interesting fixture as Chelsea host Newcastle – it’s a shame this game kicks off at the same time as Arsenal v Everton. I feel like this is a huge few days for Chelsea – they thumped Aston Villa 4-1 before the FA Cup break, which was a serious statement of intent, and they need to keep the pressure on Villa who seem to be having a right wobble. Chelsea had a right wobble midweek in Paris though when losing 5-2 away to PSG. They now face a massive ask in the second leg here, and obviously they also have the battle for what will be a Top Five spot. The Premier League will almost certainly get a fifth Champions League spot, but Liverpool come into the weekend on the same amount of points as Chelsea so that race is going to be very tight. Chelsea’s season has been nothing if not dramatic – knowing them it will go down to the final day! Their average xG created of 1.59 is the fifth best attacking figure in the Premier League – joint with Newcastle interestingly enough – and their average xG conceded of 1.29 is the joint-fourth best defensive figure too.
Chelsea are playing good football, but they have been a little sloppy at times. Obviously they’ve had manager issues etc. You could say similar about Newcastle without the manager drama – they have been playing better than their results. Obviously they have the same average xG created as Chelsea, but they come into the weekend sitting in the bottom half of the table. Their average xG conceded of 1.36 is also solid – sixth best in the league – so they frustratingly inconsistent in translating their performances into results. Chelsea come into the game as the odds on favourites at 1.86 with Newcastle 4.1 and the draw is 4.3 at the time of writing. You can argue both sides have one eye on their Champions League fixtures – Newcastle drew 1-1 with Barcelona midweek so they are in a better position than Chelsea – but you can also poke holes in both sides this season. Both playing good football, both unreliable. The question is whether the PSG Champions League game has taken anything out of them physically. If that game is a high-octane one, there could be legs in the Chelsea camp that are heavy on Saturday. That opens the door for Newcastle – I feel the 1.86 feels short on Chelsea. However, Over 2.5 goals at 1.54 looks the sensible position here. Both these sides have created chances freely all season, and we should have an open game.
The Striker Says:
Three points win Over 2.5 goals at 1.54 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/PLChNe
WEST HAM V MANCHESTER CITY
8pm We finish Saturday with West Ham hosting Manchester City. Pep Guardiola and his side have to pick themselves up after a disastrous Wednesday night in Madrid. They went into that tie as the favourites to beat Real Madrid, but got handed a 3-0 hammering and it could have been worse too with Real missing a penalty. They could kick off here ten points behind Arsenal, and anything bar a win could see their season go up in flames in the space of a week. On paper, this should be a comfortable night for City but West Ham have been getting results lately – there seems to be a bit of confidence about them, and surely they will be looking at City thinking we can have a go here. That 2-2 draw at home to Nottingham Forest was a killer blow for City. Obviously when you look at the West Ham under-lining numbers, there aren’t many positives. Their average xG created of 1.21 is the fourth worst attacking figure, and their average xG conceded of 1.75 is the second worst defensive figure in the Premier League. On paper, this is a miss-match, but West Ham do have the momentum. They’ve only lost twice in their last eight Premier League games, but those losses did come against Chelsea and Liverpool so when they have bumped into the top sides, they’ve been exposed.
Even with the midweek woe for City, it’s no surprise that they come into the game as the odds on favourites. City are trading 1.74 with West Ham 4.9 and the draw is 4.4 at the time of writing. City away from home have been vulnerable at times this season, and I just wouldn’t be rushing to take the 1.74 here given the situation. I’m not making the case to support West Ham; more so staying out of the match odds market! Surely the Forest game creates a lot of doubt too – City should have won that game comfortably, and they didn’t. They took the lead twice as well. With West Ham scoring goals lately – I do feel we’ll see some action here. Over 2.5 goals is trading 1.59 and that looks nice value. City need three points here more than anything, so I can see them being very open chasing the game too. I do feel West Ham will have a go here, although I suppose you could argue that a draw is massive too given it’s a bonus the way the relegation battle is. I’m not going to go crazy with the stakes here, but I’m happy to finish the day with Overs at 1.59.
The Striker Says:
Two points win Over 2.5 goals at 1.59 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/PLWhMc
