PREMIER LEAGUE SATURDAY: The Striker previews ARSENAL v FULHAM with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
ARSENAL V FULHAM
5.30pm We have a massive Premier League fixture at the Emirates on Saturday evening on Betdaq Betting Exchange! Arsenal host Fulham in the latest instalment of the fascinating title race between Arsenal and Manchester City. Obviously every single point at this stage of the season is absolutely priceless – as things stand, the Gunners sit top of the Premier League table on 73 points, three ahead of Manchester City but they have played one game more. Arsenal beat Newcastle 1-0 last Saturday to hold their nerve and maintain their lead at the summit, but it was nervy and once again they seemed to be hanging on. If they win here, they go six points clear but City will have two games in hand the way the fixture list has fallen.
Arsenal are fighting two battles at the moment as this fixture falls in between the massive Champions League Semi-Final tie between Atletico Madrid. Diego Simone v Mikel Arteta was always going to be a tight affair, and that proved to be the case on Wednesday with a 1-1 draw. Arteta will be delighted with that really; I’d say the aim was always to get through the 90 minutes away and then hopefully progress next week at the Emirates. Once again though, the second half performance didn’t inspire confidence – Atletico were absolutely all over them, and you have to say Arsenal aren’t exactly finishing the season on fire and blowing sides away. At least Arteta has no worries with squad selection anyway; every game is must win at the moment!
As you would expect with home advantage, Arsenal come into the game as the odds on favourites at 1.49 with Fulham 8.0 and the draw is 4.8 at the time of writing. The pressure on Arsenal has been mounting for weeks, and the cracks have been visible. They were knocked out of the FA Cup, they lost the Carabao Cup Final to City, and there have been performances along the way that simply don’t inspire confidence. They are falling over the line in games. You could make the case that this is their hardest fixture – they have West Ham (A, 10th May), Burnley (H, 17th May) and Crystal Palace (A, 24th May) left. Crystal Palace could have a Europa Conference League Final just after the final day too. Fulham have been solid all season, and it seems like the way Arsenal are playing at the moment is inviting pressure.
On the xG data, Arsenal are clearly the superior side. Their average xG created of 1.69 is the fourth best attacking figure in the Premier League, and their xG conceded of 0.96 is the best defensive figure. That is an outstanding defensive number given the Premier League is so competitive, and shows how solid they have been defensively over the course of the season. Fulham have an average xG created of 1.39 which is a reasonable enough figure, and their xG conceded of 1.38 is similarly mid-table level. Really and truly, Arsenal should get the job done here but you wouldn’t be rushing to take the 1.49 given the recent performances. You have to expect Arsenal to be reasonably cagey again, and Under 2.5 goals looks a nice position at 2.1. I was actually surprised to see it trading odds against; Arteta never really invites an open game, and Fulham don’t really have the tools to cause Arsenal that much damage. I’m happy to be on Unders.
The Striker Says:
Two points win Under 2.5 goals at 2.1 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/PLArFu
