PREMIER LEAGUE SATURDAY: The Striker previews Saturday’s only Premier League game between ASTON VILLA v ARSENAL with a recommended BETDAQ bet and extended match stats.
ASTON VILLA V ARSENAL
12.30pm It’s an FA Cup weekend so we have a smaller than usual Premier League fixture list, and we only have one game to enjoy on Saturday as Aston Villa host Arsenal. Despite only having one game today, we do have a fascinating game from a betting point of view and all football bets are 0% Commission on BETDAQ Betting Exchange. We have an open market with Arsenal trading 2.42 at the time of writing, and I’m sure there will be some big opinions on the Arsenal price either way!
I have to say backing Arsenal away from home always has to come with a wealth warning, and it’s very important to pick and choose your spots when backing Arsenal. They are unreliable, and they have to offer plenty of value to consider backing them away from home in my opinion. With all that considered, I’m a backer of Arsenal today. I feel the 2.42 offers a lot of value to beat this average Aston Villa side.
Arsenal have moved into fourth position recently ahead of Manchester United and with their games in hand they are in an exceptionally strong position. They had to play one of those games in hand midweek against Liverpool, although I wouldn’t read too much into that result as Liverpool are levels above Aston Villa. What Arsenal have done very well this season is they have put the average sides to the sword, and that is what has them ahead of Manchester United and in that all important Champions League spot.
Manchester United have dropped countless points against opposition that they should beat while Arsenal have been getting the job done. While Aston Villa got a big boost in morale when Steven Gerrard came in as boss, their form never really took off and they went on a long run without a win after the boost at the start. They broke that run with wins against Brighton, Southampton and Leeds but Arsenal are much better than those three and Aston Villa just aren’t creating enough at the moment.
They are outscoring their xG this season – scoring an average of 1.5 goals per Premier League game but their xG is only 1.2. I know Arsenal had a tough game midweek against Liverpool, but prior to that game they were in superb form and really grinded out two nice wins against Wolves to put them into that fourth position. There’s no doubt that they will have to work hard to win here, but I am confident after seeing their recent performances that they can do it. In the past, Arsenal might have rolled over in these type of games but not this Arsenal side. Arteta has them playing well and playing with confidence too, and the 2.42 is far too big in my opinion. Arsenal are never a side you want to have a Max Bet on away from home, but they are a confident selection at the odds.
The Striker Says:
Three points win Arsenal to beat Aston Villa at 2.42 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://bit.ly/BDQAstars
MATCH STATS
● Aston Villa have won their last two Premier League home games against Arsenal. They last won more consecutively at home against the Gunners in league competition between 1975 and 1979 (4).
● Arsenal have won 12 Premier League away games against Aston Villa – only at West Ham (13) have they won more on the road in the competition.
● Each of Aston Villa’s last five Premier League victories have seen them keep a clean sheet, with the Villans not winning any of their last eight games when conceding at least once (D2 L6).
● Aston Villa won their last Premier League home game 4-0 against Southampton, but haven’t won consecutive league matches at Villa Park within the same season since January 2021.
● Arsenal have won their last four Premier League away games, having won just two of their first eight on the road this season (D1 L5). The Gunners haven’t won five consecutive away league games since May 2015.
● Aston Villa have won their last four Premier League games kicking off at 12.30 on a Saturday, all by a 1-0 scoreline. This includes a victory against Arsenal in February 2021.
● Emile Smith Rowe both scored and assisted a goal in Arsenal’s 3-1 win against Aston Villa in the reverse fixture this season. Smith Rowe has scored four goals in his last six away league games, with no Gunners player netting more on the road in the Premier League this term (4).
● Against no side has Aston Villa’s Philippe Coutinho scored more Premier League goals than he has against Arsenal (4), though three of his four strikes against the Gunners have been at the Emirates Stadium.
● Philippe Coutinho has been involved in six goals in his first four home Premier League appearances for Aston Villa (3 goals, 3 assists), at least two more than any other Villa player since his debut in January. In Premier League history, the only Villa player to be involved in 6+ goals in their first five home appearances is Dion Dublin (6 goals, 1 assist).
● Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka has been involved in five goals in his last four Premier League away games (4 goals, 1 assist). No player has scored more away league goals for the Gunners this season than Saka (4).
