Arsenal and West Brom can serve up a feast of goals at the Emirates
Published:Arsenal welcome West Brom to the Emirates on Saturday and, if last season’s meetings are anything to go by, you can expect to see goals aplenty as two fragile defences collide.
The Baggies raced into a 3-0 lead in north London last season, eventually triumphing 3-2, whilst the Gunners managed to claw back a two-goal deficit at the Hawthorns to draw 2-2.
After conceding 21 goals, Arsenal’s defensive record is their worst to date at this stage in a Premier League season. This fact, combined with West Brom’s meagre three clean sheets from their past 40 away games, mean goals look a certainty again.
The 4/7 for over 2.5 goals and 11/8 for over 3.5 goals look like highly appealing bets.
Also, with four goals being scored in the opening ten minutes of the past four league meetings between the sides, it could prove smart to pay attention to the 3/4 odds for the first goal to be scored before the 27th minute.
Punters looking for lengthier odds may want to bet on the amount of goals that will be scored in the first half, with 6/1 for three strikes looking a massive price considering the form of the imperious Robin Van Persie, who has 28 goals in his last 27 league appearances.
Van Persie isn’t the only goal threat though and pacy West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie fired two in two against the Gunners last season.
Arsenal, at 2/5 to win in 90 minutes, have stuttered over the finish line in recent home games against lower-ranked opposition. However, they have won five of their previous six games and, with skipper Van Persie red hot at the minute, Arsene Wenger’s men should have enough to win.
The Baggies meanwhile, are 7/1 to complete consecutive victories at the Emirates, while the draw, the most recent result between the sides, is available at 7/2.
