The biggest day of the Premier League season so far has arrived as on Sunday we will go a major step closer to finding out the destination of the title come the end of the season.
Sunday is a day where the top four in the division are all in action in a triple header with plenty of interest. It begins with the leaders Leicester looking to open up an eight point gap when they head to the Emirates to face Arsenal. Aston Villa then host Liverpool before Man City and Tottenham meet to try and keep up the chase on Leicester.
What a match the first game promises to be. We will find out just how strong Leicester’s title credentials really are here I suspect. That’s if we didn’t find out last week when they destroyed Man City in their own back yard.
Arsenal picked up a much needed win against Bournemouth last weekend but let’s make no mistake about it while Leicester might be top the pressure in this match is on just one side and it isn’t the Foxes so how Arsenal cope with that pressure will be interesting to see.
I have to say the odds on Leicester in this match are borderline insulting and given that the match is perfectly set up for them in that they can counter attack to their hearts content I simply have to be on them.
I know Arsenal won 5-2 at the King Power earlier in the season but that came when Leicester couldn’t defend for toffee. That’s changed now and while they might not limit Arsenal completely they can restrict them enough to get the job done here.
My main bet in this match will be Leicester with the +0.75 asian handicap. They’ve only lost twice all season so that bet doesn’t lose very often and has paid out on 23 occasions. Arsenal actually have to win by two for a full loss which is anything but certain.
I do expect goals in the game though and like last week I expect them at both ends so I’m going to dabble in the Leicester to win and both teams to score which is just a little too big at 15/2.
I can’t say I’m as quick to get involved in the second game of the day. Fortunately I worked out pretty quickly that Aston Villa were starting to show some form so I’ve not been burnt by them recently but I’m not sure I want to back them.
Liverpool are nothing special and are there for the taking but soon Villa will realise the great escape is on and will feel the pressure again. It just feels like a game not to get involved in and so I won’t.
The final game has the look of goals about it but in reality I’m not so sure it will do because the game is simply so big. If Leicester have won earlier in the day this is must win for both and quite often must win gets played out with a must not lose mentality.
Of course taking few goals in a City home game under Manuel Pellegrini hasn’t been profitable too often but they do have Vincent Kompany back now which should tighten them up a bit at the back. I expect Spurs to play on the counter attack anyway.
Spurs have shown most of the season how they can keep things tight and how organised they are so I’m not convinced this will become the goal fest it might look. At solid odds against I’m going to take the chance that this is one of those important, hyped up games which fails to deliver and actually contains under 2.5 goals.
Back Leicester (+0.75AH) to beat Arsenal for a 4/10 stake at 1.98 with Bet365
Back Leicester to win and both teams to score for a 1/10 stake at 8.50 with Ladbrokes
Back Man City vs Tottenham – Under 2.5 goals for a 4/10 stake at 2.15 with Betfair
