Previews

Gunners to take advantage

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 05/03/2010
Football betting

Arsenal and Manchester United will look to capitalise on a weekend of Premier League action without Chelsea as the race for the title intensifies.

The Gunners will be particularly confident of succeeding in their mission, as they face the league's worst away side at the Emirates Stadium.

Burnley have collected just one point from a possible 42 on their travels in the top-flight this campaign and have conceded 43 goals, more than any other side in the Premier League era after 14 away games.

The Clarets have a quartet of players ready to return to first-team action soon, but this game could come too early for Graham Alexander, Steven Caldwell, Chris McCann and Christian Kalvenes.

Meanwhile Arsenal will be missing Alex Song through suspension, but Abou Diaby is expected to return from injury to fill the void in central midfield.

Can Arsenal spring a major surprise and claim the Premier League honours this season? - Latest Football Betting

Meanwhile, United face a Wolves side that they have already beaten twice this season, although Sir Alex Ferguson's have not tasted a league victory at Molineux since 1982.

The reverse fixture at Old Trafford earlier in the season led to controversy when Wolves manager Mick McCarthy rested all ten outfield players ahead of a crucial clash with Burnley five days later.

Despite beating the Clarets, Wolves have won just once more since and are currently keeping their noses out of the relegation zone on goal difference alone.

Elsewhere West Ham, who have found some decent home form recently, face Bolton Wanderers at Upton Park.

The Hammers have not conceded a home goal in four Premier League matches and Gianfranco Zola has every right to feel more confident than he did a month ago when his side were languishing in the drop-zone.

With just four points separating the teams from 13th to 19th in the Premier League, the result of this game is likely to have serious ramifications on the final league standings.

One of Hull City's five wins this season came in a tense 3-2 victory over Everton in November at the KC Stadium but the Toffees side they will face this time around at Goodison will be a different proposition altogether and they start the game as online favourites to lose.

Back then the Merseyside outfit were in the midst of a dreadful run of just one win in 12 games, but David Moyes' side have now tasted victory in six of their last nine league matches, including superb wins over Manchester United and Chelsea in their last two at Goodison Park.

In contrast the Tigers have picked up all three points in only one of their last 13 Premier League fixtures, and Thursday marked exactly a year since their last away win in the competition at Fulham.

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