Premier League preview: Wednesday’s action including Man City vs Arsenal
Nottingham Forest vs Brighton
If Forest scored twice against Liverpool at Anfield at the weekend, is there hope for them as they entertain a Brighton side likely to feel deflated?
Man Utd sent the Seagulls out of the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday, Brighton losing a penalty shootout after Solly March’s missed spot kick.
But any disappointment the side feels needs to be parked; Roberto De Zerbi’s team are currently eighth in the Prem, and the Italian has every reason to believe his side can push on for a place in Europe.
Forest have lost six of their last seven Premier League games, and have failed to win any of their last five home games.
And Brighton have generally responded well to setbacks this season. They beat Chelsea 4-1 a week after losing to Man City, for instance, and followed up a 4-2 defeat to Arsenal by beating Everton 4-1 at Goodison at the start of 2023.
Combine Brighton to win and over 2.5 goals in a double at 23/20.
Chelsea vs Brentford
Frank Lampard’s return to West London has so far resulted in four straight defeats; can he improve that record against a Brentford side that are winless in their last six?
You might think that’s a reasonable enough expectation. But in this fixture last season, the Blues were blown away 4-1 by Brentford at Stamford Bridge.
When the sides met earlier this season it was goalless. But with the Bees going off the boil in recent weeks, Chelsea may be able to scrape a first win since early March.
Goals are currently hard to come by for both sides. Chelsea have one in their last six games, with Brentford scoring twice in their last four. So backing Chelsea to win and Under 3.5 goals at 13/10 might be worth consideration.
West Ham vs Liverpool
The Irons were irrepressible against Bournemouth last time out, smashing four past the south coast outfit at the Vitality Stadium. Does that mean David Moyes’ side can get a result against Liverpool?
Okay, that’s quite a shift in our attitude, considering we thought the Cherries would see them off this weekend. Let’s move on from that tragic misfire; Liverpool conceded two goals against Forest at Anfield at the weekend too! Who saw that coming?
And while the Merseyside team crushed Leeds 6-1 in their last away game, generally Klopp’s away form is flimsy. Before the Leeds game, Liverpool had scored once in four away games in the Prem.
The Irons won 3-2 at the London Stadium when these sides met last season, too. So – a Moyesian masterclass in waiting?
Trouble is, as RJ MacReady once observed, trust’s a tough thing to come by these days. Liverpool can still produce good performances when the mood takes them; West Ham were walloped at home 5-1 by Newcastle earlier this month.
The fence-sitting flutter would be to back BTTS and over 2.5 goals in a double at 10/11. If that’s a bet that leaves you lapsing into a tedium-induced snooze, though, you could simply back the hosts for victory.
West Ham are unbeaten in five in all comps, and might have discovered their best form of the season just as they face a side that have been seriously flaky on the road. The Irons are 29/10 to win.
Man City vs Arsenal
This game “won’t decide the title”, according to Mikel Arteta. Has he got a point? If Man City win on Wednesday, they’ll move within two points of Arsenal in the title chase with a game in hand – and seven more league games to play. There’s still potential for twists and turns in the weeks ahead.
Unfortunately, Arsenal have drawn their last three and look by far the likelier of these sides to drop further points in their remaining games. Right now, the north London side still have the advantage. But can they possibly make it tell in Manchester?
The likelihood of the Gunners turning Guardiola over in his own backyard might have seemed more credible if Arsenal hadn’t looked so brittle in recent games.
Failing to beat Southampton on Friday remains a painful missed opportunity – not to mention embarrassing, with the Gunners going a goal behind after less than 30 seconds.
But it also suggests a team like City can inflict a properly damaging defeat here.
Arsenal’s season may be petering out in painful fashion
Arteta will presumably set up with the emphasis on defense – albeit without the injured William Saliba. Yet in all likelihood, the hosts can still find a way through. In all of their six home games in the Prem in 2023, City have won by at least two clear goals.
The Citizens have won all of their last 11 league meetings with Arsenal too. And with the Gunners dropping a series of clangers in recent matches, it’s difficult to see the visitors getting through this one without shipping a few goals.
Arsenal’s season may be petering out in painful fashion. And if City win this one, it will be tough not to view it as the game where Arsenal’s title challenge finally fell apart, whatever Arteta’s thoughts ahead of the game.
Combine City to win, over 2.5 goals and Erling Haaland to score at any time in a treble at 13/10.
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