Southampton v Arsenal Prediction 1st January 2013

Southampton v Arsenal Betting Preview
The Saints were unable to convert a 3-1 halftime lead away at Stoke into a victory on the weekend, but with back to back draws in the league they are picking up points in an attempt to claw their way out of the relegation zone. This will be a big home match for them at St Mary’s and the improving Arsenal will of course carry a big threat after thumping Newcastle with a seven goal haul. This match has the potential for big goals as the Saints battle against relegation and the Gunners look to keep themselves in the race for a top four spot.

Southampton v Arsenal Betting Odds at online bookmaker Paddy Power
Arsenal 7/10, Draw 11/4, Southampton 4/1

Southampton v Arsenal Recommended Bet:
The Saints, despite sitting in the drop zone, don’t look to be in as much dire straits as the likes of Reading and QPR beneath them. The Saints remain a positive side and they have lost just two of their last eight matches in the Premier League. So definite signs of hope for them. After picking up a 1-1 draw at Fulham on Boxing Day, they raced out to a 3-1 lead at halftime away at Stoke on Saturday, but were pegged back by the ten men Potters to a 3-3 draw. That was the first time in nine matches that they had conceded more than one goal in a game, so their defence has improved dramatically to what it was early in the season. At home the Saints have been pretty decent since November, losing just one of five, a disappointing defeat against Reading. Southampton have converted at a rate of 1.4 goals per game at home this season, conceding at a rate of 1.3 goals and St Mary’s is where they have picked up 70% of their points this season. An offensive threat themselves, they have scored first in nine of their nineteen matches, but have only lead at halftime in four of them. Back in September 2012, the Saints slid to their fourth defeat in a row from the start of the season when they were thumped 6-1 at the Emirates by Arsenal. You look at the offense being the big assets of both of these sides and if the Saints live up to potential, could challenge the Gunners, but questions will be asked whether they can do a good enough job defensively against an in-form Arsenal. The Saints have already lost all six matches against top-seven opponents this season though.

The Gunners may well find that Southampton get closer to them than they did in the 6-1 romp earlier in the season. Arsene Wenger’s men are on a positive stretch, winning their last four in a row, the joint best run of form along with Chelsea. The Gunners have found a new striking gem in Theo Walcott who has been deployed centrally over the past few games, netting himself a hat trick as they hammered Newcastle 7-3 at the Emirates on Saturday. So it is all positive for Arsenal at the moment who have now lost just one of their last nine matches in the League. The Gunners have netted fifteen goals in their last four matches and kept clean sheets in two of them. They have won their last two away games in a row now, undefeated in their last four on the road. Overall, Arsenal’s away record this season stands at W4 D4 L2 and strangely their defence has been a lot stronger on the road than it has been at home, conceding at just 0.8 goals per game away from the Emirates. That is positive when combined with their own scoring rate of 1.4 goals per game away from home. The Gunners have actually only had five halftime leads this term, but with Walcott weighing in now along with Cazorla, Giroud and Podolski, things are starting to gel for Arsenal. They are prone to lapses at the back and Southampton could rattle them back there. It may be worth looking at a Draw/Arsenal Half Time/Full Time bet for a price of 7/2 at online bookmaker Paddy Power. Probably can’t trust the Saints defence enough against a powerful Arsenal offense.

Form
Southampton DLWLDD, Arsenal LWDWWW

Stat Attack
Southampton have lost all six matches against top-seven sides this season
Only Man United have scored more goals than Arsenal this season in the EPL
The Gunners have the joint-longest active winning streak at the moment in the top flight
Surprisingly 60% of Southampton’s home game have gone under 2.5 goals

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