Arsenal need to get back to winning ways in the league if they are to maintain their challenge for a top four finish, and they are a top priced 1.3 with Betfred to back a vital three points against Blackburn at the Emirates this weekend.
The Gunners have not won any of their last four games in the Premiership and currently sit in seventh place as a result.
That is the lowest they have been in the table at this stage of the season since Arsene Wenger took over in 1996, and are currently five points behind fourth placed Chelsea in their bid try and automatically qualify for the Champions League.
So given that their next four league games after this they play Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, Tottenham at home, Liverpool at Anfield and Newcastle back at the Emirates, they simply can’t afford not to win this.
As far as the stats are concerned they really should emerge victorious in this one if anywhere near their best.
The Gunners had won the last seven successive home league games against the Lancashire outfit – scoring 25 goals – prior to their goalless draw last season.
They have also not lost in seven home games against sides from the bottom half of the league, winning five and drawing two.
Robin van Persie has scored 10 goals in 12 games in all competitions against Blackburn, while Mikel Arteta has scored five goals in the Premier League against them.
The former is a 3.5 chance with Betfred and Paddy Power to net first, while Arteta is a a 10 shot with bet365 and Betfred.
There is no doubt that van Persie is a worthy favourite, but if you’re backing him a small saver on Arteta looks wise.
Arsenal have also generally managed to keep clean sheets at home against “weaker” opposition and the 2.1 with Paddy Power about them doing so again also looks decent value rather than backing them at the prohibitive odds on offer in the outright market.
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