Arsenal v Chelsea: First Goalscorer Tip

We successfully tipped Robin Van Persie for first goalscorer 10 days ago and now there’s an added benefit to backing the Dutchman again on Saturday. Nobody’s offering better odds on the Premier League’s leading scorer breaking the deadlock than Bluesquare at 4/1. With that firm refunding all losing first goalscorer bets if Van Persie scores the last goal of the match, we have added insurance.

If the 28-year-old gets close to the form he showed at Stamford Bridge back in October then Chelsea ought to be worried. Arsenal’s star striker bagged a hat-trick in a 3-5 victory that went a long way to turning the Gunners’ season around. Now with 34 goals in all competitions, Van Persie has kept firing ever since.

The Blues are having a remarkable week sure enough - it doesn’t get much better than semi-finals victories over Tottenham and Barcelona - but surely fixture congestion is now bound to take its toll. Di Matteo will be missing Drogba and Ivanovic from the midweek heroics and the Italian will surely shuffle his pack still further with the impending trip to the Nou Camp in mind.

Chelsea aren’t the only team in form either; Wenger’s boys have won 9 of their last 11 league games to soar into third spot. They will be fresher, and their talisman, Van Persie should take advantage in this vital showdown.