Blackburn v Arsenal

I feel obliged to slightly upgrade my opinion of Blackburn after their last two performances which were much better than their one point return suggests. It was one of the greatest injustices for many years in the Premier League when Everton left Ewood Park with a 1-0 victory. Steve Kean’s side were utterly dominant, but at least that endeavour was rewarded with a draw at Craven Cottage last Sunday. Rovers should give Arsenal a run for their money but it probably won’t be quite enough. But the short odds available for the away win are off-putting.

The draw may be a reasonable shout at a best price 13/5 with VictorChandler, but Wenger’s team are just as liable to sneak this one as they continue their slow rehabilitation. So, with all this in mind, I think the only thing we can be truly confident about is yet another goal for Robin Van Persie.

Through all the the tough times the top Arsenal striker has maintained his devastating form, particularly on the road. The Dutchman has scored a remarkable 10 goals in his last 11 league games away from the Emirates. If that wasn’t enough, he also scored in the Champions League qualifier in Udinese and in the group clash at Borussia Dortmund just a few days ago. With those stunning stats, Van Persie should be odds-on to find the net again at Blackburn, the bottom side in the division. Instead, the 28-year-old is a best price of 6/5 with Coral to be an anytime goalscorer at Ewood Park. That price should be snapped up.