Gunners Get Going

Statistics can be misleading things. Results show Arsenal have dropped points in 3 of their last 4 league games but if it wasn’t for a late, scandalous refereeing decision at West Brom, Arsenal would be arriving here after 2 great away wins on the bounce.

Similarly, Bournemouth are unbeaten in 3 top flight matches but they got away with a massive moment of good fortune to avoid home defeat to West Ham over Christmas. Such matters may soon all be sorted out by VAR.

What matters for now is that Arsenal have been playing perfectly well in the league and should have too much quality for their hosts who have never beaten them - despite leading 3-0 in this fixture last season!

That game points us towards a trend which means I would recommend backing ‘Half-time: Draw/Full-Time: Arsenal at best odds of 17/4 with BetVictor.

The Gunners have scored more than twice as many goals in second halves (27) compared to before the break (13) in 2017-18. For the Cherries there is no difference in an attacking sense but they have conceded 20 second half goals compared to 14 before a cup of tea.

Eddie Howe’s boys have only trailed in 2 of 11 home league matches at the break but have gone on to lose twice as many by full time. In other words they tend to run out of steam, unlike their visitors who often grow into games.