ARSENAL entertain Everton at The Emirates on Saturday evening. We asked Connor Winks (@connorwinks) to pinpoint the value.
Arsenal v Everton| Saturday 3rd February 2018, 17:30 | BT Sport
Time to pack away the yellow ties and nonsense for a few months; the transfer window is over and we’re back to football.
Arsenal and Everton come into the game on the back of contrasting results but will be desperate for a positive result in equal measures.
Transfer window sub-plots?
Both Arsenal and Everton’s first half of the season were tarred with underachievement and fan unrest. The January transfer window provided both the opportunity to replenish their squads and salvage what is left of their respective seasons.
So for Everton, job done? Equilam Mangala should provide some balance in an inconsistent Toffees backline, but more importantly, they have added much needed pace in the form of Theo Walcott, who will be desperate to keep his good form going against his former club on the back of scoring a brace against Leicester on Wednesday night.
He’s 9/2 to score anytime with Betfair and Paddy Power.
Arsene Wenger may not be able to look at this window with such a sense of completion. He may have replaced Alexis Sanchez with two borderline elite level players, but the soft core remains.
With no new holding midfielder or defensive reinforcements, expect Wenger’s side’s fixtures to continue to be a goal bonanza from now until the end of the season.
From the bizarre to the brilliant
Nobody embodies the difficulties of playing away from home more than Arsenal; their world-class, ball-playing side crumbling each time a home side swing a cross in the box and bring their crowd up a decibel.
Not only were they out-fought by bottom of the table Swansea on Tuesday night, they were eventually out-played with Nathan Dyer and Jordan Ayew tying an exposed Arsenal back-line in knots.
Yet Arsenal at The Emirates is a whole different animal. In their last home outing they took apart Roy Hodgson’s well-drilled Crystal Palace side in 20 sublime first-half minutes, eventually running out 4-1 winners.
Only Manchester United have claimed victory in their North London fortress, whilst Chelsea and Liverpool managed a point apiece. The rest have succumbed to defeat.
I’m confident Arsenal will continue their fine home form, but a revitalised, pacier Everton will provide a tough test so Arsenal to win and Both Teams To Score appeals at 2/1 with Betfair.
Best Bets
Arsenal v Everton – Arsenal to win and Both Teams To Score (2/1 Betfair)
