ARSENAL host Aston Villa on Friday in the Premier League. Chris Clark (@ChrisClark1975) shares his verdict.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa | Friday 22nd October 2021, 20:00 | Sky Sports
What to make of these two sides? Tough to call isn't it. Just when you think they've turned the corner, along comes performances from both in their last games. Now they play each other. What way is this going to go!?
Arsenal started off like a train against Palace last time out, then just did nothing. Very odd. They perked up when Alexandre Lacazette came onto the pitch, and the Frenchman linked up with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in those last 20 minutes.
Surely Lacazette will start on Friday night, and he is best priced to open the scoring at 9/2 with bet365 and with Saka liking to be missing on Friday after being kicked up the arse by James McArthur then you fancy Lacazette to start.
As mentioned in my previous Arsenal preview, Albert Sambi Lokonga has made the most tackles for Arsenal this season with 13 and also has the most yellow cards this season with two. Against Palace he only played 45 minutes, but was diving in too much for a defensive centre midfielder and was fortunate not to concede several fouls and he is 10/3 to pick up a booking with
Unibet.
Now he's expected to have a midfield tussle with John McGinn and the tough-tackling Scotsman has 15 tackles so far this season, along with two cards himself. McGinn is 5/2 to be booked on Friday night and I'd be tempted to have both the midfielders in a double to be booked which is 14/1 with
Unibet.
Looking at both sides defending in the last game week and just in general, with both sides conceding 12 goals in the league so far, I'd say BTTS is a safe bet, especially with the forwards on display. Aubameyang and Lacazette look lively, and Villa have Ings and Watkins up their sleeves. BTTS is 4/5 with
SBK.
Best Bets
Arsenal vs Aston Villa – Both Teams To Score (4/5 SBK)
Arsenal vs Aston Villa – Alexandre Lacazette first goal scorer (9/2 Bet365)
Arsenal vs Aston Villa – Albert Sambi Lokonga and John McGinn to be carded (14/1 Unibet)
