Premier League predictions and best bets: Back Arsenal & Manchester City defences for shutouts | Football News
Our football betting expert, Jones Knows, gives his thoughts on the Premier League and wants to back Manchester City and Arsenal to deliver their favorite supports.
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace, Sunday 2 p.m., live on Sky Sports
Sunday October 26 at 12:30 p.m.
Kick-off at 2:00 p.m.
There is a betting angle emerging with Arsenal regarding their second half producing more goals than the first. Mikel Arteta’s side are masters of control and it shows through this trend. They strangle games early, stifle space and rarely sniff at the opposition in the first half.
But once the patterns are established and fatigue sets in perhaps with the opposition’s decision making in the second half, the pace changes and that’s where the goals tend to come from. There have been just eight first-half goals scored in Arsenal’s last 10 matches in all competitions, but 16 after the break.
It’s 11/10 with Sky Bet for more goals scored in the second half than in the first.
SCORE PREDICTION: 2-0
Aston Villa vs Manchester City, Sunday 2 p.m., live on Sky Sports
There is a new cruelty to Manchester City, not just with the ball, but without it.
The headlines may still go to the monster that is Erling Haaland, but their defensive solidity is just as important. Led by the colossus Ruben Dias and the imposing presence of Gianluigi Donnarumma, it is a team which has rediscovered the art of control and clean sheets. The Italian goalkeeper has only conceded four goals in eight matches.
And that makes City win to nil at 5/2 with Sky Bet, a bet that demands attention.
The market still gives Villa a lot of respect at home – and understandably so, given their record of losing just one of their last 22 home games in the Premier League. However, digging a little deeper, Villa’s expected goals figures in the Premier League are still disappointing, at just 0.86 per 90 – only four teams have a lower average.
The city is taken to accompany them.
SCORE PREDICTION: 0-2 | BEST BET JONES KNOWS: Manchester City to win to nil (5/2 with Sky Bet)
Bournemouth vs Nottingham Forest, Sunday 2pm, live on Sky Sports
Every now and then a market slowly drifts away from reality and that’s exactly what happened with Bournemouth’s goal lines. While everyone associates Andoni Iraola’s side with chaos and attacking flair, the raw numbers paint a much duller picture, especially at home.
Over their last 12 Premier League home games, matches at Vitality have averaged just 1.92 goals per game. Then enter the perfect storm for a low-scoring encounter, as in Nottingham Forest under Sean Dyche.
You know what you’re getting with Dyche, a compact shape, a focus on organization and a game plan built around defensive resilience. His teams do not cause chaos. It’s all about confinement, especially away from home.
As of 10/11 with Sky Bet, the price for under 2.5 goals is a runner.
SCORE PREDICTION: 1-1
Wolves vs Burnley, Sunday 2 p.m., live on Sky Sports
Ah, the six-pointer. Two words that make managers shudder and fans panic.
It is these meetings that decide the seasons. For the Wolves, it’s just a great game.
They remain the only team without a win in the top four divisions this season and failing to show the required intent against Burnley could just tip an already frustrated home crowd over the edge. From time to time in football, the biggest threat to a team’s performance is not the opposition, but its own stadium. West Ham have proven that this season and that could well be the case for Wolves here.
The hosts look a little thin at Evens with Sky Bet meaning Burnley have a double chance of playing at 4/5.
SCORE PREDICTION: 1-1
Everton vs Tottenham, Sunday 4:30 p.m., live on Sky Sports
Under the leadership of Thomas Frank, Spurs appear more organized, more compact and more reluctant to take risks. In 13 matches, they have conceded only 0.8 goals per match. Frank clearly focused on the structural basics: protecting the central defenders, limiting transitions, ensuring the solidity of the midfield-defense link.
This aspect of the game works.
But football isn’t just about closing the door, it’s also about creating chances, scoring goals and giving fans something to shout about. Spurs don’t do that – as shown by their lackluster offensive performance in Monaco where they once again created low volume and low quality chances. Over their last nine games, they’ve averaged just 9.67 shots per 90.
So we have a team here at Spurs that doesn’t concede goals or score many.
Back the line under 2.5 at 4/5 with Sky Bet.
SCORE PREDICTION: 1-1
Jones Knows best bets:
- Double 1 point on Cody Gakpo to score and Manchester City to win to nil (9/1 with Sky Bet)