Arsenal v Fulham: 5/2 Gunners to edge it and take another step

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Saturday, 17:30
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Gunners' glory season on a knife-edge

Up the mountain they go. Edging step by step. Nothing comes easy anymore and yet Arsenal can almost see the summit.

It still remains unclear whether the Gunners will plant the flag in triumph or fall flat on their faces and the title betting reflects that knife-edge. Arsenal are 5/61.84 to win the Premier League for the first time since 2004 while Manchester City are 17/201.85.

Teams	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	PTS	xGF	xGA	xGD	EXP	FCST
1 Arsenal	38	26	7	5	71	27	85	0	0	0
2 Man City	38	23	9	6	77	35	78	0	0	0
3 Man Utd	38	20	11	7	69	50	71	0	0	0
4 Aston Villa	38	19	8	11	56	49	65	0	0	0
5 Liverpool	38	17	9	12	63	53	60	0	0	0
6 Bournemouth	38	13	18	7	58	54	57	0	0	0
7 Sunderland	38	14	12	12	42	48	54	0	0	0
8 Brighton	38	14	11	13	52	46	53	0	0	0
9 Brentford	38	14	11	13	55	52	53	0	0	0
10 Chelsea	38	14	10	14	58	52	52	0	0	0
11 Fulham	38	15	7	16	47	51	52	0	0	0
12 Newcastle	38	14	7	17	53	55	49	0	0	0
13 Everton	38	13	10	15	47	50	49	0	0	0
14 Leeds	38	11	14	13	49	56	47	0	0	0
15 Crystal Palace	38	11	12	15	41	51	45	0	0	0
16 Nottm Forest	38	11	11	16	48	51	44	0	0	0
17 Spurs	38	10	11	17	48	57	41	0	0	0
18 West Ham	38	10	9	19	46	65	39	0	0	0
19 Burnley	38	4	10	24	38	75	22	0	0	0
20 Wolves	38	3	11	24	27	68	20	0	0	0

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The interesting twist in this title race is that runaway leaders Arsenal were caught and yet have been offered the chance by the fixture list to take a commanding lead again. Victory here would lift them six clear and that suddenly puts huge pressure on City to win their two games in hand.

Of course, there is one other big element to all this. Saturday's game comes between Arsenal's two-legged Champions League semi-final against Atletico. That is delicately poised too after a 1-1 draw in Spain on Wednesday night.

Fulham have incentive

Playing a team in 10th spot at this stage of the season - four games to go - can often be ideal. They're safe from relegation and accusations of "being on the beach" start to swirl.

But the middle of the Premier League is so congested this season that Fulham are one of numerous teams battling for what could be a plentiful tally of European spots.

Going into the weekend, Marco Silva's men are just two points behind sixth-placed Brighton. They finish off with three winnable games against Bournemouth (h), Wolves (a) and Newcastle (h) so Europe is very much in their sights.

Listen to Football...Only Bettor Saturday preview

Gunners may have to dig it out again

Evidence that these are the hard yards for Arsenal can be seen in their recent results.

In all comps, they've managed just two wins in the last eight. Four have been drawn and two lost.

For Saturday's match, Arsenal are 4/91.44 to extend their lead to six before Man City travel to Everton on Monday night.

Fulham are 13/27.50 to blow a huge hole in the Gunners' title hopes while The Draw is 7/24.50.

This would have been a major test for Arsenal had the game been at Craven Cotttage as Fulham boast 10 wins there this season. Away from home the visitors' tally of three-pointers is just four and only three teams have fewer road wins.

But Fulham can't just be dismissed as dodgy on their travels. They haven't won any of their last three away games but forced 0-0 draws in two of them - at Nottingham Forest and Brentford.

Let's now add to the mix the fact that Arsenal haven't scored more than once in any of their last eight games in all competitions. Throw in the usual angst that resonates in the Emirates when things aren't going swimmingly and all the ingredients are there for a tight contest.

The 1-0 at 11/26.50 must be a live runner given that three of Arsenal's last six games have in all comps have been by that scoreline.

But with 2-1 also realistic, I'll head to the Winning Margin market and back Arsenal to to win by exactly 1 goal at 5/23.50.

Starting with the Gunners' 1-0 win at Craven Cottage in October, eight of Fulham's last 11 Premier League defeats have been by that minimum one-goal margin. Few sides roll them over easily.

Fulham haven't actually conceded a goal in the first 15 minutes of any Premier League game this season so that hardly bodes well for a fast start from Arsenal.

And if that early goal doesn't come, the tension spreads around the stadium and the Gunners may need a half-time reset from Arteta.

Fulham have been vulnerable just after the break and that's when Arsenal have outscored everyone (14 goals from half-time to the hour mark).

It's another way to squeeze more juice from a home win.

Eze worth a look for Bet Builders

Eberechi Eze scored the winner against Newcastle last weekend and rattled the inside of the post in the 2-1 loss to Manchester City.

The former Crystal Palace man has scored all seven of his top-flight Arsenal goals in the capital so could be the best option for Bet Builders if passed fit.

Eze to score and Arsenal to win by 1 goal pays just under 9/110.00.

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