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Winning machine Aston Villa first up
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Brighton and Burnley both lacking victories
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Wolves, West Ham and wins do not go hand in hand
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Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest Tip - Back another Villa win
Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest
Saturday, 12:30
Live on Sky Sports
It's now three defeats in a row for Nottingham Forest and four defeats in their last five Premier League games but they still remain four points clear of the relegation zone due to the ineptitude of the teams below them. Their main issue is in attack as they've scored the second fewest goals in the league with just 18 and really look to be suffering with the continued absence of 20 goal top scorer from last season in Chris Wood. Aston Villa meanwhile, have won 17 of their last 20 matches across all competitions including 12 of their last 14 league games. Sometimes we can over complicate betting but when you're presented with a home side who are a winning machine against an away team missing their main goalscorer and struggling as a result, it makes sense to keep things simple and back the home win.
Back Aston Villa to win
Brighton v Burnley Tip - No bet
Brighton v Burnley
Saturday, 15:00
It's now 10 games without a win for Burnley and given their only wins have come against newly promoted sides and Wolves, it's difficult to see where their next victory is coming from perfectly illustrated by their odds of 6/17.00. However, Brighton have failed to win their last six Premier League games, including two against relegation-threatened West Ham, so it's impossible to trust them to win at 40/851.47. Based on the form table over the last six games it's seventeenth versus nineteenth and it's impossible to have faith in either side. Long-time over 2.5 goals favourite Brighton have actually only had 58% of their games breach the line this season so I'm not keen on backing that at 8/111.73 either. On the other hand, Under 2.5 goals is really not viable at 1/12.00 considering eight of Burnley's nine matches away from Turf Moor this season have had three or more goals. Verdict: No Bet.
Wolves v West Ham Tip - Winless sides can't be split
Wolves v West Ham
Saturday, 15:00
This is another game which is impossible to call at the prices in my opinion. It's is now an incredible 23 matches without a win for Wolves in the Premier League - 19 since the beginning of the season - and you have to go back over one hundred years to find a longer run in the top-flight as Bolton Wanderers hit 22 in the 1902/1903 season. But this could the game where they break that run given opponents West Ham are on a run of eight games without a win. Both sides have an awful problem defensively with Wolves failing to keep a clean sheet all season and West Ham managing just one. However, both teams to score is just 8/111.73 and it's really not a price to be backing considering their hit rates of 47% and 58% respectively this season.
Bournemouth v Arsenal Tip - Back relentless Arsenal
Bournemouth v Arsenal
Saturday, 17:30
Live on Sky Sports
After sweeping away title rivals Aston Villa in the second half before the New Year, it feels to me that Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is in pure 'win mode' whereby the manner of the performance is not important as long as they get the victory, particularly given the hectic schedule the festive period brings. It's now four wins in-a-row, and the latest one looks even more crucial now following Man City's failings at Sunderland on New Years Day. Bournemouth have dropped like a rock in recent months, failing to win any of their last 10 Premier League games and falling to fifteenth in the league. So how do we make 4/91.44 Arsenal pay? We back them at 5/61.84 alongside Under 4.5 goals. Given Arsenal's defence that has conceded just 12 goals in 19 games, the bet essentially comes down to will it be a goal fest? With 21 of their last 28 away games (75%) going under 3.5 goals let alone 4.5, there should be a big enough safety net. 78% of Bournemouth's home games this season have finished under 3.5 goals.
Back Arsenal to win and Under 4.5 goals