Bookmakers Previews

Alan Alger from Blue Square previews Sunday’s Live Barclays Premier League ‘London Derby’ between Arsenal and Chelsea.

Injury-hit Arsenal host Chelsea on Sunday and I can only see this going one way. As an Arsenal fan I get trapped in this same conversation on an almost weekly basis. "Who do you support mate?", "Arsenal", "oh it must be great I support 'xyz' but I love watching your team". Well neutrals may enjoy it but I certainly don't. The Gunners are one of the most frustrating outfits in the land and for all the fancy footwork edited down on Match of the Day, fans at The Emirates have to put up with sloppy passing, poor set pieces and the all time favourite 'trying to walk the ball into the net'.

It's at this point in the conversation that a lower league fan will stare at me in disbelief and exclaim that they would give anything for one day of their team playing such football. Yes I might come across as being very greedy and ungrateful but this isn't about trophies and titles - it's about the pure frustration they cause.

Chelsea are heading the market for the Premier League title as well as looking the English team most likely to succeed in the Champions League.  Their early season defensive woes have all but dried up and they can now boast the tightest rearguard in the division. Conversely Arsenal have scored plenty to top the net-busting charts, but as all punters know, a solid defence counts for more. The Blues boast their own abundance of attacking talent in Carlo Ancelotti’s favoured first choice eleven, the majority of which will be taking the field on Sunday. Arsenal, on the other hand, will be down to their fourth choice strike partnership as well as fielding a makeshift defence. Pound for pound you'd also have to rate Chelsea's midfield as vastly superior to that of the home team. With the exception of an on-song Cesc Fabregas the remainder of Arsenal's engine room may not even make it onto the Chelsea bench.

Why then can we back Chelsea at odds bigger than 6/4? I have to make them favourites for the game for the reasons outlined above! Arsenal’s 100% home record in all competitions this season will keep their odds artificially short. Only a third of Arsenal’s games this season have featured under 2.5 goals, but that has been the outcome in their last two matches whilst they have been without their main goal-threat Robin Van Persie. Under 2.5 goals is the slight favourite in this match, with over 2.5 backable at just a shade odds against.

Chelsea’s front two of Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba will prompt plenty of punters to favour a high scoring game though. Drogba is 4/1 to score in a Chelsea victory and Anelka is 9/2 to do likewise on our extensive specials for this hugely important clash. We are also offering a ‘Goalscorer Matchbet’ between Drogba and Arsenal striker Eduardo, the Chelsea man is a slight favourite at 13/5.

Chelsea are also 7/4 to produce what will be their fifth consecutive clean-sheet in a league game.