As we head into Week 14 of English Premier League play, there are plenty of exciting football games on tap. Maybe not as exciting as Tottenham’s nine goals against Wigan Athletic last week, but some very good match ups nevertheless. My pick for match of the week has to be Arsenal v Chelsea, as the Gunners will look to thwart the Blues current winning streak. Here I take a look at this weeks match ups giving you insight on making your EPL soccer wager a winner.
#3 Arsenal will host #1 Chelsea this Sunday as the Gunners look to avenge an earlier loss to the Blues this year that dropped them 8-points behind Chelsea on the leader board. Arsenal is coming off a 1-nil loss to Sunderland in their last match and cannot afford to drop any further behind if they want to make a serious run at winning the title. Chelsea continues winning games with ease in recent weeks and they have been in great form since early October. But playing Arsenal at Emirates Stadium will be a tough test for them. Although Chelsea have won five of their last six, home advantage for Arsenal may come into play. Look for this game to end in a draw.
#2 Manchester United will travel to #20 Portsmouth with a chance of closing the five point gap that Chelsea hold over them. Man U has been playing well and should have enough firepower to win this game easily. Portsmouth’s form had improved a few games ago but has once again began to fall apart, and they have lost their last two league matches. Look for Untied to collect three points in this one.
#4 Tottenham Hotspur are coming off a nine goal win over Wigan as they travel to #5 Aston Villa on Saturday. The Hotspurs are currently in fifth place, just a single point ahead of Villa. The match offers both clubs a chance to position themselves in the top four. Aston Villa has been in excellent form at home this year and will be difficult opponents. Both teams are playing well, but look for Tottenham to put some distance between them and Villa with a win.
#6 Manchester City is coming off their sixth consecutive draw in league matches and will host #15 Hull City. Manchester City needs to start winning matches if they hope to move up the table and challenge the top seeded teams. The upcoming match against the Tigers gives them an opportunity to do so against a lower seeded club. The Tigers picked up points in their last two games, including a huge win over Everton in their last outing. Manchester City should walk away with a clean win here.
#14 Everton will host #7 Liverpool in the Merseyside Derby — the longest currently running top-flight derby in England, on Sunday. Although both teams are middle on the leader board this is still a big game, and both teams will be playing for bragging rights. Derby games are usually hard fought affairs and this one will probably be no different. Both teams have struggled this season and Everton has been saddled with numerous injured players from their starting squad. This will be a fun match with Liverpool coming away with the win.
#8 Sunderland will travel to #16 Wigan Athletic on Saturday. The Black Cats walked a way with a big win against Arsenal in their last match. Wigan was pounded by Tottenham in their last outing, 9-1, and will definitely be looking to getting back on the rails. Sunderland has played well this season and is riding in the top 10 in league. The have played better at home this year and will be looking to change that trend in their match at Wigan. I like Sunderland in this one.
# 12 Blackburn Rovers will host #9 Stoke City, another team who has played well this season and are sitting comfortably in mid table. Stoke defeated last place Portsmouth in their last league game. The Rovers have picked up two wins in their last two games and with home advantage could make it three straight. This one will be close and both teams will split the points in a draw.
#17 West Ham United has picked up four points in their last three and will host #11 Burnley on Saturday. The Hammers will be look to keep things going with a win. Burnley are sitting mid table and will be looking for points to propel them into the top 10. With home advantage and their recent improved from, West Ham picks up three points in this game.
#19 Wolverhampton is winless in their last six and is coming off a 4-0 drubbing from league leaders Chelsea in their last game. They will host #13 Birmingham City who is unbeaten in four league games. Birmingham will be looking for a win to move them up the table. The Wolves may get a slight advantage playing at home and play well enough to force the draw.
#18 Bolton have lost four games in a row and have slipped to the bottom of the league table. They will travel to #10 Fulham this weekend to play a squad that has performed well at home; having won three of the five games played there this season. Look for Fulham to pick up three points and a fourth home win against a Bolton side that are struggling to win games at the moment.
Matt Martz is a sports writer for the Bakersfield Californian located in Central California. Blessed is the gambler who expects nothing, for ye shall not be disappointed.
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