Daily Dynamo Selections – Stoke City v Arsenal
Arsenal have historically found some of the grittier teams in the Premier League to be tough places to pick up points, so this trip to Stoke will be a serious test of the Gunners' title credentials. However, Arsenal certainly need a win as they have a tremendously tough run of fixtures in March which will ultimately decide whether their promising season pays dividends.
The Gunners' Premier League form continues to be excellent, with just one defeat (to Liverpool) in ten matches. They have also won more away games than any other club in the league apart from Tottenham. Given their excellent away record last term, it's not surprising that Arsenal are still there and thereabouts in the title race.
Stoke had an abysmal run fairly recently, and although they have come out of that somewhat they have only won one of their last ten Premier League fixtures. They have also leaked the most goals out of any team not currently in the relegation zone.
Thus, there is no particularly compelling reason why Arsenal shouldn't expect to turn up at the Britannia Stadium and win. They're confident, they're in-form, they have everything to play for, and Stoke come into the game in pretty poor shape. Thus, I think the odds for Arsenal to win this game are pretty generous and I have to back them to do so, albeit narrowly.
Selections: Safe Bet – Arsenal to win (8/13 with BetVictor), Value Bet – Arsenal to win by one goal (27/10 with Ladbrokes)
