Weekend Tips: Premier League and Serie A action

Matchweek 35 of the Premier League season welcomes some interesting matchups, and we've got the tips for three of them, including Tottenham and Arsenal. We've also got some Italian Serie A action, too.

The Nap

Arsenal’s top four fate is now back in their own hands and they look a solid punt at 4/5 to beat West Ham on Sunday. Back-to-back wins against Chelsea and Manchester United have galvanised the Gunners, following shocks defeats to Southampton, Crystal Palace and Brighton.

They are getting David Moyes’ side at a good time too. The Hammers have reached the semi-final stage of the Europa League and will have one eye on that second leg against Eintracht Frankfurt. More importantly, they are down to the bare bones in defence. Kurt Zouma, Angelo Ogbonna and Issa Diop missed their last Premier League game against Chelsea, while the in-form Crag Dawson is also suspended this weekend after being sent off in that game.   

Arsenal have dominated this fixture in recent years. Indeed in 51 previous Premier League meetings, West Ham have only won eight times. Arsenal have won 33 and the Hammers have actually lost more Premier League matches against Arsenal than they have against any other side in the competition.

When the teams met in December Arsenal ran out 2-0 winners with Emile Smith Rowe and Gabriel Martinelli both starring. West Ham have won just one of their last five Premier League matches and could be putting all their eggs in the Europa League basket from here.

With this in mind Arsenal, inspired by the brilliant Bukayo Saka, look a steering job here at a shade under evens.

 

The Nap – Arsenal to beat West Ham at 4/5 (Betfred/Coral/Hills/Skybet)

 

The Value Tip

Having lost their last 10 games at home, and with no wins from their last four against Burnley, Watford look right up against it this weekend. Claudio Ranieri has not been able to inspire the Hornets, who have conceded 39 goals in just 16 home league games this season.

In contrast Burnley are buzzing, having taken seven points from the last nine available. Momentum is clearly with the Clarets and moving above Everton will have given them a huge psychological lift. The Toffees could be relegated for the first time in 71 years and another win for Burnley on Saturday would be a massive blow for the Blues, who face Chelsea at home on Sunday.

Watford have lost 10 Premier League games on the bounce at home. No side in top-flight history have ever lost 11 consecutive home league games before, but it could well happen this weekend.

Burnley are priced up around the 7/4 mark in the 1x2 market, but they look a great shout to win a game featuring over 2.5 goals given Watford are conceding 2.4 goals per game at home in average this season. 

 

Value Tip – Burnley to win & both teams to score at 19/5 (Bet Victor)

 

First Goal Flutter

Harry Kane has scored 16 goals in just 13 Premier League games against Leicester and looks the obvious punt in terms of a first goalscorer when Spurs clash with the Foxes on Sunday. The England striker has not set the world alight this season but still has 12 goals to his name and will be keen to find the net again after blanking against Brighton and Brentford.

At this stage of the season, with so little to play for domestically, Leicester could not be blamed for prioritising their Europa Conference League semi-final against Roma.  If they do they could be exposed by Tottenham.

Kane already has 178 Premier League goals, putting him fifth in the all-time scoring charts. If he avoids serious injury and/or a big money transfer abroad, you would think he would go very close to breaking Alan Shearer’s record of 260 Premier League goals at some point. Shearer of course had to contend with several serious injuries during the course of his career and probably would have hit 300 goals but for those.

There is no denying though that Kane is a class act. He has near-perfect technique when striking a ball, is strong in the air and scores goals for fun. At 3/1 he looks a play to notch first at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where Spurs have scored 13 in their last four home league matches.

 

First Goal Flutter – Kane to score first at 3/1 (Unibet)

 

The Euro Banker

Inter’s title bid suffered a huge blow in midweek as they lost to Bologna, handing the initiate back to city rivals AC Milan.

Inter's reserve keeper Ionut Radu made a horrendous mistake to lose the game 2-1, and as a result Milan are now two points clear, but also have the advantage in their head-to-head record (so technically it’s three points).

It’s a two-horse race for the Scudetto – with Inter now 11/10 for the title having been as short as 2/9 in places after last weekend’s action. The Nerazzurri travel to Udinese on Sunday, and this is a tough fixture on paper. Both teams have scored in nine of Udinese’s last 10 Seri A fixtures, so there could be goals at the Dacia Arena.

Inter have shipped goals in each of their last three league matches, and so look worth a bet to win a match where both teams find the net.

 

The Euro Banker – Inter to win & both teams to score at 21/10 (bet365/Betfred/Hills)