EPL Soccer Picks, Predictions, Best Bets: Arsenal moving closer to first Premier League title in over 20 years
The English Premier League reaches the 26th round of games this season, as we have an intriguing midweek slate to sink our teeth into.
Arsenal still leads by six points and challenges Brentford on away turf this week, with every point inching the Gunners that bit closer to their first Premier League trophy since the 2003/04 season. Liverpool still seek a top-five finish and will need to overcome ninth-place Sunderland to do so. Erling Haaland was back on the scoresheet after this weekend’s games and will notch at least one more this week after taking on Fulham at home.
Three games kick off matchweek 26 all at once, with Tottenham vs. Newcastle, Chelsea vs. Leeds, and Everton vs. Bournemouth getting the ball rolling Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. ET.
EPL Arsenal vs. Brentford best bet: Arsenal -1.5 (+196)
These two teams have met 11 times since 2021, with Arsenal losing just once in that period. The Gunners won their most recent confrontation with the Bees 2-0 on December 3.
Arsenal’s fate lies in their own hands, and the team continues to succeed from an impenetrable defence, with the lowest goals-allowed total in the EPL this season (17), and dominance in set pieces. Three back-to-back shutout wins over Leeds, Chelsea and Sunderland have them showcasing a goal differential of +8 in their last three games. On the road here, the Gunners rep -150 moneyline odds, although with seven different goalscorers boasting four goals or more in the Premier League alone, the team has a wide range of options on the attack, along with a virtually unbreakable defence, which makes covering a -1.5 spread for them likely in this one.
Brentford is having a respectable season in seventh place, although they are heavy +390 home underdogs for this one. The team does have spells of brilliance, and recently kicked off a two-game winning streak with a 1-0 win over Aston Villa and a 3-2 win over Newcastle; however, Arsenal just doesn’t seem to waver this season. Brentford’s Igor Thiago (17 goals) will need to pull off some incredible magic to give any hope to the Bees this match.
EPL Sunderland vs. Liverpool best bet: Liverpool ML (-150)
Liverpool is surely hurting after giving up a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1 to Manchester City over the weekend, yet the Reds still look stronger now than earlier in the season as they maintain sixth place with 39 points. Despite a soul-crushing home loss to their rivals (and a Dominic Szoboszlai suspension), the team still dished out 16 goals in their last five games in all competitions and is a top contender in the Champions League. They’ve been imperfect, but by no means have they been inferior, often outperforming teams they draw or lose to. While they have found difficulty in their finishing touch on the scoreline this season, the Reds are -150 favourites in this battle, and are due for some slack.
Sunderland is content with its ninth-place standing, but would be ecstatic to beat the Reds at home in this match. They are +390 contenders after suffering three losses out of their last five Premier League games, failing to score for the fifth time in just their last 10 games, after their most recent game ended in a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal. Throughout 20 games, only Brian Brobbey leads the charge in goals for the Black Cats with five goals. Against Liverpool, they will need a bit of luck on their side, because the Reds will be hungry for a win after an upsetting home loss over the weekend.
Erling Haaland anytime goalscorer (-200) in Manchester City vs. Fulham
The 6’5″ Norwegian striker finally bagged his 21st league goal for the first time since Christmas to give him the spark he needs to run away with the golden boot this season. The Citizens take home turf against a Fulham team that has conceded 37 goals this season, and with Haaland’s gyroscope now recalibrated for hitting the back of the net, it’s only a matter of time before the lethal centre forward strikes again.