Arsenal to tame Toffees, Swansea can down Villa in live PL clashes

Lee Gormley | March 18, 2016

In Saturday’s live Premier League clashes, Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal will look to salvage their title hopes with success against Everton on Merseyside in the early kick-off, while basement side Aston Villa meet fellow strugglers Swansea City in Wales.

Everton v Arsenal

Gunners target Toffees success

Arsenal currently sit six points adrift of second-placed London rivals Tottenham in the Premier League standings, and Arsene Wenger’s Gunners will look to close that gap with victory over Everton, who they have lost just once to since December 2007.

That record stretches back an incredible 18 meetings in all competitions, with the Toffees’ last victory coming in April 2014, meaning Arsenal arrive at Goodison Park as 17/10 favourites with Coral to triumph on their travels.

Although, Everton’s recent home record in this fixture has been encouraging, with the Merseysiders having gone unbeaten in three outings in front of their own fans, including a win and two draws. Another stalemate is 12/5 to occur, while Everton are 9/2 to prevail and keep a clean sheet.

Lukaku a threat to Gunners

While Arsenal are battling to remain in the leading pack, Roberto Martinez’s men are aiming to edge further up the standings after dropping to a disappointing 12th position, though they are enjoying a hopeful FA Cup run.

Belgium international marksman Romelu Lukaku struck twice to down Chelsea in the cup, with either West Ham United or Manchester United awaiting in the semi-final at Wembley, and the in-form frontman is 4/1 to open proceedings again on home turf.

Ross Barkley was on target in the reverse defeat at the Emirates, and the England international playmaker is 15/8 to strike anytime this time around, while Irish full back Seamus Coleman is 9/1 to tuck home after netting in this fixture last season.

Giroud gunning for further fixture success

Arsenal’s main attacking threat could be that of Frenchman Olivier Giroud, who has enjoyed this fixture, having netted in his last three appearances against the Toffees. The towering targetman is 5/4 to make it four in a row anytime, while Danny Welbeck is 5/1 to strike last.

Theo Walcott dispatched a double in his side’s last victory over Hull City in the FA Cup, with Arsenal having recently suffered back-to-back losses to Watford and Barcelona, and the swift attacker is 7/4 to find the target here.

Swansea City v Aston Villa

Swansea meet rock-bottom Villa

Remi Garde’s Aston Villa lie haplessly rock-bottom of the table with just 16 points at this stage of the campaign, and they contest a Swansea City side that are struggling just above the relegation zone after just two wins from seven recent outings.

The Swans come into this relegation encounter on the back of a defeat to Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth, but the visitors have suffered one of the worst ever top-flight terms, having hopelessly accumulated only three victories to date.

Garde’s Villans are therefore 5/1 to secure a rare win on the road, while the hosts are 29/20 to prevail without conceding in a fixture which they have earned four successive successes in and have not lost in six match-ups.

A share of the spoils in this domestic dust-up between two stuttering sides is 14/5 to occur on Welsh soil, although both relegation battling outfits are in severe need of a win.

Gomis goals on the cards

Gylfi Sigurdsson struck in a 2-1 reverse clash triumph and the Swans playmaker is 5/4 to dispatch anytime, while frontman Bafetimbi Gomis is available at 9/2 to open the scoring on home soil, after bagging the winner in a 1-0 coup at Villa Park last season.

Andre Ayew was the match winner last year, clinically firing in after 87 minutes to earn Swansea three points and the Ghana international is 5/1 to strike last in his latest appearance. His younger brother and weekend opposition Jordan Ayew is 9/4 to score anytime in what is another huge clash for the basement club, having done so in the last meeting.

Fellow Villa attacker Rudy Gestede is 9/4 to strike anytime, while Gabriel Agbonlahor is a 10/3 chance to get on the scoresheet, with their team desperately seeking points in what is looking increasingly likely of being a disastrous end to the campaign.

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Coral’s top tip: Back Giroud to strike anytime at 5/4 for Arsenal.