Arsenal can overcome Watford among Premier League 3pm kick-offs
Published:
Lee Gormley | April 1, 2016
The Premier League once again takes centre stage this weekend following the international break, as Arsenal contest Watford and Norwich City clash with fellow relegation battlers Newcastle United as part of Saturday’s 3pm kick-offs.
Elsewhere, West Ham United and Crystal Palace collide, Bournemouth host Manchester City, Stoke City welcome Swansea City and Sunderland face West Bromwich Albion.
Arsenal v Watford
- Premier League
- Saturday, April 2nd
- Kick-off: 15:00 BST
- The Emirates, London
Gunners target Hornets victory
Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal will look to keep pace with Premier League leaders Leicester City and second-placed Tottenham with victory over Watford in one of many 3pm kick-offs on Saturday, and the Gunners enter this clash having won six of their previous seven fixture meetings.
The north Londoners currently reside in third position and sit six points adrift of their rivals Spurs, while Leicester are 11 ahead of them at the summit. Three points is a must to keep their already slim hopes alive, making them 21/10 with Coral to prevail and both teams score.
Danny Welbeck could be set to lead the Gunners frontline after returning from England duty during the international break, and the in-form frontman is 7/2 to bag a brace or more against Quique Sanchez Flores’ Hornets.
Olivier Giroud is 10/3 to net the game’s last goal, while clinical Chilean Alexis Sanchez enters at 6/5 to find the target anytime, with England speedster Theo Walcott the same odds for a goal of his own.
For the visitors, who have dropped down to 14th in recent weeks, strike duo Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney are 2/1 and 11/4 to dispatch anytime respectively, with the prolific pair key to any success for a Watford side that are 15/2 to triumph.
Norwich City v Newcastle United
- Premier League
- Saturday, April 2nd
- Kick-off: 15:00 BST
- Carrow Road, Norwich
Toon seek Canaries coup
Norwich City take on fellow relegation strugglers Newcastle United in a crucial clash which can go a long way in deciding who beats the drop this season, with the Toon having not lost in this fixture since December 2011.
Rafael Benitez’s Magpies sit three points adrift of safety in the drop zone and are 12/5 to secure a vital three points on their travels to Carrow Road, while Alex Neil’s hosts take to home soil at 5/2 to triumph without conceding.
The Canaries are far from safe themselves, as they lie in 17th place, and on-loan Chelsea striker Patrick Bamford will be key to success here, with the forward 7/4 to dispatch anytime, while fellow attacker Cameron Jerome is 6/1 to open proceedings on home turf.
Newcastle’s Aleksandar Mitrovic is 15/8 to net on the road, with deadly Dutchman Georginio Wijnaldum looking to make an impact again in this fixture after a clinical four-goal haul in the reverse encounter. He is a tasty 18/1 to fire in another two or more this time around.
West Ham United v Crystal Palace
- Premier League
- Saturday, April 2nd
- Kick-off: 15:00 BST
- Upton Park, London
Hammers hold hope for Palace success
Slaven Bilic’s West Ham United welcome a stuttering Crystal Palace to the capital this weekend, with the Hammers hoping to earn success on home soil and further their strong advances towards securing a Champions League place in the top-flight.
The hosts are 9/4 to win to nil in front of their own fans, while Alan Pardew’s Eagles are 3/1 to secure their first league victory of 2016, having so far only rallied to wins during their impressive FA Cup run.
Diafra Sakho and Andy Carroll are both 7/4 to strike anytime for the home side, while mercurial France international playmaker Dimitri Payet is 2/1 to dispatch, following his eye-catching displays during the international break.
For the travelling outfit, Connor Wickham and experienced frontman Emmanuel Adebayor are both 2/1 to get on the scoresheet anytime, with Dwight Gayle 7/1 to strike the game’s last goal at Upton Park.
Bournemouth v Manchester City
- Premier League
- Saturday, April 2nd
- Kick-off: 15:00 BST
- Dean Court, Bournemouth
Bournemouth battle Man City at Dean Court
Manchester City have massively dropped off the pace in the season run-in, with Manuel Pellegrini’s men lagging behind the front runners in fourth spot, as they prepare to tackle Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth at Dean Court.
The Sky Blues now find themselves battling for a Champions League position but are evens to secure three points on the road, with the Cherries entering at 27/10 to prevail on home turf.
Benik Afobe will look to continue his form in his latest outing and the club’s record signing is 2/1 to strike anytime, while fellow attackers Joshua King and Glenn Murray are 11/4 and 10/3 respectively to dispatch.
Raheem Sterling hit a hat-trick in the reverse encounter but misses out this time around due to injury, meaning Sergio Aguero will be relied upon as usual, and the Argentine ace is 7/2 to open the scoring.
Wilfried Bony bagged a double in that previous 5-1 thrashing in Manchester and the African frontman is 7/1 for another two or more goals here.
Stoke City v Swansea City
- Premier League
- Saturday, April 2nd
- Kick-off: 15:00 BST
- The Britannia Stadium, Stoke
Stoke seek Swans success
Stoke City have won their last four home games against sides in the bottom six of the top-tier table, and Mark Hughes’ Potters are 9/5 to continue that trend by overcoming relegation-threatened Swansea City without conceding.
Marko Arnautovic is 6/5 to get on the scoresheet anytime for the hosts, while former Barcelona starlet Bojan Krkic is 9/2 to open proceedings and towering targetman Peter Crouch is 5/1 to strike last.
For the visiting Swans, victory is crucial in their bid to beat the drop, and the Welsh outfit are 14/5 to triumph, with key forwards Alberto Paloschi and Bafetimbi Gomis both 7/4 to net anytime.
Sunderland v West Bromwich Albion
- Premier League
- Saturday, April 2nd
- Kick-off: 15:00 BST
- Stadium of Light, Sunderland
Sunderland seek Swans success
Sunderland are two points adrift of safety as they prepare to face West Bromwich Albion and they are 21/10 to win to nil, though the Black Cats have prevailed in just one of their last 12 fixture meetings.
Tony Pulis’ Baggies are 27/10 to succeed on their travels after climbing to 11th spot, just two points behind current champions Chelsea, as they seek to edge into the top half.
Saido Berahino is 6/1 to strike the game’s final goal, while fellow attackers Salomon Rondon and Rickie Lambert are 2/1 and 11/4 to net anytime on Wearside.
For the hosts, Jermain Defoe looks likely of being the main factor in potentially staying up this term and he is 9/2 to open proceedings here, with Fabio Borini 2/1 to dispatch anytime.
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