Frank Lorenzo
Swansea (+900) at Arsenal (-270), Draw (+400)
After a disappointing weekend, Arsenal can’t afford to lose more ground in the race for the English Premier League title. They have a favorable matchup today, hosting struggling Swansea at the Emirates (2:45 PM Eastern).
The Gunners lost 3-2 at Old Trafford last Sunday, dropping them five points back of Leicester for top spot in the EPL (51 points in 27 games). Arsenal haven’t won in three straight now (all competitions) after falling to Barcelona in the Champions League (2-0) and drawing Hull in the FA Cup (0-0), both at home.
Playing at home hasn’t been entirely ideal for Arsenal in the Premier League, either. Through 13 home matches, the Gunners are 8-3-2. It’s a solid record, but not one that will lead to their first EPL title since 2004. Scoring has been the main issue, with the squad averaging just 1.3 goals per game at Anfield.
Swansea City have similar scoring issues no matter where they play. The team has just 25 goals in 27 EPL matches (only Aston Villa, with 21, has fewer) and are a narrow three points up on the relegation zone. The Swans enter today’s game on a two-match losing skid, dropping tilts with Southampton (0-1) and Tottenham (2-1), and are 2-4-7 overall on the road.
The Gunners picked up an easy 3-0 win at Liberty Stadium last time the teams met in October; they should be primed to bounce back from their loss to United.
Pick: Arsenal (-270).
(Photo credit: Singha94 [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.)
