Gunners Can Go Top at Second Time of Asking

Following their second-half capitulation seven days ago Arsenal have another chance to go to the top of the Premier League table with a win over Aston Villa this Saturday lunchtime.

Had The Gunners hung on to their first-half 2-0 advantage over north London rivals Tottenham last week then we would now be talking about the possibility of them pulling away at the top of the Premier League. However, another early kick-off this Saturday offers them the opportunity leapfrog both Chelsea and Manchester United, temporarily at least, at the summit of English football.

Arsene Wenger will be without the services of Cesc Fabregas after the midfielder picked up a hamstring injury in midweek and Emmanuel Eboue is also sidelined for at least a month. Villa’s injury curse has struck again with the news that Marc Albrighton is to be sidelined for up to four weeks, but news that John Carew could be ready to return to first team action offers a crumb of comfort.

Arsenal can be backed at odds of around 5/4 to take advantage of the opportunity to go top at the second time of asking. Villa, who held Manchester united to a 2-2 draw in their last home game, are 13/5 to win and 12/5 to get a point.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Bolton look to continue their impressive start to the season with a home game against a Blackpool side that is also exceeding expectations this campaign. The Trotters (4/6) currently occupy fifth place in the table and could move into the top four with a positive result, Blackpool (5/1) could move up to seventh if they take all three points.

Sunderland travel to Wolves looking to build on a run of just one defeat in their last 12 league games but will be without first choice defensive duo Titus Bramble and Michael Turner. A win for The Black Cats (15/8) could lift them up to as high as fifth place in the Premier League whilst even maximum points for Wolves (13/8) wouldn’t take them out of the relegation zone.

It is yet another important Saturday at both the top and bottom of the Premier League table.