Everton can tame Gunners

Everton can put another dent in Arsenal’s title ambitions by beating Arsene Wenger’s team at Goodison Park on Saturday - a match being shown live on Setanta Sports.

The Gunners have carried all before them this season but have been more perspiration than inspiration this month. Two points from their recent matches away to Newcastle United, Middlesbrough and Portsmouth is not the stuff of champions, while they have ridden their luck to get the better of Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, recently, too.

Arsenal were well below-par when drawing 0-0 with Portsmouth on Boxing Day. That was their tenth match in a month and it seems their busy schedule is taking its toll.

Totesport make Arsenal odds-on to pick up three points and that looks a very skinny price. Skybet’s top offer of 6-5 makes little appeal, either.

By contrast, the 5-2 that Bet365 offer against Everton is good value.

David Moyes’s team consolidated their place in the top six of the table with a 2-0 win over Bolton Wanderers on Wednesday and have won their nine home matches this term by a 21-7 aggregate. Only Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool have conceded fewer goals on their own patch this campaign.

Tim Cahill has been in superb form since returning from injury in late October, while Joelon Lescott and Yakubu (nine goals in his past 11 matches) are among others who have been in fine fettle.

Those after a chunky price can get 11-2 about Everton being ahead at half-time and full time.  They are 18-1 to chalk up another 2-0 success, having won by that margin on five occasions this season.