Premier League Match Week 24 Betting Preview
Former Arsenal midfielder Adrian Clarke picks out 3 matches to look out for this weekend for Betting Radio
Nottingham Forest v Newcastle United - Saturday 17:30
The City Ground may not be the fortress Steve Cooper had tried to build it into but Forest have still only failed to score twice at home all season. They have scored multiple goals against good teams this season, Manchester United and Brighton included and there's a few in there that they've that they've performed well in.
It might be a good time to play Newcastle now. No Joelinton or Isak. Anthony Gordon is a major fitness doubt as well. Personally I think I think Forest have to take this opportunity and get a win on the board or at least a point because we don't know what's coming in terms of a possible points deduction.
No Chris Wood though and he was huge in the 3-1 win at St.James’s where Nuno played a very defensive counter-attacking style of game. I think that will be the case here at the City Ground.
They might have a little bit more of the ball, but it will be all about how much damage they can cause on the break and with Newcastle on the road conceding goals, I think Forest will avoid defeat. I'm not going to go as far as to say they're going to win the game. I'm leaning towards the score draw.
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West Ham v Arsenal – Sunday 14:00
Revenge is in the air for Arsenal, no doubt about that. I can't see the Hammers doing the treble over them - they knocked them out of the League Cup as well. I think that Arsenal will be fully focused on the game. It might be a grind because David Moyes as we know will set up cautiously. They'll defend the box very, very well but, since the winter break Arsenal have been significantly sharper and they've got a habit of going away to teams and winning in a unspectacular way. Winning with under 4.5 goals has been a pattern not just this season, but last season as well.
West Ham are capable, with Kudus and Bowen back up front, of scoring goals but it’s the defence they will focus on in this one - they defended their box magnificently in the match at the Emirates and David Moyes would just say “same again please boys” but I just feel that of late West Ham haven't been as impressive with and without the ball. And I just think that that on this occasion they might just come up short.
So I'm going to go for Arsenal to win, probably 2-1
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Crystal Palace v Chelsea – Monday 20:00
It felt like it might be one of those “El Sackico” kind of games, didn't it? But Poch has given himself some breathing space with that win at Villa Park. Hodgson has kind of had his right arm cut off, hasn't he? With Eze out and Oliseh out. Can you drum up enough confidence and self belief into that Palace team ahead of this game? I’m not sure he can. They'll try and keep it tight but the bottom line is as average as Chelsea are compared to Chelsea teams of the past, they've still got a lot of ability in there and probably enough match winners to get the job done at Selhurst Park.
I don't think it'll be pretty, but I do think Chelsea might win this game 2-1