(Featured image: Alamy Images)
Premier League action returns on Wednesday evening, featuring three matches which have implications at both ends of the table.
Second-placed Arsenal host relegation-threatened Luton Town, while Brentford look to distance themselves from the bottom three against Brighton. Current champions Manchester City also face a tough test against top-four chasing Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium.
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal return to the Emirates following a resolute performance against reigning champions Manchester City on Sunday. The Gunners left with a point after an uneventful 0-0 draw in Manchester, leaving them two points behind league leaders Liverpool with nine games to play.
The home side are unbeaten in their last nine fixtures and had won their previous eight prior to the game against Man City. Arsenal have also scored more goals (70) than any other side in the Premier League so far, and have averaged 2.5 goals on home soil. Arteta's men have failed to score in just 7% of home fixtures.
Visitors Luton Town, meanwhile, also boast a respectable goalscoring record on the road despite their inability to convert this into points. With an average of 1.4 goals per away game, Luton have found the net in 80% of matches on their travels. Coupled with Arsenal keeping clean sheets in only 29% of home games, both sides finding the net seems likely.
That's not to say the away side will emerge with a result, but goals can certainly be expected. Arsenal have scored three or more in 43% of home fixtures, and matches at the Emirates have averaged 3.5 total goals this term. Add Luton's leaky defence into the mix, and we should see plenty of goals.
READ OUR FULL PREVIEW FOR ARSENAL VS LUTON TOWN HERE!
🔴 @Arsenal's unbeaten start to 2024 continues 👏
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 31, 2024
Though @ManCity are the first team to take points from the Gunners this year... pic.twitter.com/V4m9ST8yzv
Brentford head into the match with just one victory in their last eight home games and, despite dominating much of the affair, were fortunate to emerge with a point against Manchester United after defender Kristoffer Ajer levelled in the 99th minute.
17 of their 26 points have come on home soil though, and the Bees head into the Brighton fixture desperate for three points to put some distance between themselves and the relegation zone.
Matches at the Gtech have seen plenty of goal action this term, with Brentford scoring an average of 1.67 per game while conceding two. Three or more goals have been scored in 13 of Brentford's 15 home outings so far this season, and the average of 3.67 total goals at the Gtech is the fourth highest in the Premier League.
Brighton, meanwhile, head to West London with just one win in their last nine away fixtures. 73.3% of these games have also seen three or more goals, with Brighton managing just two clean sheets on the road so far.
While we are unable to split the two, we expect a wealth of goals as both sides push for a strong finish to the season.
READ OUR FULL PREVIEW FOR BRENTFORD VS BRIGHTON HERE!
"That is a clever, cultured finish from Ivan Toney!" 🤌
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) April 2, 2024
The big man on target vs Brighton at the Gtech last season 💫 pic.twitter.com/NmXKC1qBtJ
The hosts come into the fixture unbeaten in 14 league outings - their last defeat being a 1-0 loss to Villa in December - and have kept three clean sheets in their last five home games. They have also averaged 2.5 home goals at the Etihad this term, with talisman Erling Haaland bagging four in his last five on home turf.
Villa are also in a good run of form, securing a 2-0 home victory over local rivals Wolves at the weekend, but the game did come at a cost; striker Ollie Watkins, who has started every league game and has 16 goals to his name, was withdrawn at half-time with a hamstring injury. The Englishman may be forced to sit out the game at the Etihad, severely hampering the Villa attack.
Not only are City in fine form, but they're masters at seeing out wins at the business end of the season. While Villa no doubt present a tough task for the hosts, it's difficult to see anything other than a home victory, particularly if Watkins is absent, as City look to pile pressure on league leaders Liverpool at the Premier League summit.
READ OUR FULL PREVIEW FOR MANCHESTER CITY VS ASTON VILLA HERE!
Both @ManCity and @Arsenal had a chance to go top of the Premier League when they faced off at Etihad Stadium...
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 31, 2024
But a goalless draw meant Liverpool kept that place 📊