Arsenal's 'must-win' game and an impossible road to Europe

Arsenal are a top priced 1.3 with Betfred for their “must win” game against Blackburn at the Emirates this weekend.

Things haven’t gone right for the Gunners since the New Year, and they have not won any of their last four games in the Premiership and currently sit in seventh place as a result.

That is the lowest they have been in the table at this stage of the season since Arsene Wenger took over in 1996, and  are currently five points behind fourth placed Chelsea in their bid try and automatically qualify for the Champions League.

So given that their next four league games after this are against a rejuvenated Sunderland on Wearside, Tottenham at home, Liverpool at Anfield and Newcastle back at the Emirates, they simply can’t afford not to win this.

The stats certainly suggest that they are worthy long odds-on shots for this.

The Gunners had won the last seven successive home league games against the Lancashire outfit – scoring 25 goals – prior to their goalless draw last season.

They have also not lost in seven home games against sides from the bottom half of the league, winning five and drawing two.

Robin van Persie has scored 10 goals in 12 games in all competitions against Blackburn, while Mikel Arteta has scored five goals in the Premier League against them.

The former is a 3.5 chance with Betfred and Paddy Power to net first, while Arteta is a a 10 shot with bet365 and Betfred.

Arsenal have also generally managed to keep clean sheets at home against “weaker” opposition from the bottom half of the PL and the 2.1 with Paddy Power about them doing so again also looks decent value rather than backing them at the prohibitive odds on offer in the outright market.

I fancy them to win 2-0, and that’s a 7 shot with Boylesports.