Jamie Griffith’s acca for Saturday’s top-flight matches include a win for the league leaders and goals at both ends at the Etihad.
The weekend welcomes Gameweek 36 in the Premier League and there are crucial fixtures up and down the top flight.
There are seven big fixtures on Saturday, with title-chasing Arsenal hosting Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium in the first match of the afternoon. Manchester City – The Gunners’ main title rivals – are in action at tea-time as they welcome Wolves to the Etihad.
At the other end of the Premier League table, Nottingham Forest and Burnley face critical Saturday fixtures as both desperately fight for survival.
Forest travel to an already-relegated Sheffield United seeking three points while Burnley host Newcastle United.
Best bets
Arsenal v Bournemouth: Arsenal/Arsenal (half-time/full-time) @ 8/13
Nottingham Forest to beat Sheffield United @ 13/20
Manchester City v Wolves: BTTS @ 7/5
Acca pays @ 5.4/1
Arsenal v Bournemouth (12:30)
Arsenal have enjoyed a magnificent spell in their quest for the Premier League title, romping to a 5-0 Emirates success over Chelsea before winning 3-2 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and the Gunners should stay on the front foot.
It is not difficult to imagine a rampant Arsenal penetrating mid-table Bournemouth quickly in this encounter. Mikel Arteta’s team will have taken huge confidence from defeating Spurs – that fixture looked the most problematic in the title run-in – and self-belief will have surged through the squad.
Lessons were learned in the home defeat to Aston Villa last month – Arsenal squandered numerous first-half chances in that fixture – and a clinical first-half display can be anticipated against Bournemouth. Expect the home team to be winning at half-time and full-time.
Sheffield United v Nottingham Forest (15:00)
Sheffield United know that they will be playing their football in the Championship next season, so it will be difficult for the Blades to get motivated for their remaining Premier League games, making Nottingham Forest an attractive proposition this weekend.
Forest are scrapping for Premier League survival and the visit to Bramall Lane will go a long way to determining their fate. Typically away draws are more than acceptable for the division’s lesser-lights, but Forest will undoubtedly be gunning for three points in Sheffield.
The Premier League standings mean a point would still leave the Tricky Trees vulnerable to Luton Town and Burnley in the relegation dogfight but a victory would afford invaluable breathing space. Forest are the better side and the more motivated outfit, so punters should be angling for an away win.
Manchester City v Wolves (17:30)
Manchester City can remain in charge of the Premier League title race by defeating Wolves in the tea-time fixture, but they may do so without keeping a clean sheet.
Wolves are not being shown much respect in any of the markets for this visit to the Etihad, but they scored away at Arsenal, netted four goals away at Chelsea, bagged twice at Forest in their last away game and beat Manchester City 2-1 in the reverse fixture in October.
City are bursting with attacking prowess, but they always look susceptible to conceding. Lowly Luton Town scored in City’s last Premier League home game and Wolves can do likewise.