Predicting the Top 4 - Arsenal

Last time, we analyzed Tottenham Hotspur’s prospects of a top 4 finish. We now analyze Arsenal and their chances of a top 4 finish. We will continue with Chelsea next time, and after that we will analyze Everton.

Arsenal had another inconsistent season. Someday they would score 6 goals, while the very next match they would struggle to score even one. They got knocked out of the League cup against the likes of League 2 side Bradford and in the FA cup against N power championship side Blackburn, but they recently beat Bayern at Allianz Arena which might just act as a catalyst to their top 4 aspirations. Question marks over Wenger’s “present” managerial abilities remain, with another trophyless season and only the top 4 to play for. The defence started the season pretty well, but it has been inconsistent after that, leaking cheap goals time and again. Cazorla has been the best player till now, but he had his fair share of bad games as well. Walcott has been inconsistently good again this season, as well a Podolski. Wilshere has been good ever since coming back from a long lay off but his recent injury might just dent Arsenal's hopes, while Arteta has done his job quite well  Their recent win against Swansea has put them within 4 points of 4^th placed Tottenham with a game in hand, who lost to Fulham this weekend. Let us take a look at their upcoming matches as well as their recent form which will help us in predicting their upcoming results.

Form – Last 6 matches (Overall) - D W W W L W -13 Points

Form – Last 6 matches (Home) - W L W D W W – 13 Points

Form – Last 6 matches (Away) - W D L W L W – 10 Points

Last six results
BPL	30 Jan 2013	v Liverpool (H)	2 - 2
BPL	2 Feb 2013	v Stoke (H)	1 - 0
BPL	9 Feb 2013	v Sunderland (A)	0 - 1
BPL	23 Feb 2013	v Aston Villa (H)	2 - 1
BPL	3 Mar 2013	v Tottenham (A)	2 - 1
BPL	16 Mar 2013	v Swansea (A)	0 - 2

Opponent Form (Last 6 matches H/A)	Prediction
Vs Reading(H) – Reading away form -L L W L L L	Win, Arsenal will prove to be too much for Reading, plus Reading’s away form has been awful.
Vs West Brom(A) – West Brom home form- W L D L W W	Draw-West Brom will get a draw in their home game.
Vs Norwich(H) – Norwich away form - L L L D L D	Win- An easy win for Arsenal in this game
Vs  Everton(H) – Everton away form - D W W D L L	Win- It will be a close game, but Arsenal will prevail in the end because of home advantage
Vs Fulham(A) – Fulham home form - D L D W L W	Draw- Fulham will make use of their home advantage, and will get away with a point.
Vs Man Utd(H) – Man Utd away form - W D W D W W	Loss – Man Utd have proven to be unbeatable, they have been fantastic throughout the season,and it will be a Man Utd win at Old Trafford.
Vs QPR(A) – QPR home form - L D D D L W	Win- It will be a close game, with QPR doing everything to not get relegated, but Arsenal will prevail in the end.
Vs Wigan(H) – Wigan away form - L W D D L W	Win- A win for Arsenal in this game, though it won’t be easy because Wigan always play well at the end of the season
Vs Newcastle(A) – Newcastle home form - W L L W W W	Draw- A draw in this game, Newcastle and Arsenal will do everything to end the season on a high.

Current Points – 50

Points at the end of the season -  68

Predicted League position – One of our writers predicted Tottenham will finish with 74 points, but they lost to Fulham this weekend, in my opinion, Tottenham will again self destruct, and their recent form where they have lost 2 matches in the league and a heavy 4-1 loss to Inter in the Europa is an indication of this. I think Chelsea will finish 3^rd,Arsenal 4^th and Spurs will finish 5^th.Follow our blog for upcoming posts, recent results, and do share your viewpoints in the comments section.

-Navoday