This is a match between the leagues no. 3 Arsenal (49points) and no. 4 Liverpool (44points) but it is two teams which is coming into this game on different form and winning streaks. This is their 2nd meeting this season – 1^st one resulting in an Arsenal-win 2-1 at Liverpool on Dec. 13^th. Looking back at the 08/09 season the results of their meetings were two draws and this also looks to be a close game.

Arsenal:

Arsenal started the season with a thunderous 6-1 away-win at Everton and throughout the season Arsenal has been one of the most entertaining teams to watch in the Premiership. Their goal total for the premiership season in 60, only Manchester United has scored more goals with 61. Unfortunately they are also the team in the top 3 that has conceded the most goals – in fact 10 more goals than Chelsea and Manchester United and their last 2 games has also shown some doubtful defence leading to defeats against Chelsea and Manchester United. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger still has faith in his players though and is calling upon teamwork to fix the struggling defence. Arsenal are still without long-term absentees Van Persie, Djorou and Kieran Gibbs, while Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner is looking for his first start in 2010, coming of an injury. Also Croatian striker Eduardo is sidelined so Bendtner looks a likely starter. Arsenals overall home record this season is 9-1-2

Liverpool:

 Liverpool has picked up their game recently and is coming into this match on red-hot form. Unbeaten in the last 7 games (5won and 2 draws) they have climbed to the crucial 4^th position in the league 1 point clear of Tottenham on 5^th. If Liverpool doesn’t manage to finish atleast 4^th and hence enter into the qualifying matches for the 10/11 Champions League season, I think it is safe to say that Rafael Benitez’s days as manager are over. With 13 matches to play, the Premiership is moving into the decisive phase and really I do not feel that Liverpool can afford to loose here. Centre Back Sotirios Kyrgiakos will start a 3-match suspension coming off his red card on Saturday. Besides him, Liverpool are missing Fernando Torres, Yossi Benayoun and Glen Johnson, all to injuries. Liverpools overall away record this season is 4-3-5 with their last two away matches showing draws at Stoke and Wolverhampton.

Conclusion:

I’m sure both teams will come out with the intention to win it’ but if the game is tied coming into the last 25minutes I am sure they will fancy 1-point and status quo in point difference in the league table. Should Liverpool win it (they haven’t won at Arsenal for a decade), the distance between the 2 clubs will only be 2 points and this will bring Tottenham, Manchester C. and Aston Villa into contention and cause a wide-open battle for 4^th position. I believe Liverpool’s red-hot form will be evened out by Arsenal’s home game advantage - adding to this, the importance of the match for both teams, I find value in betting on a draw.