James Milton: Football predictions & free betting accumulator tips

Free football tips, bets and analysis for this weekend's Premier League, EFL and European action.

Best bets

Arsenal to win & under 3.5 goals
1pt 7-5 BoyleSports

Wigan
2pts 6-5 general

Over 3.5 goals in Eintracht Frankfurt v Bayer Leverkusen
2pts 7-5 Betfair, BoyleSports, Paddy Power

Best Premier League bet

Arsenal v Southampton 3pm Saturday

Arsenal's defensive record has been dented by recent away defeats at Liverpool (4-0), Manchester United (3-2) and Everton (2-1) but the Gunners have a decent opportunity to grind out a victory over lowly Southampton at the Emirates Stadium.

Mikel Arteta's men have been ruthless against the weaker teams in the division, beating Watford, Burnley, Newcastle and Norwich without conceding a goal, and they should get back on track against the depleted Saints.

Oriol Romeu and Mohammed Salisu are suspended, centre-back Jan Bednarek is injured, and goalkeeper Fraser Forster is a major doubt, meaning 40-year-old Willy Caballero could make his first appearance in more than a year.

There is still a gulf between Arsenal and the top clubs, as Liverpool demonstrated at Anfield a couple of weeks ago, but they have won seven of their last eight home matches in all competitions.

The Gunners have conceded only four goals during that sequence and they can be relied on to secure a low-scoring win this weekend.

Best EFL bet

Wigan v Ipswich 3pm Saturday

Ipswich were all the rage in the ante-post League One betting after a frantic summer of transfer activity and the Suffolk side's failure to live up to those expectations cost manager Paul Cook his job.

Cook was sacked after last weekend's goalless FA Cup draw at League Two Barrow but Town's struggles against the stronger clubs in League One are their biggest problem and that record is unlikely to improve at Wigan.

Interim boss John McGreal led Ipswich in Tuesday's 2-0 defeat at Charlton, where they failed to register a shot on target, and five of their seven league wins this term have come against teams starting the weekend in the bottom seven.

Wigan, in contrast, have their sights on automatic promotion after taking 41 points from 19 matches.

They have won four of their last five in the league and have scored at least twice in eight of their last ten, which spells trouble for an Ipswich side who have lost to nil against Sunderland, Rotherham and Charlton in the last three weeks.

Best European bet

Eintracht Frankfurt v Bayer Leverkusen
Sky Sports Football, 4.30pm Sunday

Nine of Bayer Leverkusen's 14 Bundesliga matches this season have produced over 3.5 goals, including last weekend's 7-1 rout of bottom club Greuther Furth, and that looks a solid bet when they travel to Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.

It was a case of 'Schick happens' for Furth as Czech striker Patrik Schick scored four times in the second half to cap a ruthless display from Leverkusen, who have also been rattling in the goals in Europe.

They beat Celtic 4-0 and 3-2 and thumped Real Betis 4-0 at home to seal top spot in their Europa League section before Thursday's final group fixture away to pointless Ferencvaros.

Sunday's opponents Eintracht are also through to the Europa League knockout stages. Their only victory in their first ten Bundesliga matches this term came, bizarrely, away to champions Bayern Munich but they had won three on the bounce in the league before last weekend's 3-2 defeat at Hoffenheim.

Both teams have scored in 11 of Eintracht's 14 Bundesliga matches this term and neither side is likely to take a backward step on Sunday.

Weekend accumulators

Banker
Brest
Brest failed to win any of their first 11 Ligue 1 matches, despite scoring in all 11, but they are now motoring up the table and can claim a seventh straight league victory at home to overperforming Montpellier.

Blowout
Hartlepool
Despite losing five of their last six League Two games, Hartlepool are odds-on to beat bottom club Scunthorpe but the Iron are improving under new manager Keith Hill and have drawn four of their last five league fixtures.

Accumulator
Arsenal 4-6, Rotherham 1-2, Juventus 2-5, Brest 11-10. £1 accumulator returns £7.36 with BoyleSports.

Both teams to score
Games at Leicester 8-13, Bournemouth 17-20, Wycombe 8-11. £1 treble returns £5.18 with Hills.

Not got a bet365 account? Sign up today and get up to £100 in bet credits

Up to £100 in Bet Credits for new customers at bet365. Min deposit £5. Bet Credits available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

CLAIM OFFER HERE

MORE FREE BETS

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport