Lewis Cook has made the 16th most tackles of any player this season in the Premier League. The combative midfielder has an average of 2.51 tackles per 90 and has made at least 3 tackles in 10 of his 18 league starts. In the reverse fixture he made 5 tackles in all action display to back up his totals of 5 and 3 against Newcastle last season.

The key to this bet is tackles against Newcastle in two specific areas of the pitch. Cook was moved to right back in Bournemouth’s midweek trip to Chelsea and with James Hill going off injured, he may well play there again. This will mean a battle with Anthony Gordon and the last 4 right backs against The Magpies have been forced into making 6, 2, 5 and 3 tackles. If he is in his regular midfield role, in Newcastle’s last 13 matches in all competitions, 17 different opposition central midfielders have made at least 3 tackles and so we can be confident of Cook’s chances wherever he plays.

Since Unai Emery took over at Aston Villa, this fixture has seen tackle totals of 39, 40, 63 and 43. William Saliba has played a key part in those numbers, making 12 tackles across those 4 matches, landing this bet in 3 of them. This season, his numbers have been consistent, averaging 1.92 per 90 and making at least 2 in 13 of his 19 Premier League starts.

Aston Villa are drawing 17.4 tackles per game this season and Saliba will be dealing with Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers, with that pair having been dispossessed 3.91 times per 90 between them this season. With Arsenal desperate to get back on track and keep pace with runaway leaders Liverpool, they’ll be flying into tackles and Saliba should be heavily involved with his direct opposition.

On the face of it, this is a very high line to be taking for player tackles. However, Idrissa Gueye is a tackle monster, averaging 3.57 tackles per 90 across all competitions this season. The Senegalese midfielder has made at least 4 tackles on 6 occasions this season. The big angle for this bet though is his performances against Tottenham. In 204 minutes of action against Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs side, he’s made 16 tackles which is an average of 7.07 per 90 minutes.

Tottenham are the Premier League’s most tackled side, drawing 21.4 per game and Everton’s 20.1 per game is the fifth most in the division. Central midfield is also awash with tackles in Spurs games with 6 separate opposition players in the middle of the park in their last 7 games in all competitions making at least 4 tackles. Yes, it’s a high line but we have a player who loves to get stuck in with excellent head-to-head data and this still looks backable at the price.