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Our betting expert with tips for Emirates, Manchester United, Tottenham and Champions League PLUS a Milan derby punt
Back to the meat and potatoes of the Premier League for Pep Guardiola.
Manchester City head to Arsenal (4.30pm) after fine dining at Europe’s top table in midweek.
Raw relief and some peppery leaves of optimism were the principle ingredients in Pep’s post-match word salad after Wednesday’s 3-1 defeat of Bruge.
But with Real Madrid in the play-offs, the 10/1 (Lads) that City win this Champions League looks a bit low-fat. The saucier angle for full-English fans is Aston Villa at 40/1 (Hills, Betway), given their soft last-16 possibilities.
Assuming Villa don’t sell ALL their strikers, 40/1 would be a huge ticket to hold at the last-eight stage, with big clubs guaranteed to have fallen. Grab a bit each-way.
Today, the overhyping of Erling Haaland’s ‘fall’ has bent his prices – 7/4 (Bet365) ‘anytime scorer’ is big.
Arsenal’s Kai Havertz has seen his own status on the rise, but 9/4 (Paddy, Boylesport) ‘anytime’ might underrate him still, given his home data bias, and the ongoing weakness of City’s flanks.
On that score, the Gunners’ crossing stats point to Declan Rice at 6/1 (Betway, Boylesport) ‘OVER 0.5 assists’.
Every number shouts for goals-galore as Tottenham go to Brentford (2pm) – and the Bees’ Bryan Mbeumo looks the pick to answer that call for punters. Gifted with a fizzing self-belief right now, Mbeumo ‘anytime scorer’ at 7/5 (Paddy) is spot on.
It’s likely none of Spurs’ three scorers from the 3-1 reverse fixture will be available, but angling for any reining-in of the Ange Postecoglou method is a fool’s errand. Dejan Kulusevski will be getting enough chances to justify the 13/8 (Paddy) ‘score or assist’ against a generous defence.
Manchester United’s thrilling set-piece defending is worth the price of admission to Old Trafford on its own, unless you’re a United fan.
Visitors Crystal Palace (2pm) are mustard from the deadball and Will Hughes could bring the heat at 10/1 (Hills) ‘OVER 0.5 assists’.
And have United’s crowd-pleaser Bruno Fernandes ‘score or assist’ at a value-for-money 6/5 (Paddy).
Over in Italy, Kyle Walker is set for a testing Milan Derby (5pm) loan debut – take Inter’s red-hot Lautaro Martinez ‘anytime scorer’ at the widespread 7/4.
Last week: Winner at 11/5