Exclusive:
Our betting expert with punts for Stamford Bridge, Manchester United against Leicester and Ipswich’s trip to Tottenham PLUS a Serie A angle
Arsenal were 1/5 to be ‘top London Prem club’ in August. How would you price them now?
The Gunners head to Chelsea (4.30pm) with fresh injury doubts after the 1-0 defeat at Inter Milan made it one win in their past six aways, and that was Preston.
The international break will be a relief.
Cole Palmer is on a Europa Conference break until the knockouts, but it’s hard to imagine how Chelsea’s B team could have improved on their 8-0 demolition of Noah on Thursday, when the goals went in two by two.
The blooming Blues are certainties to lift the Conference trophy this season according to an excited Peter Crouch – which might make the widespread 10/11 seem tasty, until you prod at the maths.
Even assuming they qualify, that 10/11 outright price effectively rates Chelsea at 2/11 a pop to land a four-leg acca – three knockout ties plus a final. A bit thin, Crouchy.
There must be better bets at coin-flip prices that won’t take six months of ulcers to land?
Step forward Palmer. Assuming he starts, the 6/5 (Paddy) ‘score or assist’ is easy to stomach.
Chelsea’s Wesley Fofana is big ‘to be shown card’ at 2/1 (Paddy) in a spicy derby – he’s paid out in six of nine Prem games – and Arsenal air threat Gabriel ‘anytime scorer’ at 11/1 (Bet365) looks tasty.
Leicester conceded twice from outside the box on their last visit to Manchester United (2pm). That was their Carabao Cup second-string XI, but it still brings potshot hero Casemiro to mind.
The Brazilian shone against the Foxes and could be on an upswing amid the Old Trafford shake-up. His enthusiasm from long range defies his rather thin returns – but 28/1 (Bet365) he ‘scores from outside box’ isn’t miles over the bar.
Tottenham’s defence was fragile in midweek, but ahead of Ipswich’s visit today (2pm) the home-goals forecast is so very fruity that through-ball ace Dejan Kulusevski looks ripe at 12/5 (Bet365) ‘OVER 0.5 assists’.
‘Brennan Johnson scores assisted by Heung-Min Son’ is a fun way to play a similar angle at 10/1 (Paddy).
Fun is not forecast when goal-lite Newcastle go to Nottingham Forest (2pm). Take 10/11 (Bet365) UNDER 2.5 goals.
Over in Italy, punt Robin Gosens ‘score or assist’ at a plump 43/20 (Unibet) when free-scoring Fiorentina host leaky Verona (2pm, Serie A).
Last week: Winner at 6/5
