Arsenal: The Odds

It’s the North London derby this weekend at the emirates, and Arsenal are a top priced 2.6 with Boylesports to bounce back and beat their arch rivals Spurs.

 

This is a game which the two managers go into with contrasting levels of support.

 

Arsene Wenger is a man under pressure after his side’s 4-0 drubbing in the Champions League at the hands of Ac Milan which was quickly followed by a poor 2-0 defeat at Sunderland.

 

His comments after the game against AC Milan summed up things at the club at the moment. He said: “I felt we were never in the game, we were very poor offensively and defensively. It was shocking to see how we were beaten everywhere.”

 

He is fighting to justify his football philosophy and this will be his seventh season at the club without winning any silverware. Things must change fast to ensure the club gets back on track and this would be the ideal game in which to start the fight-back.

 

By stark contrast Spurs’ boss Harry Redknapp is a man who can do little wrong at present.

 

He is being wooed by the FA for the England job and is revelling in the media spotlight with the full support of Spurs and Three Lions supporters.

 

That makes this a really interesting clash, and with both side’s liking to play attacking football there is the distinct possibility of plenty of goals.

 

Indeed, the two sides met three times last season and and shared 16 goals in those encounters. Even if you add in Spurs’ 2-1 win at White Hart Lane this season, that makes 19 goals in their last four meetings – an average of nearly five goals a game.

 

So from  abetting perspective, the most attractive wager has to be over 2.5 goals, which can be backed a top priced 1.73 with Boylesports.

 

As far as Arsenal are concerned the outcome of this game will once again centre around Robin van Persie, and the Dutchman is a top priced 7 with Boylesports to open the scoring.

 

That looks fair, but backing him to score anytime at 2.38 – also with Boylesports – makes far more appeal given the nature of this game.

 

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is a viable alternative in the same market at a tasty looking 4.2 with Paddy Power.

 

I am not going to suggest a bet in the correct score market, given that like any Arsenal supporter I will just be praying for a win by whatever margin.