Fabregas, Rooney, Begovic and Williams to Arsenal – What are the odds on that?

Welcome back to your weekly Blog
where we try to bash those Bookies.

This week
I`ll take a look at some players who have been linked with The Arsenal and see
if there is any value in the odds offered. First up a player that has been heavily
linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium for a few months now.

Ashley Williams – Arsenal are odds on to be his next
employers. They are 1/3 with the next nearest rivals Liverpool at a best priced
10/1. (Considering Kolo Toure has just agreed to join, I can’t see them signing
Williams too). The only other club less than 33/1 is Aston Villa at 20/1.  So a tenner on Williams to be at Arsenal
after the summer window would win you a grand total of £13.33 ! Hardly worth
the risk is it?

Cesc Fabregas – Now this is interesting. Fabregas
was 14/1 to be a Gooner again only last week. Last night his odds shortened
again from 12s to 6/1. What does this suggest to you? Someone somewhere is putting
£ on Fabregas re-joining The Arsenal this summer. If you believe the written media
then it’s a straight battle between Manchester United and Manchester City; United
are still 3/1 favourites to sign him with City outsiders at 20/1. Big Spending
Chelsea are rank outsiders at 40/1. What the media do have right is Arsenal do
have a buy-back clause which is considerably less than any other club. If he’s
available at a discount then it’s a no-brainer. £10 on Fabregas becoming a
Gooner again this summer would get you collecting £70 that is a decent bet as
there’s a World Cup coming round the corner and Cesc will not want to sit
playing Rock, Paper , Scissors with Alex Song again next season.

Asmir Begovic– It’s no secret Arsene Wenger seems
to want to strengthen this area of the team, but at the moment Liverpool are
odds on favourites to sign Begovic at a best priced 2/5. I think everyone knows
Stoke City have signed Jack Butland and will be cashing in on their highly
rated keeper. Arsenal’s odds to take him this summer are 7/1. I’d usually be
tempted at this price but I am steering clear for two reasons. Reason 1- Mark
Hughes has just been appointed Stoke’s new Organ Grinder and he hates us so
there is no way he would sell anyone to us in my opinion. Reason 2- Word on
Twitter by someone I trust and who’s not prone to giving duff info (@goonerdave66)
was Arsenal made a bid for Alex
McCarthy of Reading recently. Given those reasons turning £10 into £80
seems a long shot and I`d want longer odds.

Christian Benteke– This lad has ripped up The Premier League
this year, he’s bullied almost every centre half he’s been up against and looks
a really good player. This would explain why he seems to be linked with every man
and his dog this summer. Arsenal are favourites to sign him at 4/1 with Spuds
6/1, Signs of how quickly this market can change is the fact Atetico Madrid
have come from nowhere into 10/1 to be his next port of call. Surely a lifelong
Gooner wouldn’t want to join the Spuds (don’t be so sure, Tim Sherwood was a
Gooner I heard and he became their Skipper and rumours Monkey Boy supported
Arsenal as a Chimp are often repeated.) A £10 bet on Benteke to be wearing the
Red and White of his boyhood team pays £50. Personally I can’t see us going for
him, Villa will want crazy money and I think he’ll stay another year at Villa
Park.

Christian Eriksen – He’s often been linked to Arsenal
in the past and he’s a massive 66/1 to swap the Red and White of Ajax for the
Red & White of The Arsenal. Borussia Dortmund are 1/2 to bag him as a
replacement for the outgoing Mario Gotze. Liverpool are 5/1. Your £10 on
Eriksen following the likes of Dennis Bergkamp, Kanu and Marc Overmars and
joining Arsenal having played for Ajax would get you a massive £670. Don’t get
excited though as it’s long odds for a reason. I know we were looking at him a
season or two ago but having bought Santi Cazorla, I think this ship has
sailed.

David Villa – Red-hot favourite to join Arsenal
last January. Now though the favourites to sign him are the Spuds at Evens.
Arsenal are now priced at 6/1 which is a decent bet as far as I’m concerned.
Other clubs start around 10/1. In my opinion Villa would be a great purchase
for us and could be the difference in tight affairs where chances are at a
premium. The £10 bet would get a pickup of £70 and this has to be considered in
my opinion.

Edinson Cavani – Remember when everyone was
creaming their pants when it was reported Arsenal were in talks for Cavani a
few months ago? Well if you believe the papers who reported that then 66/1 is
the odds you’ll get on that happening. Chelski are 7/4 in this market. One to
avoid I would suggest even if the pickup off a tenner is just below £700. Keep
your £ in your pocket is my advice.

Geoffrey Kondogbia – when I tell you this player is 1/2
to join Real Madrid then you probably won’t be interested. However when I tell
you he’s a 20-year-old defensive midfield French kid, that may tempt you to
place a wager on Wenger turning his head at odds of 20/1. This could be one to
have close look at. £10 turns into £210 if this happens.

Gonzalo Higuain – Is another who has been heavily
linked to Arsenal this summer (12/1 odds) however he’s also been heavily linked
to an Old lady in Italy and Juventus are 1/3 to sign the hitman. Save your
money.

Wayne Rooney – Talking of players’ heads being
turned by Old Ladies, Mr. Rooney is a decent priced 14/1 to become a Gooner
this summer. United are still 8/11 favourites to still be his employers come
the end of the window. This is a lively rumour and what is known is that Rooney
has put in a transfer request. What is also known is that United’s new manager
sued Rooney in the past. I can honestly see him leaving Old Trafford where he’s
been usurped as that main man by a certain Dutch bloke. I can’t see him going
abroad as let’s face it he struggles to speak English which leaves only a
handful of clubs in this country who could afford him. Chelski may be tempted and
they are 4/1 but I honestly believe there could be no smoke without fire with
this one. Get £10 on and the £150 you could pick up would be worth the risk.

Julio Cesar– Another Keeper linked with a move
to The Arsenal- He’s 3/1 to be keeping goal for The Arsenal next season, Roma
are 5/4 favourites to sign the Brazilian. Not great odds but the rumours won’t
go away £10 turns into £40 if you think this will happen.

James McCarthy – another player often linked and
will surely be leaving Wigan Athletic now that they’ve finally dropped through
the Premier League trapdoor. Spuds are 3/1 favourites to sign him with Arsenal
at 8/1. However Everton at 4/1 is decent value with Roberto Martinez looking
likely to raid his old club. £10 gets you £90.

Please
remember this market isn’t a sure science and there is usually a limit to the
bet you can have (so agents don’t stick £10k on knowing full well their client
is signing for a club), however if you want a sure thing Andy Carroll can still
be had at 1/2 to join West Ham United and I’ve been told he`s already signed on
the dotted line! Hardly worth having at those odds though is it.

For those of
you who like a bet on the Horses this weekend is Derby Day and I’ve asked my
very own BFG (Best Friend Gaz ) to bring you a bet each week as he knows his
horses more than I do.

BFG’s Horse
Tip of the Week-

£10 Win
Double

Secret Gesture
– 4pm Epsom – Oaks (runs Friday) @ Evens

Dawn
Approach – The Derby – Epsom – (runs Saturday) @ 9/4

Potential
winnings of £65.00

Please
remember to only bet what you can afford to lose. If you have any tips or want
to flag up decent bets please contact me on twitter (@yorkshiregunner)

Andy Wood

Follow @yorkshiregunner

Andy Wood

Born in Mining Town of Doncaster in 1973. Supported Arsenal FC thanks to my first footballing hero who was Pat Jennings whom I loved. My first Arsenal Game was an away game at Grimsby Town in January 1986 ( 4-3 win thanks to a Charlie Nicholas Hat-Trick of Free-kicks). I’ve since followed The Arsenal Home, Away & Abroad and my wife still doesn’t know how much I paid for the CL final ticket v Barca!

My All-time Fave’ Arsenal player is probably Dennis Bergkamp although I have soft spots for Tony Adams, Rocky & Steve Williams (!).

I`m a Proud Father of 6 who doesn’t get to as many games as I’d like for financial reasons (6 kids, you do the maths) but lives and breathes The Arsenal.

I write occasional blogs.