Arsenal target Cesc Fabregas’ odds to join Manchester United drop

Hello once again to your weekly blog
where we try and make a few quid out of the nasty bookies. As per usual we will
start with looking at the fluctuations in the transfer market betting.

This week saw
Cesc Fabregas go to odds on (4/7) with one online bookmaker. This was before
the Daily Mail article on Thursday. It’s worth noting with a separate bookie he
is odds on (4/6) to actually join Manchester United. I suppose this suggests that
no one really knows what is happening with the Spanish magician although I’d
still be tempted to have a few bob him rejoining the Mighty Arsenal this summer
with a best priced 5/2 still available. I’ve said all summer there is value in
this market and I still believe that to be true.

Christian
Benteke this week rocked Aston Villa with a transfer request and being a
boyhood Arsenal fan his odds on leading the line for Arsenal have remained
fairly static at 7/1, seeing as the Spuds lost out on David Villa who went to
Atletico Madrid this week they are front runners for Benteke’s signature and
lead the market at 8/11. However a word of caution is to be heeded here as
David Villa was 1/7 to join the Spuds even on the day it was announced he was
staying in Spain.

Another
player linked with Arsenal recently has been Geoffrey Kondogbia , earlier in
the summer very few people had heard of him and I showed he was 20/1 to become
a Gunner these odds have fallen sharply and Arsenal actually lead the market
now with 2/1 being on offer for him to be shielding our back four next year.

Talking of defensive
shields, Gareth Barry has been heavily linked with a switch from Manchester
City to the Emirates this summer and The Arsenal are heavy favourites to be the
leaden-footed England player’s next employers at 1/4. Although not a popular
move with many fans it could be a smart move as Barry can cover a great many
positions and his low fee would leave Arsenals powder dry for the bigger
targets they may or may not be chasing. The rest of the field start as far back
as 12/1 (Villa, Spuds) Everton can be had at 16/1 if you fancy they will splash
the cash on him as a replacement for the Kinky Afro’d  Marouane Fellaini who is still 4/5 to become
a Gooner by the end of the summer.

Luis Suarez
hasn’t been out of the sports pages and according to the media and quite a few
sources Arsenal did make a £30M bid for the buck-toothed striker with a taste
for human flesh. I’ve been told by someone with excellent Liverpool links that
Liverpool are starting to become very concerned that he wants to move to
another English Club, considering Arsenal have shown their hand we can still be
had at 5/1 for him to be our new record-breaking transfer this summer. I’d also
say that the 1/100 on offer he retains his Apple Bobbing World Championship in
October is very good value seeing as he is undefeated since Esther Rantzen retired
her gnashers over five years ago now.

Another striker
we have made a bid for is Wayne Rooney, I was told this week that Rooney has
been told by United that he will not get anywhere near his current wage when
his deal expires. I was also told he is in two minds about staying at United.
Then again I was told I was having chips for tea on Monday and ended up with
Pasta… so you really can’t believe all you hear these days. You fancy Rooney
to join us this summer? 12/1 is the best price you can get here.

Stevan
Jovetic has been linked with Arsenal now for what seems like forever, from
being a very short-priced favourite to join Arsenal he has now drifted to 20/1.
Manchester City are as low as 1/6 to bring the guy to our shores.

On now to
other markets and this week saw Arsenal’s British Core of players unveil the
new Away shirt. I thought I’d take a look at the English lads odds of making the
England World Cup Squad next summer (assuming of course England actually do
qualify!)

Jack
Wilshere is 1/3 to make it to Brazil Next Summer. This if fit you would think
is a shoo-in as not only will he make the Squad he will start every game.

Theo Walcott
is 1/10 to be selected this time round after Fabio Capello left him high and dry at the
last World Cup.

The Ox is
also 2/5 to be selected and considering he plays more for his Country than he
does for his club those odds are probably about right.

The other
two English chaps involved in the “audacious stunt” the other day do offer more
value though.

Kieran Gibbs
is 3/1 to be needing his passport next year on England duty. When you think
Cashley and Baines are in front of him those odds may seem a bit stingey but
I`d say he`s only one injury away from being in the squad if he keeps up his
improvement and stays injury free himself.

Carl Jenkinson
can be had at 4/1. This is an interesting one as he set off last season like a
Gunner-loving train and made his England debut on the back of said great form.
England aren’t blessed in that position and if Jenko can oust Bacary Sagna this
coming year you’d fancy him to be wearing the Three Lions next year in Brazil.

This week
saw the start of The Ashes, not by any means my favourite sport and my views
are quite well known on the subject. However it’s a big deal with many and the
bookies are offering punters a chance to win some lovely ££ betting on the
outcome.

England are
odds on to win the Series at a best priced 2/5 with The Aussies 7/2 outsiders,
the Draw can be had at 15/2.

An England
Whitewash is 10/1 and can’t be ruled out as many people seem to think this is
the worst team to come out of Australia since Tottenham Hotspur came home after
a pre-season tour there one year.

There looks
to be a bit of value when you start to look at individual bets as per England`s
top batsman this summer.

Alastair
Cook can be had at 11/4 to be the top scoring Englishman this summer which will
probably give you a decent run for your money.

Phillip
Hughes is 11/4 to be The Aussies top guy with the bat on England`s green and
pleasant land this fine summer.

When it
comes to the guys that bowl the ball Jimmy Anderson is 6/4 favourite to get
most wickets for England with Graeme Swann 2/1.

The Aussies’
odds are Peter Siddle a best priced 9/4 to gain most English wickets with
Mitchell Starc second favourite at 13/5.

Next week
sees the start of the Open and with Justin Rose flying high he can be had at
20/1 to lift the Claret Jug come next weekend. Tiger Woods and Ernie Els can
never be truly ruled out and are rated at 9/1 and 28/1. If you fancy a lively
outsider Martin Kaymer can be had at 50/1 with Brandt Snedeker at 40s. Phil
Mickelson at 28/1 e/w should give a decent run for your money and give an
interest up to the final round.

For those of
you who don’t know there’s a Royal Baby on the way and bookies are offering
odds on what the newborn will be called.

Alexandra is
6/4 Favourite if the child is a Girl or George can be had at 10/1 if the child
is a fella.

Diana can be
had at 10/1 and must be a consideration, although I think Froggmella is worth a
pound at 500/1. Arsene is also 500/1!

This weeks
£10 bet goes on a season long bet that Carl Jenkinson gets called up for
England’s WC Squad @ 4/1

Last week
saw Andy Murray clinch Wimbledon and I hope there were people out there that
took this blogs advice at having him at 8/1 to win after being 0-2 sets down at
any point in the Championship.

As ever
please only bet with what you can afford to lose and realise no tip is ever
100% to win. Please feel free to discuss all or any of the above with 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.