Welcome once again to the weekly blog
that tries to put a bit of cash into your pockets and it’s been a very
interesting week. Arsenal have been confirmed as making a club record bid of
£40,000,001 for Luis Suarez.
As you can
imagine the odds on Suarez adding bite to Arsenal’s attack have dropped from
last week’s 3/1 to now as short as 8/11. The bookies now think he’s more likely
to be throwing himself onto the Emirates Pitch Arsenal than Anfield next
season. You can still get EVS in places.
Arsenal have gone BIG and public with
this bid and to now not follow it through and get him would be a huge shot in
the foot considering Ivan Gazidis’ comments about going after the top players
in the world which, at the end of the day, Suarez surely is. EVS won’t make you
rich but it will be a nice pick-up.
Another
Premier League striker who has been the subject of a massive bid for his
services in the past week or so is Wayne Rooney. Chelsea made a bid for his
services and Jose Mourinho has publicly courted him. However a little bird
has told me Rooney has his heart set on joining The Arsenal so the 9/1 on offer
could tempt some people. Personally I’d prefer Rooney over Suarez and can’t
honestly see us getting both. Perhaps the only way we end up with Rooney is if
Real Madrid decide to replace Gonzalo Higuain with Suarez and we have to switch
targets once again. The odds of playing with Rooney will be seen as we go ahead with the rounds.
Real Madrid
though seem to have their sights set on a certain Monkeyboy and the odds on Gareth
Bale to Madrid range from 1/2 to 6/4. It will take a Godzilla-size bid to get
the footballing equivalent to King Kong and I don’t see this happening this
summer.
Meanwhile
over at Madrid’s rivals in Barcelona the Cesc Fabregas saga rumbles on and on
and on and on…. Manchester United have had two bids turned down recently and David
Moyes insists it’s ongoing. Cesc to join United is odds on in some places 4/6
but can be had at 10/3 in another. The odds on rejoining The Arsenal are 4/1.
This considering the fabled clause has to be worth a few bob.
If you think
Arsenal won’t sign any more strikers then the top Arsenal league scorer market
maybe of interest to you.
Theo Walcott
heads this market at 2/1 with Olivier Giroud just behind him at 3/1. Lukas Podolski
will surely grab a few more goals this season now that he’s clear of injury and
can be had at 7/1. Santi Cazorla is 9/1 and if you think Yaya Sanogo will burst
onto the scene he can be had at 10/1.
I’ll be
honest given the rumours/counter rumours concerning Arsenal and our need for a striker
and also considering we have made confirmed bids for at least two strikers this
summer, I’d advise steering clear of this market until the end of the transfer window
just in case Arsenal sign either of Suarez or Rooney. I’d fully expect both to
usurp the rest of the Arsenal players in the goalscoring stakes.
A new season
brings with it a number of things, one of which is the Fantasy Football
Leagues. A bookie has opened a book on various bets for The Telegraph Fantasy
Football.
TFF Top
Scoring Goalkeeper-
Joe Hart is
EVS , Cech is 7/4 , Asmir Begovic is 10/1 with David de Gea at 12/1 The mighty Wojciech
Szczesny is 25/1 with Hugo Lloris at 33/1.
TFF Top
Scoring Defender-
David Luiz
is favourite at 9/4 with Leighton Baines a very tasty 5/2 , The BFG is 10/1
with Branislav Ivanovic 3/1.
TFF Top
Scoring Midfielder-
Bale is 6/4
Favourite here, Mata is 2/1 , Hazard at 12/1, David Silva at 16/1 , Theo is
classed as a Midfielder in this market and must be considered a lively bet at
8/1 considering he has year on year improved his goalscoring which racks up
Fantasy Football Points. However Santi Cazorla is 11/2 which considering his
stats last season will give you a very decent run for your money.
TFF Top
Scoring Striker
Robin van Persie
heads this section at 7/4 with Sergio Aguero at 15/8. Rooney is a decent bet at
5/1 if you think he will obtain a move to either Chelski or The Arsenal where
he will be upfront all the time. Giroud is 33/1 in this market.
TFF Top
Scoring Club
Chelski are
the shortest priced in this market at 6/4 with Manchester City next in the
betting at 2/1, Manchester United come next at 7/2. Arsenal are 5/1 and if they
continue the good form and more importantly rack up more clean-sheets then this
has some appeal.
Last Week we
looked at League Two betting, this week we will look at betting markets for
League One.
To become
Champions-
Wolves are heavy
favourites at 4/1 with Peterborough United/Brentford next in the betting both
available at around 9s. Sheffield United have been there or thereabouts for a
couple of seasons in this division and can be had at 11/1. A long shot that
must be considered are Bradford City who can be had at 28/1.
To Be
Promoted-
Wolves are
almost odds on in places to gain promotion at the first time of trying
Peterborough are 11/4 with Bristol City 7/2. Sheffield United can be backed at
7/2 with Brentford 4/1 , again Bradford must be considered at 9/1 to be
promoted.
To be
Relegated-
Shrewsbury Town
are the bookies favourites at 6/4 to go down next season, with Colchester United
at 2/1, Stevenage are 9/4. A bet that may interest some is Coventry City to be
relegated at 5/1.
Top Scorers-
Leigh
Griffiths is 9/1 , Leon Clarke is 16/1 and must be considered a decent e/w bet
at those odds. Another to be considered as a lively e/w bet should be Nahki
Wells at 25/1. Those of you who like to follow ex-Gooners should note Jay
Emmanuel-Thomas is 50/1.
This weekend
sees the Hungarian Grand Prix and the various odds for those to take the
chequered flag are headed by Sebatien Vettel at 6/4, Kimi Raikkonen is next on
the list at 11/2. If you fancy Lewis Hamilton or Jenson Button to keep the
great British sporting summer sizzling then their odds are 13/2 and 150/1
respectively.
Next
Thursday sees the third Test of the Ashes with England heavy favourites at 8/11
with the Aussies 9/2. The draw must be a consideration with the weather looking
likely to turn at 23/10. The top-order English batsman are all around 4/1 to be
highest scoring for their team. James Anderson can be had at 7/2 to take the
most wickets in the test.
As ever
please only ever bet with what you can afford to lose, feel free to contact me
on Twitter @yorkshiregunner and chat about any of the above or any bets you
feel offer value.
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.
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