Showing posts with label Gunners. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gunners. Show all posts
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Friday, April 26, 2013
Lee Dixon: Gunners gamble should pay off with a defeat of United
"From my experience it is an entirely human reaction to take your foot off the gas and relax a bit after winning the league. We went to Liverpool for a midweek match after winning the title in 1998 and were spanked 4-0! All of a sudden the knocks and fatigue were harder to ignore and the mind drifted to the beach that summer."
Back Arsenal to win @ 2.285/4
Manchester United wrapped up the Premier League title on Monday night and punters have been rushing to back top four-chasing Arsenal to win on Sunday afternoon. Lee Dixon is joining them...
There's been a bit of a gamble on Arsenal to win this game since Manchester United secured yet another Premier League title on Monday night - and I think those backers might be on to something.
The thinking behind the bet is that United will have a lost a little of their edge since achieving their last remaining major goal of the season.
From my experience it is an entirely human reaction to take your foot off the gas and relax a bit after winning the league. We went to Liverpool for a midweek match after winning the title in 1998 and were spanked 4-0! Yes, we had enjoyed a celebration or two, but it wasn't just that. All of a sudden the knocks and fatigue were harder to ignore and the mind drifted to the beach that summer. We lost to Aston Villa in the next match before rounding out the season with a win over Newcastle.
United, of course, are chasing Chelsea's record points haul of 95, achieved in 2004/05, but that may not be such a strong motivator as winning a league title. We'll see.
Sir Alex may switch the personnel around in a bid to keep his team fresh and playing at a high level but one man who I think we will see is Monday night's hat-trick hero, Robin van Persie. The Dutch ace will relish going back to his old club and I suspect Fergie will play him if that is the case.
It would be nice to think he'll get a good reception from the Arsenal faithful after more than eight years of service in the shirt, but there are a lot of bitter people in the stands because he left and, worse still, went to United.
For me, the way to go about it would be to give him a round of applause and then get on with supporting your own team because a win in this match would go a long way to securing Champions League football next year. With all due respect to the Gunners' opponents after this game - QPR, Wigan and Newcastle - they don't make the most intimidating fixture list.
Arsenal have done the hard work in the last few months, putting together a very strong run of results to sit in third place ahead of this game. They are in good form, score plenty at home and need the points more than United. A fast start is essential on Sunday afternoon. If United's minds aren't focused, Arsenal could soon hold a lead and the extra desire should take them to a big win.
They'll have to do that without Oliver Giroud, who is suspended until the last game of the season, and I expect to see Theo Walcott upfront. His pace is a huge danger to United and I fancy Theo will grab his chance to stake a claim for the forward role on a permanent basis.
His skills should contribute to an entertaining encounter and it's not hard to envisage the over 2.5 goal barrier will be breached.
Recommended Bets
Back Arsenal to win @ 2.285/4
Back Walcott to score @ 2.915/8
Back over 2.5 goals @ 1.84/5
As Lee says, as soon as the goals started going in on Monday night, Manchester United began to drift in the match odds. In my opinion there's no value backing Arsenal to win this one. Under normal circumstances, I would have Arsenal about 2.8 to win this game but they are currently 2.28. I can’t back them BUT can understand why people will.
Arsenal are yet to beat a side in the top four home or away this season - their 5-2 win against Tottenham is their only victory against a top six side! However, in seven games against the current top six, five have seen over 2.5 goals and six have seen both teams scoring. I will be looking at the correct score and overs markets - having a saver on 1-1 @ 8.0 before the game starts and then getting on over 2.5 goals IF it reaches 2.1 in running.
I fully agree with Lee – it feels like Manchester United have a habit of switching off once the league title has been secured. I also think there's a chance Arsenal might benefit from the possible absence of Robin van Persie. I’m not sure he’ll want to rub his title success in the faces of Arsenal fans, and Luis Suarez’s suspension means he’s got the Golden Boot wrapped up thanks to his hat-trick at Villa Park.
Arsenal’s defence has improved significantly since Thomas Vermaelen was dropped following the horror show at White Hart Lane, and after three clean sheets in their previous six games, 3.8 is a decent price for another against a half-hearted United.
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Monday, November 28, 2011
Arsenal v Manchester City: City to shoot down young Gunners
Carling Cup 
/ Mike Norman / 28 November 2011 / Leave a Comment Man City boss Roberto Mancini
"Arsenal and Man City have been involved in four Carling Cup games between them this season, resulting in a total of 16 goals being scored."
Two very different sides to the ones we see in the Premier League go head-to-head in a Carling Cup Quarter-Final tie, and Mike Norman believes City's class should triumph over youth.
Arsenal v Manchester City, KO: Tuesday 20:00 live on Sky Sports 2, Match Odds: Arsenal [3.1], Man City [2.46], The Draw [3.6]
I have to admit it's incredibly difficult to pen a match preview when every web search or glance at the TV for team news leads me to a story on Gary Speed's death. Like everyone else I was numb at Sunday's desperately sad news and it's almost impossible to come to terms with.
Myself, and everyone at Betting.Betfair, would like to extend our most heartfelt sympathies to Gary's family and friends.
As Gary would have wanted, football goes on, and on Tuesday evening Arsenal host Manchester City in an intriguing Carling Cup tie. One club desperate to win a major trophy, the other hoping to win the Premier League title. Two or three seasons ago you'd have said the former description fitted Man City, the latter Arsenal. How times have changed.
Despite Arsenal's continued quest for silverware and the strength of the opposition on Tuesday night, Arsene Wenger is expected to field a youthful side similar to the ones that beat Shrewsbury and Bolton earlier in the campaign. Defenders Ignasi Miquel, Carl Jenkinson and Nico Yennaris, midfielder Francis Coquelin, and striker Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could all feature at some point alongside the experienced trio of Tomas Rosicky, Andrei Arshavin and Yossi Benayoun.
City - playing just 48 hours after Sunday's 1-1 draw with Liverpool - will be much-changed though their line-up is expected to be far more experienced than the Gunners', with the likes of Nigel Do Jong, Pablo Zabaleta, Kolo Toure, Adam Johnson, and Edin Dzeko likely to start.
Match Odds
The main question I asked myself when assessing this market was, is Arsenal's second string - arguably third string - better than the Wolves line-up that was thrashed 5-2 at home by Man City in the previous round? Probably not was my conclusion, and that means I have to go for Roberto Mancini's men to win this game at [2.46].
Of course, Wenger could field a much stronger side than expected which would make the outcome far more difficult to call. Remember, you don't have to get involved until the team line-ups are known but if Arsenal line up weak and City line up strong then the [2.46] about an away victory will disappear in the press of a mouse button.
Over/Under 3.5 Goals
Only once in the last seven meetings between Arsenal and Man City have both sides got on the socresheet, but when one side does manage a victory they tend to do it comprehensively - two 3-0 victories and a 4-2 victory for City in those seven games and 3-0 and 2-0 wins for Arsenal. To confuse matters though, the other two games finished goalless.
On this occasion I'm happy to ignore recent history and assess the game on what it is - a League Cup encounter between two much-changed sides. It's hard to make a case for a low-scoring encounter, and I'm not happy about taking just [1.75] on Over 2.5 Goals being the outcome. Arsenal and City have been involved in four Carling Cup games between them this season, resulting in a total of 16 goals being scored. Here's hoping that average of four goals per game can be maintained and a back of Over 3.5 Goals at [3.0] is the selection.
Correct Score
Whenever a glut of goals is fancied it's advisable to cover a few high-scoring options at big odds, even if at the minimum stake (£2). For example, a 3-0 victory to Man City is available to back at [34.0], whilst the 3-1 and 3-2 City win options can be backed at [22.0] and [30.0] respectively. Dutching all three will result in a return at [9.2] should one scoreline be correct, which by complete coincidence is the same price as the Any Unquoted outcome (any side to score at least four goals).
Recommended Bets
Best Bet: Back Man City to win @ [2.46]
Back Over 2.5 Goals @ [3.0]
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