Premier League Betting: Arsenal bring in Lille star Gervinho

Premier League / Michael Lintorn / 11 July 2011 / Leave a Comment

Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Gervinho has agreed to join Arsenal

"An early World Cup exit for his nation contributed to him staying at Lille last summer and what followed was easily his most successful campaign since arriving in Europe in 2004."

Gervinho won more trophies last season than several of his new team-mates have earned in their careers, but that's not the reason why he should prove a shrewd addition, says Michael Lintorn.

Sceptical Arsenal supporters and gleeful critics may look at Arsene Wenger's decision to once again shop in Ligue 1 and view the arrival of Gervinho as uninspiring, but the Ivorian forward has every chance of proving a big hit for the silverware-hungry north Londoners.

For starters, unlikely recent additions who the jury either remains out on or has already returned a negative verdict on like Laurent Koscielny and Marouane Chamakh, Gervinho has both appeared and impressed at a World Cup.

Indeed, the 24-year-old's spell in South Africa could have lasted longer had boss Sven-Goran Eriksson not misguidedly dropped him for Ivory Coast's toughest match against Brazil despite him being the standout performer in the goalless draw against Portugal that preceded it.

That questionable call by the Leicester boss arguably worked out well for Gervinho though as an early exit for his nation contributed to him staying at Lille last summer and what followed was easily his most successful campaign since arriving in Europe in 2004.

After two years battling relegation in the Belgian Jupiler League with Beveren, who brought him over from Toumodi in his homeland, two seasons mid-table in France with Le Mans and a decent fourth-place finish in his first term at Lille, the braid-wearer became a double winner in 2010-11.

His impact on Lille's remarkable success on a shoestring, with a team that was assembled for around just £13 million, might not have received as much publicity as Eden Hazard and top scorer Moussa Sow's, however he played a major part, striking 18 times and weighing in with ten assists too.

The goals were no shock, as the wide man netted 13 times in his first campaign at the Stade Lille-Metropole, but the assist rate was a huge increase on four the year before and an indication that his game continues to grow. Gunners fans will be similarly encouraged by the fact that his goal tally has risen every season in France.

Gervinho was able to force a move to Arsenal because he only had a year to run on his contract. The switch is something of a risk though given that he regularly states his desire to play in the Champions League, yet has left a guaranteed spot in the group stage for qualifying action at the Emirates.

He clearly feels that the slight gamble is justified and is [10.0] to be vindicated with a second successive triumph, while it is [23.0] that his first foray into the Champions League is a victorious one.

Luka Modric has his heart set on a move to Chelsea but he's finding out like other Spurs players before him that he'll only be sold when Daniel Levy is good and ready to let him go. The interesting thing...

There is speculation that Chelsea will move for Joao Moutinho following Michael Essien's injury in pre-season training, while their pursuit of Luka Modric may not be over....

The betting says he's off with Real Madrid and Chelsea the leading contenders but there are plenty of reasons to doubt that, says Joe Dyer...

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Timeform Irish 1-2-3 Tips: Bonheur can bring some joy at Naas‏

Tipping / Billy Nash / 11 May 2011 / Leave a Comment

Jessica Harrington saddles It's Freezing at Naas today

"Rose Bonheur represents some strong form lines and looks the one to beat in the sprint handicap at 18:30."

My colleagues Stuart Jones and Pat Jupp have been in good form lately so hopefully I can keep the good run going today...

Rose Bonheur represents some strong form lines and looks the one to beat in the sprint handicap for three-year -olds (18:30). She went down by the narrowest of margins on both of her starts at the Curragh last year (behind History Note on second occasion) and wasn't beaten far by the subsequent listed winner and Nell Gwyn runner-up, Sing Softly, there on return. Rose Bonheur didn't need to improve to land a five-furlong maiden at Tipperary last time but will be suited by the return to this trip, is less exposed than most of these and it seems significant that connections are letting her take her chance in a handicap rather than aiming for something better.

Fran Berry has made a fine start to the season and he looks to have a good chance of adding to his tally courtesy of It's Freezing in the maiden at 19:30. This son of High Chaparral has improved for the step up to this trip this season, finishing fourth in a hot maiden won by Marksmanship at the Curragh and third to Zanughan at Navan last time. There is nothing of that calibre in this race and Jessica Harrington's colt is taken to get the better of Red Shaheen, who finished second in a muddling handicap at Dundalk last time, and Sam Lord's Castle, who appeared to have every chance in the maiden won by Parker's Mill at Tipperary last time.

The apprentice handicap at 20:00 is not a race to go overboard about but one could do worse than have a small interest on Neon Tiger. Although still a maiden after eleven starts, Neon Tiger didn't run too badly from much higher marks than this on a couple of occasions last year and got going too late when fourth at Dundalk last time. The addition of cheekpieces should sharpen him up here, he has been dropped another 3 lb since last seen, is quite well drawn and will be suited by this stiffer track.

Back Rose Bonheur @ [4.1] Naas 18:30
Back It's Freezing @ [3.05] Naas 19:30
Back Neon Tiger win and place in the 20:00 at Naas

Three backs for Wednesday's racing from Timeform's US team......

Phil Thompson is in the placepot hotseat for the first day of the Dante meeting......

It's day one of York's Dante Meeting and we've got one bet there to go with two on the polytrack at Kempton this evening......

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Timeform Radio Racing Tips: Moorhouse to bring it home

Timeform Radio Tip / Neil Munro / 04 May 2011 / Leave a Comment

"But I always try and find that little bit more value and Moorhouse Lad catches the eye. He is drawn perfectly in Stall One which will allow him to use his natural speed to get to the front and take the shortest route."

There's a right mix of exciting action today in the world of racing. Neil Munro talks us through the best betting options.

We have a bit of everything today. One of the best meetings left on the calendar, in the form of the Chester May Meeting, begins today. Punchestown continues with some fantastic jumps action, never forget the All-Weather at Southwell, average jumps card up at Kelso, and the Hunter Chase night at Cheltenham tonight alongside Uttoxeter. Are we missing anything?

With all this racing my first point of call is always the sprint races and we have a cracking Class 2 handicap at Chester. The 15.30 has some of the better class sprinters around, some who have been contesting better contests than this last year and others who will be going onto better this year. Because of connections, draw and his previous winning run, Falasteen will be popular. As is the likely future Group class performer Blue Jack. But I always try and find that little bit more value and Moorhouse Lad catches the eye. He is drawn perfectly in Stall One which will allow him to use his natural speed to get to the front and take the shortest route. He runs off a mark of 95, which if he is on a going day, will not hold him back. Personally I'm looking to try and lay out my stake at around [3.05] and then put up further lays at odds-on in case he goes close but doesn't quite hold on.

Overturn could be a similar back-to-lay play in the Chester Cup at 14.55.

Over at Southwell in the 15.55, a low grade 6f handicap, Charles Parnell caught my eye. Now I know before the three months off he hadn't been running particularly well but this break may have freshened him up and he has a good record over the course and distance. He is definitely on a winning mark as long as he just isn't on the downgrade. You can put a line through many of the other runners so he's worth a punt at around [8.4] as I type.

One other horse to mention, in the Southwell 14.45. Callum's Rainbowe was backed the other day before being withdrawn and again has money around the colt today. Not a race I would have a bet in but if you like market movers, have a look at this debutante.

Have a great day.

Martin Dixon livens up Tuesday afternoon with a pair of promising bets on the Flat......

It's Monday and it's Terry Norman in the Timeform Radio hotseat. Here are his picks of the day's action....

The pick of the action may be at HQ but Terry Norman has identified a promising pair from elsewhere......

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