TO the Viktor, go the spoils. And the way Arsenal’s £64million striker has started life in North London, that might just be the case.
It didn’t take a football genius to work out what the Gunners’ problem has been since they last won a trophy, the FA Cup when they beat Chelsea 2-1 in 2020.
The last player at the Emirates outfit to break the 20-league-goals-a-season barrier was Patrick Aubameyang in that very same season.
And five years with the shelves in the trophy room gathering dust is a long time for a club of this magnitude.
But Gyokeres has started with serious intent at changing all that, scoring three times already in his four Premier League appearances.
Bet Balls
Liverpool to beat Everton 2-1 today is 13-2 with BetGoodwin
Draw half-time, Chelsea full-time at Man United is 5-1 with BetGoodwin
Bournemouth to beat Newcastle 2-0 tomorrow is 10-1 with BetGoodwin
Man City leading half-time, Arsenal full-time is 22-1 with BetGoodwin
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That is hitting the ground running in anybody’s book.
Except maybe Erling Haaland, who he goes head-to-head with tomorrow, in a genuine Premier League blockbuster.
While the Norwegian is clearly back to his rampaging best this season, having stuffed in 12 goals in seven games for club and country already, the side around him is not yet at that level.
While they recovered from defeats by Spurs and Brighton to brush aside United 3-0 in the Manchester derby last weekend, it’s hard to read too much into that given how little resistance the visitors put up.
As Coral’s John Hill said: “United were poor; I thought it was a poor Manchester derby. So I am still not convinced about City.
“As for tomorrow, with home advantage, I’m very keen on Arsenal. I expect them to put down a marker for the title with a big performance here.
“They are a shade of odds-on at 19-20. City usually have a goal in them, so I’d lean towards Arsenal winning and both teams to score.”
That’s how it turned out last term, as the Gunners buried City 5-1, as they easily extended their unbeaten run against Pep Guardiola’s side to five games.
Coral and Betfred are best price with that 19-20 on the Gunners, with City a top-of-the-shop 3-1 with BetMGM.
bet365 go a best-priced 29-10 on the draw, which three of the last five contests have been.
William Hill’s Lee Phelps, though, is boldly going against the market. He said: “Arsenal’s ever-growing strength is reflected in their status as favourites.
“That said, it’s rare to get a price as attractive as 9-2 about a City win and Haaland to score anytime, so that could just be the value this weekend.”
My problem with backing City even at an attractive price is that they were taking on a dogged Napoli on Thursday night.
The Gunners were home and hosed two days earlier.
Added to that, this is a far stronger, deeper Arsenal squad at Mikel Arteta’s disposal than the ones that finished runners-up three times in a row.
So Arsenal and BTTS at a best-priced 11-4 with Sky Bet and bet365 is the shout.
I’ve got a feeling the Gunners might just get away from their tiring visitors late on – and 16-1 with bet365 that it’s 3-1 looks a very appealing prospect.
I’d hate it to be the 3-1 that got away.
Dark horse
10-1: Man City’s Erling Haaland and Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres lead the Premier League Golden Boot race with five and three goals respectively. Sporting Index go a boosted 10-1 that both score tomorrow and Arsenal win.
GOODWINNERS’ ENCLOSURE
MORE than a little surprisingly, a lot of punters were lured in to back underdogs United in last weekend’s Manchester derby.
So City’s comfortable 3-0 win put us on the right side of the result, not somewhere we expected to be with Pep’s boys winning.
And Brentford’s last-minute equaliser would have stung for a lot of punters, with Chelsea heavily fancied in accas.
On the flip side, the backers cleared up as Sunderland were well supported in the win-draw Double Chance market and duly obliged by holding Palace to a 0-0.
It might have been one of the biggest fights in the last decade but, over here at BetGoodwin Towers, the punters steered clear of the Canelo-Crawford clash.
Besides a few big bets, we didn’t see much action, with Canelo to win on points, 13-10 pre-fight, the most popular market.
Another popular punt is Graham Potter, who definitely doesn’t look magic, to be the next Prem boss on his way.
The West Ham gaffer has been backed into 4-6 favourite, with United’s Ruben Amorim trading at 5-2.
The Hammers have also shortened up to 19-10 in the relegation market after their disastrous 3-0 derby day home defeat to Spurs.
As we said, Man City did us a favour last week, and we’re hoping they can do the business two weeks on the trot, down at the Emirates tomorrow.
Arsenal were less than convincing winning in midweek at a poor Bilbao side, and the race is on to get Viktor Gyokeres back fit.
So with Erling Haaland in great nick again this season, we like the look of City in this one. Pep’s boys on the Double Chance and Haaland to score anytime at 9-4 might be bet of the weekend material.
One other eyecatcher is Chelsea at United tonight – and we can’t believe how close the betting is for this game.
The Blues have looked strong even without Cole Palmer this season, while United haven’t got going. Chelsea at 7-5 are very backable, and we expect them to blow United away.
Finally, our Nap Acca for this week is Liverpool, Birmingham, Portsmouth, Huddersfield and Cardiff all to win for a boosted 13-1.
TV Previews
Liverpool v Everton
EVERTON will need to be on Red alert as the clock ticks down at Anfield today.
Seven of Liverpool’s nine Prem goals this season have come in the second half, with five in the last 10 minutes.
Reds may have a 100 per cent record, but the Toffees are improved, with Jack Grealish lighting them up.
Home win, just, and Mo Salah a tidy 21-5 with Unibet to strike first.
FORECAST: 2-1
Man U v Chelsea
CHELSEA’S recent record – two wins and a draw in the last three – against United is good but then again, who’s isn’t?
The Red Devils were woeful in defeat against City last weekend, while Blues remain unbeaten in the league.
Matheus Cunha’s return would be a major boost for United. However, they don’t look coherent enough to beat the slick visitors.
Away win and Cole Palmer first goal at 7-1 with Unibet.
FORECAST: 1-2
Bournemouth v Newcastle
EDDIE HOWE’S never won back at Bournemouth, since leaving for St James’ in 2021.
And the task his side face tomorrow is harder than ever.
The Cherries have won three straight since losing to champions Liverpool at the death on opening day.
Throw in the Toon’s exertions against Barcelona on Thursday and this is a home win.
Tip Antoine Semenyo is 15-2 with Sky Bet to score first.
FORECAST: 2-0
Top Tips
Pro bet – Stevenage to beat Exeter, Plymouth to beat Peterborough, Doncaster to beat Wimbledon, Walsall to beat Tranmere, MK Dons to beat Accrington. Acca pays 18-1 with Coral.
Retirement bet – Burnley to beat Forest, Sunderland to beat Villa (Sun), Lincoln to beat Luton, Wigan to win at Bolton, Northampton to win at Wycombe, Bradford to win at Cardiff, Mansfield to win at Port Vale, Crawley to win at Notts Co. Perm 1 x Acca, 8 x 7-folds, 28 x 6-folds. Acca pays 58,603-1 with Betfred.
Away day – Ipswich to win at Blackburn, Grimsby at Barnet, Swindon at Salford, Gillingham at Newport. Acca pays 35-1 with Coral.
Top draw – Wolves v Leeds, QPR v Stoke, Reading v Orient, Cambridge v Fleetwood. Acca pays 130-1 with MGM.
TV Special – Liverpool to beat Everton, Chelsea to win at Man United, Bournemouth to beat Newcastle, Arsenal to beat Man City. Acca pays 16-1 with Betfred.
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