Cardiff City v Arsenal
Back: Arsenal to win to nil @7/4
It’s been a tough start for Arsenal. Facing and losing to both City and Chelsea wasn’t an ideal start under Emery. Couple that with going behind at home to West Ham and it looked pretty bloody dreary around the Emirates – until Monreal grabbed an equaliser. While it was anything but emphatic, it was a performance that did display glimpses of good passing play at times by the Gunners, not least the 16 pass sweeping move for their first goal.
Cardiff come into this fixture being the only team in the league yet to score a goal and have only managed six shots on target in their three games. Their shooting accuracy is a lowly 17% – even Jeremy Aliadiere had a better record than that. Ok, that’s debatable but you get the drift.
Everything is pointing to another victory for Emery’s men and while they don’t exactly inspire us with confidence at the back we think they’ll have enough possession to restrict Cardiff to a handful of chances. Arsenal to win to nil @ 7/4 looks the value here.
Furthermore, if those odds don’t grab you, you could ramp it up and go for our WhatOddsPaddy special of Arsenal to win to nil, Ramsey to score and Harry Arter to be carded @22/1. Harry won’t let you down on that front – played twice, carded twice, and that’s after only conceding four fouls!
Burnley v Man United
Back: Lukaku to score in 90 mins and Man United to win @ 9/5
Regularly referred to as the Ginger Mourinho, I’m sure Sean Dysche will welcome that nickname these days as much as a kick in the baby maker. But where do we start with this match? Neither team are inspiring confidence but based on a couple of factors we’re siding with Mourinho’s men.
Firstly, Burnley played midweek in the Europa league and gave it socks – despite what any manager says, that plays a factor in preparation and recovery. It just does. Secondly, and excuse the bluntness, Burnley have been shit at home in 2018, only managing a measly nine points. And, on top of that they’ve conceded 14 in their last five.
After Monday’s shocker against Tottenham, United – and Lukaku – have a point to prove and the 9/5 for the Belgian to score and a United victory is the bet here.
Watford v Tottenham
Back: The draw @ 3/1
Someone is losing their 100% record here. And we think it’s both of them. While the head to head record points pretty emphatically to a Spurs win (10 games and 7 of them going Tottenham’s way), the stats couldn’t be closer. Both teams are averaging over 2 goals per game, their goals conceded ratio is both 0.67 and they’ve both kept one clean sheet.
Initially, we’d probably have fancied Tottenham, particularly off the back of their win against United but Watford are no pushovers and confidence is high down at Vicarage Road. Tottenham at 8/13 is too short so we’re backing the draw here @ 3/1. If you’re looking to enhance that slightly, the score draw is 4/1 and this fixture has historically brought goals. Plus, Harry is due one apparently!
The Treble pays 30/1:
Cardiff v Arsenal: Arsenal to win to nil @7/4
Burnley v Man United: Lukaku to score in 90 mins and Man United to win @ 9/5
Watford v Arsenal: draw @ 3/1
*All prices correct at time of posting
Premier League odds and bets in abundance over at PaddyPower.com