Tag: Arsene Wenger

Wenger To Have Another Tough Afternoon

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

IT’S tough times at the Emirates at the moment and it looks like it’s going to get a lot worse at the weekend when Arsenal host Man City.

The Arsene Wenger “out” brigade will be in full voice on Sunday and another defeat will see the pressure mount even more on the Premier League’s longest-serving boss, and the removable object that is Wenger looks set to be in for a very difficult afternoon both on and off the pitch.

Arsenal and, for the first time in his long tenure, Wenger looks to have finally lost the respect of the majority of the fans, and more importantly certain sections of the dressing room.

Star man Alexis Sanchez has already come out publicly with his plea to leave the club and play with a side of “winners” joining Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlaide Chamberlin, who have also expressed their desire to leave at the end of the season; that is hardly the ideal preparation ahead of one of their biggest tests of the season.

The Gunners’ have won just three times in their last 10, but alarming they’ve had SEVEN defeats in that period. The way they performed last time out in the 3-1 defeat at West Brom, with a lack of desire, heart or team spirit, and how they are as short as 2.87 with William Hill for the win at the weekend has really got me scratching my head.

City has looked good since they were dumped out of the Champions League by Monaco at the last 16 stage, which was the worst performance in Pep Guardiola’s managerial career.

They played a very big part in an entertaining 1-1 draw with Liverpool last time out, which stretched their unbeaten domestic run to 11 matches and I can’t see anything other than a City win in this one, which is a very tempting 2.36 with Paddy Power.

Embarrassment Likely for the Gunners!

I fear, with the anti-Wenger chanting, that if the home side falls behind early on, this could be a long afternoon for the Frenchman. Unlike previous times, when the Arsenal manager has had his back against the wall, he won’t get out of jail this time around, and Man City -1 at 3.20 with most bookies looks tempting as well.

For goals punters, this certainly looks one that will feature a few and over 2.5 goals and both teams to score “yes” will probably be winning bets, but have been priced up accordingly by the layers; instead, I am going to have a small wager on City to heap my misery on the Gunners’ with a 3-1 win which is 18.00 at Paddy Power.

 

Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich Preview: Are the Gunners Mentally Broken?

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

If you’re an Arsenal fan you might want to look away now because this Champions League betting preview is neither going to be flattering or easy to stomach. Let’s start off by getting the elephant out of the room and into the open: Arsenal was poor against Bayern Munich and probably won’t overturn the 5-1 deficit so don’t bet on them progressing to the next round.

Now that’s out of the way, let’s take a look at why Arsene Wenger’s men flopped so spectacularly in Germany. For starters, the loss of Laurent Koscielny didn’t help. The centre-back has played a pivotal role for Arsenal this season and it’s no surprise that Bayern took the opportunity to capitalise on his removal from the game during the first leg. Three goals in ten minutes with Koscielny by the sidelines just goes to highlight his importance to the side.

The Injury Hurt but it’s the Mind that’s Suffering

However, although that injury blow effectively killed off the game and Arsenal’s chances of making the Champion’s League quarter-finals, it was the team’s mental state that was the main concern. With rumours swirling that Wenger will be out at the end of the season and Bayern having done a number on the Gunners in the past, the players appeared to break far too easily. In fact, it’s something Koscielny commented on to the media after the game.

Although Wenger downplayed the “mental problems” comment by suggesting his vice-captain meant the team lacked confidence against Bayern, it appears as though the rot may have set in. Any time a player stands up and suggests there’s a psychological epidemic running through the side, it should raise a red flag to fans. Whether or not the Frenchman’s assessment is correct or not, the mere fact he said it is enough to cause an issue.

With this in mind, it’s hard to see how Arsenal can recover on March 7. Four unanswered goals would do it for them and, if you’re in the mood for a punt, you can currently get odds of 66/1 on that happening with Sun Bets. Now, while that might be a few goals too far, the second leg shouldn’t be seen as all doom and gloom for Arsenal. In fact, the betting odds suggest that the game might actually be quite close.

The Odds are Close but is the Mental Divide too Wide?

Paddy Power has its betting line set at Arsenal to win 2/1 and Bayern to win 13/10. In a similar vein, Coral’s odds makers have it 15/8 for Arsenal and 6/5 for the visitors. From this perspective, the odds aren’t predicting another 5-1 romp for Bayern. Part of that could be due to the fact Koscielny and Aaron Ramsey are likely to be fit for the game. With some extra meat in the middle and a steady head at the back, Arsenal could easily pinch a result.

Sun Bet’s 9/1 on a 2:1 win for Arsenal doesn’t look bad at the price, while Paddy Power’s 12/5 on the draw could offer some decent value. Of course, even with two key players returning, it may not be enough. If Arsenal is suffering from mental problems as Koscielny said, it will be a long night in London. A single goal early could break the team’s spirit and, if that happens, we could be on for another high scoring game.

While we’re unlikely to see Wenger’s men give up five goals at home, 3-1 Bayern looks a strong bet with odds of 14/1 at Coral. There’s no doubt Arsenal will want to salvage at least some sort of consolation from the game, but if those psychological demons strike at any point, then it’s hard to see how they’ll win the match let alone the tie.

Liverpool v Arsenal: Fans Yearn for Return of Past Glories

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

It is a huge match historically with the two teams involved having contested some truly memorable games over the years, not least on the opening day of this season when Liverpool shocked the Gunners with a thrilling 4-3 victory at Emirates Stadium.

Who could forget Michael Thomas’ incredible last gasp winner for Arsenal at Anfield to clinch the title on goal difference from Liverpool back in 1989? Or Michael Owen’s late double to win the FA Cup for the Reds back in 2001? How about Andrey Arshavin’s stunning individual four goal salvo in a thrilling 4-4 draw at Anfield back in 2009?

The teams have certainly created some wonderful memories for the fans in recent times, but this coming Saturday’s clash isn’t a battle for the title as it was on that breathtaking night back in May 1989. It is instead a battle for a top four finish, and even that isn’t guaranteed with both clubs facing stern competition from Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester’s City and United, not to mention title shoe-ins, Chelsea. Arsenal is currently as short as 8/11 with BetVictor to finish in the Champions League qualifying places, while Liverpool is longer odds at 11/10 to secure that all-important lucrative top four finish.

Title Dreams Must Wait Another Year At Least

It’s now 27 long years since Liverpool were last crowned champions of England. Reds supporters have had to watch in anguish as Sir Alex Ferguson’s United overhauled their English record of 18 titles before his retirement in 2013. Arsenal too has been suffering something of a title drought of late. Just ask their increasingly disgruntled fans, whose patience with long-serving manager Arsène Wenger is starting to wear thin.

While Liverpool supporters have had to get used to no longer being the kings of England and Europe they once were in the 70s and 80s and are undoubtedly concerned with their club’s tepid start to 2017, they are willing to give manager Jürgen Klopp time to build a squad to implement his ideas and tactics.

Arsenal’s last title triumph came back in 2004, courtesy of The Invincibles vintage. It has been an agonising wait for another title for the club’s supporters and one which shows little sign of ending soon. They have become used to hearing lines about paying off the stadium as excuses for not spending the big bucks and have grown tired of being labelled as happy with a top four finish and Champions League qualification.

Top Four The Only Target

Arsenal currently lies fourth in the table, 14 points adrift of leaders Chelsea, while Liverpool is a further place and point behind following their capitulation to reigning champions Leicester on Monday evening. Having played a match more than their North London opponents too, Saturday evening’s clash at Anfield is a must win for Klopp’s men and Boyle Sports price them at 23/20 to do just that. Arsenal meanwhile, who are almost certainly out of the Champions League following their crushing 5-1 first leg defeat at Bayern Munich, have only the FA Cup and a top-four position to play for. Bet365 among others quote them as long as 13/5 to inflict only a second home league defeat upon their hosts.

In the last eight league meetings between the two teams, 30 goals have been plundered while this season alone they have conceded 61 goals between them whilst burying 109 goals at the right end of the park. With both defences looking leaky, to say the least with an emphasis seemingly more on a ‘we’ll score more goals than you‘ philosophy, goals look assured this weekend and you can get a tempting 2/1 on there being over 3.5 match goals with William Hill.

The first goalscorer markets as always provide great profit possibilities with Sadio Mané, top goalscorer for the Reds with 11 and his Arsenal counterpart Alexis Sánchez, who has 17 goals to his name thus far, both a massive 6/1 with bookmakers including Ladbrokes and Coral to notch that all-important first goal.

Saturday evening’s match should provide great entertainment based on previous encounters between the two teams. It will also give a strong indication as to which of the two giants of English football will achieve a Champions League qualifying berth next season.

The Pressure is on Arsene Wenger

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Being out of the Premier League title race by the beginning of February wasn’t something that the Arsenal fans expected or hoped for. The harsh reality is that it has happened. Whatever pressure there was on Arsene Wenger has now been heaped back onto his shoulders. Arsenal winning back to back FA Cups in 2014 and 2015 relieved some of that pressure. Last season was Arsenals big chance in the league. They blew it in spectacular fashion.

The 3-1 defeat to neighbours and title rivals Chelsea last weekend was the final nail in the coffin for Arsene Wenger. Once again they look too weak for the Champions League latter stages. This leaves the FA Cup as their only realistic target. There is an even bigger problem on the horizon. If Arsenal fails to qualify for the Champions League next season then the pressure will be intense on Arsene Wenger.

The Manchester are Teams Coming Good

With just fourteen games to go in the league, Arsenal is now a mere one point in front of Manchester City and only two in front of United. The current form tables suggest that Arsenal and Liverpool are in serious danger of missing out on the Champions League places. Both City and United are improving while Arsenal seems to be misfiring. They only just scraped past Burnley recently with a late stoppage time penalty.

The home loss against Watford last week was hardly a big shock. Arsenal faces Hull City this weekend in what is a must-win game for the Gunners. The title may have gone after their loss to Chelsea, but they are now in a serious dogfight for the top four places. The problem for Arsenal is that Hull now has a new manager and have been impressive in recent weeks.

A Much Tougher Fixture

Hull have taken four points from Manchester United and Liverpool in their previous two matches and have clearly turned a corner with regards to their form. The new Hull City manager Marco Silva has got the team performing again. They need to because their league position is perilous. The betting firms see Arsenal as firm favourites and rightly so. Bet365 have Arsenal at 1-4 and it’s difficult to see value in that price.

Arsenal is likely to win this game but that doesn’t mean that we can back them at any price. The odds of 19-4 on the draw also by Bet365 may appeal better. The superior bet may be the even money odds offered by PaddyPower on both teams to score.

The fact of the matter is that Hull City are not too far behind teams like Burnley and Watford in terms of consistency. Burnley came within seconds of getting a point at Arsenal while Watford beat them. Arsenal is a fragile team given the strength of their squad and that will remain the case until the end of this season.

Can Arsenal Stay in Title Contention?

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Arsenal are just about in the title race….just! They trail leaders Chelsea by eight points. Whilst that lead is far from insurmountable, it does look increasingly likely that Arsenal will drop more points than Chelsea between now and the climax of the season. Arsenal almost blew it at home to Burnley in their previous home fixture. It took a penalty seven minutes into stoppage time from Alexis Sanchez to rescue all three points for the Gunners.

This story has a familiar ring to it from previous seasons. Arsenal is simply too error-prone when it comes to dropping points in games where they shouldn’t.

Arsenal Can Close the Gap

On Tuesday, Arsenal entertains Watford on the same evening that leaders Chelsea travel to Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp has seen his Liverpool side suffer a dip in form since the start of the year but they are still tough to beat at home. This is a great chance for Arsenal to show their fans that they have what it takes to win the title.

The pundits and experts don’t rate Arsenal’s chances when it comes to winning the league. They let a huge opportunity slip last season when Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea all had mediocre seasons by their standards. Yet Arsenal still couldn’t land the title, which is proving to be more and more elusive season by season. While the Gunners have been picking up points of late, their Achilles Heel is in defence.

Papering Over the Cracks

Arsenal came from three goals down to draw 3-3 away at Bournemouth which was a great fight back and showed tremendous spirit and grit. The main problem was that they were three goals down in the first place. Arsene Wenger will be serving a touchline ban after being punished for his outburst at the fourth official during their home game with Burnley.

That shouldn’t prevent Arsenal from taking the game to Watford who are resilient but nothing special. Arsenal can be backed at 1-4 with Stan James but there appears to be little value in those odds. Watford is a best-priced 14-1 with BetVictor while you can get 6-1 for the draw also with BetVictor.

Given that Arsenal is likely to score at home coupled with how dodgy they are in defence, the odds for both teams to score may prove better value. You can get even money with Stan James for both Arsenal and Watford to find the net. Having a bet on the correct score may also be a good choice. BetVictor offer odds of 9-1 on a 2-1 Arsenal victory and that bet may be worth a flutter as is the 13-1 on offer for a 1-1 draw.

Arsenal v Swansea – Premiership Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Betcirca soccer fans were in profit on Sunday to the tune of 9 ½ points after we correctly forecast the Chelsea result and goals for Aguero in Manchester City’s mauling of QPR. Monday’s action comes from the Emirates Stadium where Arsene Wenger’s Gunners bid to draw level on points with City in the battle for second spot.

Arsenal play host to Swansea who are in excellent form following victories against Stoke and Newcastle. The Gunners start the evening three points behind City in the Premiership but with two games in hand.

Garry Monk has done a remarkable job at Swansea who are pressing the fading Tottenham and Southampton in a sideshow for sixth and seventh places. There is no doubt that they should put up a good show but they have lost four of their five away games against sides in the top six this season. However, their record against Arsenal is good with three wins and a draw in seven meetings. The Swans won here in 2012 and held the Gunners to a draw last season so there is some cause for optimism for the travelling fans.

They have compensated for the loss of Bony with goals from Ki Sung-yueng, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Jonjo Shelvey but Arsenal are on the crest of a wave. Only their dour stalemate with Chelsea has prevented them from a winning run of nine consecutive matches, leading at half-time and full-time in the other eight. Wenger’s men are also keen to impress the boss and secure a place in the starting XI at Wembley for the FA Cup final against Aston Villa.

Arsenal have only lost once in 34 home games and injuries to Danny Welbeck and Aaron Ramsey are unlikely to halt their progress. Alexis Sanchez has now scored 16 league goals from 30 starts including four in his last three appearances and he looks the man to follow in the goal markets on Monday.

With only two goals conceded in their last seven home games, I’m going for a 2-0 win for the Gunners with Sanchez sending them on their way.

Arsenal 2 Swansea 0 @6-1 Paddy Power

Alexis Sanchez to score first @17-4 Spreadex

Sanchez to score and Arsenal win @7-5 Paddy Power