City to inflict more pain upon faltering Gunners
BEN CLEMINSON WITH HIS BEST WEEKEND FOOTBALL BETS AND BILL ESDAILE PREVIEWS THE RACING AT DONCASTER AND MEYDAN
MANCHESTER City should take a giant step towards regaining the Premier League title when they travel to the Emirates Stadium tomorrow to play an under-fire Arsenal.
Manuel Pellegrini’s League Cup winners are currently third on 66 points, three behind table-toppers Chelsea, but crucially still have two games in hand.
City warmed up for this by humbling neighbours Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford on Tuesday night, and that followed on from a 5-0 demolition job over Fulham at the weekend.
But they have impressed at the back too, keeping five league clean sheets on the bounce, and look a huge price at 11/10 with BetBright to beat the Gunners on their own patch.
Arsene Wenger will want to forget his 1000th game in charge last Saturday. A visit to Chelsea ended in a comprehensive 6-0 defeat and salt was rubbed in the wounds on Tuesday when Mathieu Flamini’s late own goal ensured a 2-2 draw for Swansea.
In the eyes of the bookmakers those dropped points signaled the end of Arsenal’s title challenge and they are now as big as 150/1 to claim the crown.
Their rivals tomorrow are general 10/11 shots and a triumph here will only see that contract again.
The hosts have won just once in the last seven encounters against City – averaging less than a goal a game – and Wenger’s men have taken just four points from a possible 15 against the other top-four sides this term.
They look tired and devoid of creativity at the moment and if City can score first then you wonder how much fight is left in the Arsenal team. Sporting Index’s supremacy quote of 0.4-0.6 in the visitor’s favour looks a brilliant buy and I wouldn’t put anyone off backing City -1 in the handicap market, as I expect a comfortable away victory.
I also suspect Everton will enjoy a trip to the capital too. Their opponents, basement boys Fulham, look doomed and the visit of this ultra-confident Toffees outfit spells trouble.
Roberto Martinez hasn’t given up hope of snatching the last Champions League place from Arsenal and his men come here chasing a fifth straight win.
The Cottagers have won just four of their last 19 league matches at Craven Cottage and Everton are a very backable 5/6 with BetBright to keep the pressure on Wenger’s side.
Pointers…
Manchester City at 11/10 with BetBright
Everton at 5/6 with BetBright