Dave Tindall looks ahead to Sunday's Premier League action, including the big showdown between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad.
Manchester City v Arsenal
This is Dave Tindall previewing Sunday’s Premier League fixtures and there’s only one place to start, the big showdown between champions Manchester City and the team considered to be their biggest challengers again, Arsenal.
It’s a bit early to be talking about title deciders but, going into this weekend, last season’s top two were, yep, the top two once again.
The similarities don’t end there. Both played against Italian opposition in the Champions League in midweek and both had to settle for goalless draws, City being held at home by Inter and the Gunners gaining a 0-0 draw away to Atalanta thanks to David Raya’s penalty save heroics.
Add in the goalless draw this pair played out at the Etihad last season and there’s a quite a feeling out there in punting land that this could be 0-0 again. The 10/1 for that is certainly tempting.
Mikel Arteta has certainly found a way to quell City’s attacking threat having twice shut them out last season and the Gunners have conceded just a single goal in the current campaign.
So do we just stick our cash on the 0-0 and take the dog for a walk? Well… maybe not.
While both sides have attacking players either injured or not up to full speed, there’s an elephant in the room called Erling Haaland. His tally of nine goals means he’s currently outscoring all the other 19 Premier League teams by himself! Chelsea are the division’s second top scorers with eight.
Haaland is clearly benefiting from sitting out the Euros and in this form he has to be followed. Let’s do so by backing the big Norwegian at 10/3 to score the first goal.
Will it be enough for victory? Arsenal are a far grittier side than they used to be so let’s back the 1-1 draw at 13/2. That result is decent enough for both teams at this stage and the return meeting at the start of February is likely to be the one that has greater impact and significance.
Brighton v Nottingham Forest
You’d have got long odds about Nottingham Forest being one of just five unbeaten teams in the Premier League after four games but that’s the case after they shocked Liverpool at Anfield last week.
Forest were tough to break down, kept their discipline and scored an excellent and deserved winner via former Chelsea man Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Hosts Brighton are also unbeaten so deserve respect but Forest could just be a bit of value here to repeat their Anfield heroics. Back the Forest win at 15/4 and it’s hard not to be tempted by the 14/1 for another 1-0.
Dave's best bets
Erling Haaland to score first at 10/3
Man City and Arsenal to draw 1-1 at 13/2
Nottingham Forest to beat Brighton at 15/4
Nottingham Forest to beat Brighton 1-0 at 14/1
Enjoy the action but please gamble responsibly.
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