Premiership Betting - Week 1 Preview
8th Aug 2007, 21:46
The approach of a new Premiership campaign, bringing new players, managers and owners should fill bettors with excitement. However, week one of the Premier League offers three-way bettors the increasingly common prospect of backing Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United at home in a multiple worth scarcely over even money. The natural antidote for these unappealing one-sided Premiership betting markets is Asian Handicapping. The Internet’s largest online bookmaker, PinnacleSports.com, is a market leader in Asian Handicap betting pricing markets to c. 102% compared to 1X2 markets priced between 108% and 114% at traditional bookies. The smartest decision you could make this season is moving to Asian Handicaps at PinnacleSports.com, the choice of the sharp player.
Gunners Start Life Without Henry
Arsenal begin a new chapter in their Premiership history following the summer departure of Thierry Henry, after eight seasons at the London club. The influence of the French striker can not underestimated, but the Gunners survived the loss of Patrick Viera, and Sol Campbell, so coach, Arsene Wenger, may have judged that the time was right to let 29 year old Henry go. He has built a squad of young promising players, who will need to up their game this season, starting at home to Fulham on Sunday.
Last season was Arsenal’s first at the Emirates Stadium, and their home form was at times erratic, suggesting a need to bed in. Nevertheless they lost just one home league game, but have been set an Asian Handicap of 1.909 (-1 & -1.5) by PinnacleSports.com against Fulham. The Gunners would have covered that handicap in this fixture in the pass three seasons, but Henry’s departure and the absence of striker, Emmanual Adebayor, due to injury will be affecting the line. Fulham start a new era under Lawrie Sanchez, who has brought in a clutch of players he worked with as manager of Northern Ireland. Sanchez took charge of the Cottagers for just four games last term, so he and his side are unknown quantities, but the general feeling is that they lack quality. PinnacleSports.com price them 2.02 (+1 & +1.5).
United Begin Title Defence with Royal Visit
Manchester United start the new season as favourites with PinnacleSports.com to defend their Premier League title, having topped the summer spending charts and after adding the Community Shield to their trophy cabinet – albeit on penalties. United play at home to Reading on Sunday, priced 1.769 (-1.5) at PinnacleSports.com, but the smart money could be on Reading at 2.20 (+1.5). The teams met four times last season (including two FA Cup clashes), and on each occasion the Royals would have covered with a 1.5 goal start. Though Steve Sidwell (now at Chelsea) was a big game player, Steve Coppell has otherwise retained the key elements of the squad that pushed Reading close to a UEFA spot, and having played twice at the Theatre of Dreams last term, they shouldn’t be overawed by the atmosphere.
Chelsea One Game from Record Unbeaten Home Sequence
Should Chelsea avoid defeat against Birmingham at Stamford Bridge in their opening game of the new season, they will surpass Liverpool’s record of 63 unbeaten home games. The betting at PinnacleSports.com strongly suggests that figure will be surpassed as the Blues are 2.090 (-1.5 & 2.0) against the newly promoted Midlands outfit, despite the injury to several key players, including Didier Drogba, Michael Ballack & Andriy Shevchenko. Chelsea’s unbeaten home sequence stretches back over four seasons during which time they drew 15 games, equating to 23% of their games. That figure hides low key end-of-season games, but it is important to note that there were seven stalemates alone at the Bridge in the last campaign, suggesting that Chelsea either dropped their standards or teams worked out how not to lose at Chelsea. Arsenal experienced a similar backlash after going the 2003/04 season unbeaten and bettors shouldn’t expect anything but damage limitation from Birmingham, priced 1.840 (+1.5 & +2).