Starting with a home match against Sunderland, Arsene Wenger will be leading Arsenal into a Premier League season for the seventeenth time with a familiar sense of deja vu. As with previous campaigns, he will be hoping to stay in the top four despite losing a crucial player in the summer transfer window.
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Last season it was Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri who departed to leave Arsenal on the back foot. But while Robin van Persie has gone this time around, and with Alex Song reportedly set to follow, Wenger acted decisively to sign players early in the summer to limit the impact of an exodus.
He has bought well, too. Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla are likely starters, and may all feature in the season opener against Sunderland at the Emirates on Saturday.
O’Neill’s men got their revenge by dumping Wenger and his charges out of the FA Cup at the Stadium of Light and will battle hard to get something at the Emirates.
The north London side go into the match having not lost their first league game of a season since 2000, though that 1-0 defeat came at the hands of their opponents this weekend.
Martin O’Neill starts his first full season in charge at the Stadium of Light and there is plenty of optimism on Wearside as the big kick-off approaches.
Having impressed since replacing Steve Bruce last December, O’Neill will be hoping to carry along the same route and guide the Black Cats to a top half finish following on from their 13th place last season.
With only Carlos Cuellar on a free transfer to show for the summer window so far, much will be expected of the current crop at Sunderland, including last year’s breakout star James McClean.
O’Neill is still hoping to bring Wolves striker Steve Fletcher to the north-east, but that certainly won’t happen before the trip to Arsenal, where the visitors are at long odds of 8/1 to register a win in bwin’s 3Way football betting market.
Given the turmoil at Arsenal these past few days, that may not seem such a bad bet, despite the Gunners triumphing 2-1 over Sunderland in both league fixtures last season.
O’Neill’s men got their revenge by dumping Wenger and his charges out of the FA Cup at the Stadium of Light and will battle hard to get something at the Emirates.
A draw certainly wouldn’t be out of the question at 18/5, especially considering the impressive 1-1 draw Sunderland achieved at Anfield on the opening day last season.
Of course, the obvious call here is to predict an Arsenal win, and with their record of eight wins and three draws in their last eleven season openers, it’s not hard to see why the odds for a home victory are 7/20.
However, with Arsenal’s players likely to be hampered by a lack of familiarity, the 21/10 on a Sunderland win or draw looks extremely termpting at 21/10.
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Using this to bet on a draw or Sunderland win in the double chance market will return £62 if the punt proves successful.
And, with the first day of the season often throwing up surprise results, it looks a good return for betting on Sunderland to take advantage of a Gunners side not yet fully prepared for the campaign ahead.
Recommended bet: Draw or Sunderland win at 21/10
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