Archive for December, 2009
Arsenal v Bolton Preview and Odds
December 31st, 2009 | 
Author: Wednesday, January 6th
Sports Gamble Odds: Arsenal -450, Bolton +1700
Bookmaker Draw Odds (Bookmaker Review): +540
If you’re looking for a team that’s hotter than Arsenal in the English Premier League, you might be hard pressed. Since losing to back-to-back contests by a score of 3-0 to league-leaders Chelsea and Manchester City, the Gunners have been have won six of six games in league play.
Internet sports betting sharps saw the Gunners drop 11 points back of Chelsea after their loss to the Blues but the gap has narrowed significantly since. While Chelsea has been bumbling, picking up just nine of a possible 18 points, Arsenal has been the complete opposite.
Arsenal picked up their 16th point (out of 18) with an easy win over Portsmouth on Wednesday and after an FA Cup matchup with West Ham United, they’ll try to continue their tear by picking a win over Bolton. A victory would move them into the second spot in the EPL and just one point behind the Blues.
Beating up on Portsmouth, who is dead last in the fixtures table was no problem. Now they’ll get a shot at squad who is toiling just as bad as Bolton is also slated for relegation unless they get their act together.
Considering they just sacked manager Gary Megson, a solid performance at Emirates does not bode well for the Wanderers.
It’s been a very trying year for Bolton and a blown two-goal lead against Hull on Tuesday was simply the final straw. Megson made a questionable call when he pulled the team’s leading scorer Ivan Klasnic and the fans made sure Megson heard about it.
Megson saved this team from relegation in 2007 but it will be someone else’s chore this year. That chore will fall on Assistant Manager Chris Evans and First Team Coach Steve Wigley for now.
Megson provided only eight wins in the last 12 months, which clearly wasn’t good enough.
This is clearly a matchup of two teams at opposite ends of the spectrum. Arsenal needs the three points as they are trying to hunt down Chelsea at the top of the table while Bolton is wandering at the bottom of the table and now lacking even more direction.
At Emirates Stadium, expect a one-sided affair.
Sportsbook Ratings Pick: Arsenal -450
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Portsmouth v Arsenal Odds and Preview
Wednesday, December 30th
Sports Gamble Odds: Arsenal -195, Portsmouth +515
Bookmaker Draw Odds (Bookmaker Review): +270
One of the best teams in the EPL meets up with one of the worst on Wednesday as Portsmouth serves host to Arsenal.
While Arsenal is currently third in the fixtures table with their eye on first place Chelsea (seven points back), Portsmouth has the outright lead in the part of the table that you don’t want to be leading.
Portsmouth is dead last with just 14 points this year and they will need at least five points to get out of the relegation zone. The way they have been playing lately, that’s not likely to happen.
Portsmouth just one win in nearly two months. Aside from a win over Burnely, their last win came in October. They have won three games in the first three months of the season and have won once in the last two months.
Meanwhile, Arsenal has been the opposite of late. After turning up on the wrong end of a battle with Chelsea, which pushed Arsenal back 11 points at the end of November, Arsenal has been on fire. They have collected 13 of a possible 15 points since while Chelsea has picked up just nine of 18, which has closed the gap between the two teams.
But there is one key difference between the two squads: Arsenal has two games in hand.
Internet sports betting sharps do recognize the difference in the table between the two teams but if Arsenal can defeat Portsmouth and top Bolton later in the week – two teams that are currently in the red, slated for relegation – Arsenal will close the gap to just one point.
Arsenal has won four of their last five outings and not only are they the better team in this matchup but they have plenty more at stake.
One hurdle for the Gunners will be playing without leader Cesc Fabregas, who came off the bench to aid in a win against Villa, aggravated his hamstring injury and will now miss this contest. He may miss more than just this game and he could be out for a few weeks.
Pompey hasn’t won in this series since 1958, so history is not on their side. Arsenal is clearly the choice in this contest.
Sportsbook Ratings Pick: Arsenal -195
Birmingham v Chelsea Odds and Preview
Birmingham v Chelsea
Saturday, December 26th
Sports Gamble Odds: Chelsea, -160, Birmingham +560
Bookmaker Draw Odds (Bookmaker Review): +300
Chelsea, who is currently at the top of the fixtures table in the English Premier League, will try to maintain or expand its lead this weekend as they face Birmingham.
If they continue to play at St. Andrews like they have in their recent visits, winning shouldn’t be a problem.
Chelsea is undefeated in their last seven trips to St. Andrews with wins coming in five of those contests. Overall, they are undefeated in the last 14 meetings in this series.
Suffice to say, Chelsea is the heavy favorite going into this game even though they are away from home.
Birmingham should have spring in their step though as the crowd is sure to cheer them on. Playing at home on Boxing Day has become a tradition for them as they are at home on Boxing Day for the sixth time in eight years and have won their last three on Boxing Day.
Birmingham hasn’t had as much success as you would expect from a team at home. They have scored just nine goals in eight home contests.
Internet sports betting cappers saw Birmingham draw Everton last Sunday 1-1, which extended their unbeaten streak to nine games. That current quality stretch of football has helped them climb the standings all the way to seventh. They have won six of those nine games and taken a possible 21 of 29 points.
Meanwhile, Chelsea has been slumping a little bit of late. Earlier in the year in the months of October and November, they were on cruise control but December has been a different story.
Chelsea has collected just five points out of a possible 12 this month, with a loss to Man City and a couple of draws with Everton and West Ham.
Although most bettors can’t ignore the one-sided results in this series, the reality is that this is a matchup of two teams heading in opposite directions right now. Chelsea is in a bit of a funk while Birmingham has won five of their last six.
Considering Birmingham last defeated Chelsea at home in December 1985, it would be a bold prediction to call the upset. But the value on Birmingham is too good to pass up. Their home fans will be rowdy for this one.
Sportsbook Ratings Pick: Birmingham +560
Arsenal-Aston Villa Preview
Arsenal v Aston Villa
Sunday, December 27th
Internet Betting Odds: Arsenal -130, Aston Villa +425
Sportsbook.com Reviews Draw: +275
Arsenal will host Aston Villa this Sunday in a matchup of two teams in the top four of the fixtures table. Arsenal is in third place while Aston Villa is in fourth, but both teams have the same point total. Goal difference is what separates the two teams as Arsenal is in third place.
Both teams will be looking to make up some ground this weekend as Manchester United, the team that is second. Manchester United lost their last game, which has allowed these two teams to close to within two points. A win will put either team ahead.
Arsenal has endured a little bit of a tough patch in recent weeks. First, they were smoked by Chelsea 3-0, then after a couple of wins they failed to get a win against Burnley, which was a surprise.
Arsenal should be in good shape for this game. Of the eight games they have played at home, they have won seven of them (the other game was the lost to Chelsea). At Emirates Stadium, you can expect Arsenal to be a tough challenge for Villa, even though they’ve been hot of late.
Villa has been one of the tougher teams to beat in the Premier League of late and as a matter of fact, they haven’t lost in seven matches. Overall, Aston Villa hasn’t even allowed a goal in their last four games while outscoring their opponents 7-0. Their most impressive win of the streak was a 1-0 win at Old Trafford against Manchester United.
With that impressive road win, Villa will be a confident bunch but this will be a very stiff test. Villa would love to finish in the top four this year and lock up a spot in the Champions League next year and the way they’ve played recently, they have a great chance to finish in the top four.
A draw is an enticing possibility because Villa is playing well but Arsenal is tough at home. Sports wagering experts should expect to see them continue their strong play at Emirates and get all three points in this one.
Internet Gambling Pick: Arsenal -130
