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From the boos to the Blues, this week looks as if it’s only going to get worse for Arsenal.
Struggling against a team with no points and just one goal after three Bundesliga games wasn’t in their Europa League script and certainly wasn’t the way to warm up for a London derby at Chelsea this Sunday.
The Arsenal fans who gave their team pelters at half-time against Cologne before they turned it around on Thursday night are unlikely to hold too much hope for the trip across the capital where the 5/6 available for a home win (the Gunners are just under 4/1) looks like an opportunity to buy money.
Since Arsenal won 5-3 at the Bridge in 2011, Chelsea have taken all 15 points from their five meetings there, scoring 15 goals in the process and letting in just two.
They’ve scored in 23 straight home games in the league and since losing to Burnley on the opening weekend have won four on the spin, the most recent a 6-0 hammering of Azerbaijani side Qarabag 48 hours before Arsenal’s own European bow for the season.
Arsene Wenger’s recent record against the title-chasers hasn’t done him any favours – you have to go back to January 2015 for the last time he won against a team who finished in the top six last season. It was Man City, who crushed Liverpool 5-0 after the Reds thumped Arsenal 4-0, so, big teams, big scores, it’s happened twice this season and we’re only four games in. Chelsea to win by three goals or more is 9/2 (Sky Bet and Winner), two or more is 8/5 while over 3.5 total goals in the game is 8/5 with a few bookies.
Chelsea had five different scorers on Tuesday night (there was an own goal too) and were able to leave Alvaro Morata on the bench but he’ll be back looking to add to his tally of three goals – all of which have been scored with his head. He’s 7/2 (Bet365) for the opener, evens (several firms) at any time while Betway are offering 7/4 his next Premier League goal is another header while it’s 2/5 he uses his feet. Fit-again Eden Hazard is 7/4 at any time with Paddy Power, Betfred and Betway.
Like Chelsea, Manchester United impressed as they kicked off their European adventure and like Arsenal (before the break anyway), Everton didn’t.
Wayne Rooney returns to Old Trafford with the Toffees in Sunday’s other game but United, with Romelu Lukaku and Marouane Fellaini also also facing former employers, look like the biggest home banker on the coupon and 1/3 is about as good as it gets.
Lukaku is 3/1 for the first goal and 10/11 at any time while Fellaini, who could get a run in the absence of injured Paul Pogba and who has two goals this season (he only managed four in the entire 2016-17 campaign) is 7/2 with Paddy Power just to score.
The first-ever top-flight meeting between Bournemouth and Brighton kicks things off on Friday night before Roy Hodgson takes charge of Crystal Palace for the first time when they host Southampton at lunchtime on Saturday.
A fourth defeat in as many Premier League games signalled the end of Frank de Boer but even if the Dutchman had kept his job it would’ve been worth backing Palace this weekend.
There were positive signs in the 1-0 loss at Burnley last week as they bossed possession and had 24 shots – we know not many of them were on target, but it’s a start as they search for their first goals of the campaign.
Southampton haven’t been much better than the Eagles up top, drawing a blank in three of their four matches and, going back further, they’ve only scored in three of their last 12.
Add this to the new-boss bounce at Selhurst Park and the 21/10 available for a home win is worth taking.
In the 3pm games, Manchester City look unstoppable heading to Watford having hit five against Liverpool and four at Feyenoord and are worth backing to see off a team who have been much better on the road than at home.
Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus both scored in last weekend’s rout and in Holland. You can get 15/8 (Sky Bet) they are both on target again.
Liverpool will be glad they’re not facing Jesus and Aguero again until 2018. Saturday’s opponents Burnley have scored five goals this season - the same amount as the City pair - but they’ve also held Tottenham to a draw and won at Chelsea so Jurgen Klopp will be taking nothing for granted.
A home win is 3/10 but a hammering is unlikely and Liverpool by one goal is 3/1 while a home win by a two-goal margin is the same price (Sky Bet).
Leicester’s season so far has seen them fall short against the top teams (Arsenal, Man United and Chelsea) and pick up results against weaker opposition (Brighton in the league and Sheffield United in the Cup). Huddersfield, despite a solid start, fall into the second category and the visiting Foxes are no better than 11/8 - or 4/1 for the win with both teams scoring.
Newcastle against Stoke has the look of a draw while West Brom at home to West Ham could end all square.
Tottenham fans should be in for a tea-time treat on Saturday with Swansea the visitors to Wembley.
Borussia Dortmund were dumped on Wednesday night proving Spurs can win at their temporary home and Harry Kane followed up last week’s double at Everton with another two against the Germans.
Spurs are 1/4 shots (Swansea are 16/1) but we like the look of Betway’s special on Kane. Much has been made of him never scoring a league goal in August but, as expected, he’s started September with a bang and is 7/2 to net in every Premier League game this month. After Swansea, it’s West Ham and Huddersfield (both away) so as long as he stays clear of injury you’d fancy him to grab at least a couple. He’s 11/5 (Betfair) for two or more on Saturday night.
*Prices from oddschecker - correct at time of publication - subject to change
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“We have to think about us, about our side, our model, how we will attack and how we will defend.”