Arsenal and Leicester vie for top spot with Man Utd also playing
Published:
Matt Haynes | December 31, 2015
Arsenal v Newcastle
- Premier League
- Saturday, January 2
- Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
- Emirates Stadium, north London
Gunners can maintain top spot with win
Arsenal are odds-on at 1/4 with Coral to beat Newcastle United and, after a shock 4-0 defeat to Southampton got back on track with a 2-0 win over Bournemouth last time out to go top on goal difference after Leicester lost.
The mercurial Mesut Ozil was once again majestic as he scored and set one up against the Cherries and, as a result, his 2/1 anytime scorer odds are definitely worth a punt.
Arsenal have won the last eight matches against the Magpies and, with Olivier Giroud also in devastating form of late, the striker is well worth his 5/2 price to score two or more, which will help to give the Gunners a brilliant boost in their Premier League title charge in the second half of the season.
Newcastle, meanwhile, have lost their last two matches 1-0 and haven’t scored since their 1-1 draw with Aston Villa before the Christmas break, when Fabricio Coloccini put his laces through a half-volley from close range. It is Georginio Wijnaldum who has been the star for the side this season though and the summer signing boasts tasty 4/1 odds to net anytime.
Leicester v Bournemouth
- Premier League
- Saturday, January 2
- Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
- King Power Stadium, Leicester
Foxes still full of fight
Leicester lost only their second Premier League game of the season on Boxing Day, though followed up with an industrious goalless draw against Manchester City and are odds-on at 10/11 to beat Bournemouth next.
While they were perhaps lucky not to have lost more than 1-0 against Liverpool at Anfield, Leicester showed typical fighting spirit against Manuel Pellegrini’s side and could maybe have come away with a win had luck been on their side.
At the end of August, both sides played out a 1-1 draw on the south coast, with Jamie Vardy equalising from the penalty spot to cancel out a Callum Wilson opener. Vardy, who also has previous against the Cherries in the Championship, is 4/1 to break the deadlock and made a nuisance of himself against City.
N’golo Kante, arguably signing of the season so far in the Premier League, was unlucky not to score against City, hitting the post with a strike from outside of the area in the second half and is available at 12/1 in the anytime market, meanwhile Riyad Mahrez, whose goals have often come in multiples this term, is 7/1 to score two or more.
Bournemouth have had an indifferent Christmas so far with a win, draw and defeat and the best they could possibly hope for at Leicester is the second outcome. Adam Smith dispatched the opener in their away victory over the Baggies and is 8/1 to net anytime, while pacy Josh King is 15/8 in the same market.
Manchester United v Swansea
- Premier League
- Saturday, January 2
- Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
- Old Trafford, Manchester
New year, new start for United?
The first half of the season, on balance, hasn’t really been kind to Man Utd, though following a much-improved performance in the stalemate against Chelsea, an odds-on price of 4/7 to beat Swansea is encouraging.
Despite this, United have lost their last three matches against the Swans, who seem to be demonstrating a resurgence since former boss Garry Monk left and have recorded two draws and a win this Christmas.
Ki Sung-Yueng dispatched the winner against the Baggies on Boxing Day, and as a result, is 11/2 in the anytime market, while Andre Ayew and Bafetimbi Gomis both struck in the victory over the Red Devils in August. Ayew is 11/4 in the anytime market, while Gomis boasts an 8/1 first scorer price.
For the hosts, captain Wayne Rooney, who may help to turn around United’s fortunes is 4/1 to break the deadlock, while Juan Mata struck in the reverse earlier this campaign and is 15/8 in the anytime market.
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Coral’s top tip: Back free-scoring Giroud to score two or more @ 5/2 with Coral against a leaky Newcastle defence.
