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And here we go! The 2009/10 Premier League season kicks off this weekend and first up for Arsenal is a tough away game to last season’s fifth placed side in the shape of Everton. This is as tough an opening game you could ask for.
In pre-season, Arsenal may have sold Toure and Adebayor but should still improve for the departures and possesses a dazzling array of attacking talent whilst looking vulnerable without the presence of an experienced defensive midfielder. Everton has endured a tough pre-season watching the likes of City, Aston Villa and Tottenham able to open their chequebooks on demand and having to fend off the advances of Manchester City for their defender, Joleon Lescott. But they still remain a very useful side that has retained the bulk of their squad from the previous season. Both sides will look to the maturity of their youths as the season progresses with the likes of Wilshere, Ramsey, Vela, Rodwell and Gosling all possessing the tools to become top class players.
On to the business of betting. In the last 5 away meetings with Everton, Arsenal has won 4-1 twice, lost 1-0 twice and drew 1-1 in their most recent clash at Goodison Park. Does this have a bearing on today’s clash? No. At first instinct, this fixture has the hallmarks of a draw with Arsenal on the road to a more then useful side who can play the physical game that has been Arsenal’s kryptonite in recent seasons. But in this opening game of the season, there are questions abounding form. With the lack of recent competitive form we are left relying on pre-season form and that is always a dangerous assumption to take.
All we know is, Everton should be their usual solid defensive self and Arsenal should be their usual stylish self. Attack vs Defence. I just can’t quite see Everton having enough to win the game and last season’s low key start could well be repeated here. The questions in considering an alternative to the draw, does Arsenal have enough defensive solidity to repel an Everton attack featuring Saha and Jo backed up by Cahill? Can Arsenal match up physically to the Everton style of play?
From a betting point of view, it’s a tough game to decipher with all results possible and I can even envision a goal fest! Looking at the prices, the bookies are also split in their assessment offering a tempting 11/8 on Arsenal, 9/4 the draw and 9/4 Everton. The under 2.5 goal market is a general 8/11 whilst the over 2.5 stands at a tempting 11/10.
Like Liverpool who faces our local rivals Tottenham, this tough opening game could well be a sign of things to come and I’m sticking to my first instinct to take the draw.
Everton/Arsenal DRAW 1pt win 11/5 Bet365
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