Gunner be hard to beat

ARSENAL TO POP VILLA

ADVANTAGE Arsenal, then. If defences do win you titles, the Gunners’ rearguard is doing its bit.

They have conceded fewer goal than Liverpool and Manchester City and are top as a result.

However, fighting on two fronts may prove a hindrance tomorrow as they must keep their run going at home to Aston Villa in between playing Bayern Munich twice.

Villa, though, played on Thursday in Europe and as they have a great chance of winning the Conference League, they might be distracted as well.

And with that all-important top five slot seemingly in the bag as they have 11 points of an advantage over Manchester United, they might not be at their peak for a game where they would not expect points. today. I am taking the Reds to do something they don’t normally do and win big.

They will certainly want to bounce back from that home humbling by Atalanta.

I’ll take Liverpool at -2 on the handicap, which is available at 17-10.

Cover

Manchester City would expect to cover that handicap as well when they host Luton today, but in fairness to the Hatters, they have exceeded expectations this season and were not beaten out of sight at Kenilworth Road, at least not in the Premier League.

Luton will know this is not the game their survival hangs on and City know they need to boost their goal difference.

I’ll take correct scores of 5-0 and 5-1 at 12-1 and 20-1 respectively.

Going against Bournemouth served us well last week and I will do it again as I note that Manchester United are 7-4 to win on the south coast.

It is now 40 years since Harry Redknapp’s Cherries beat the then FA Cup holders United, but although Bournemouth’s stock has risen considerably since then, I expect the Red Devils to win this time.

The Champions League quarter-final first legs produced an absolute feast of goals and it is to be hoped that they can repeat the dose when the sides meet again in a few days.

On Tuesday, PSG go to Barcelona having thrown away a lead to lose in Paris.

Though few will expect them to come back, I actually think that 11-5 is a price worth taking on PSG, the pressure might be off a bit now they have blown the home game.

On Wednesday, Arsenal look to go to Germany and beat a Bayern Munich side that may have flopped domestically but is still dangerous.

At 13-8, they are too big to beat an Arsenal side vulnerable in Europe sometimes.

People keep telling me Manchester City have Real Madrid’s number, but Real have the talent and the Champions League pedigree to win in England.

Certainly they are worth an interest punt at 4-1 to do that.

Moving to the GAA

Championships, which these days resemble some buffoon on YouTube trying to ride a motorbike with so much gas it shoots off at an uncontrollable pace.

Fermanagh will be hoping to shock Armagh at Brewster

Park tomorrow.

The Division Two match between the two saw the Orchard County win by four points.

That might be the sort of gap that could happen again.

Fermanagh will give it a right rattle and at Evens with a +7 start and I am backing them to stay within the handicap.

Pitch

In Leinster tomorrow, there is a double-header at Portlaoise and after a game this evening, it is a wonder what state the O’Moore Park pitch will be in by the second game between Louth and Wexford.

That could level things up, although how far ahead are Louth? Wexford just missed promotion from Division Four, while the Wee County barely stayed up in Division Two.

Wexford won big against Carlow last week and at 4-1 they are worth a little play to cause an upset.

Meath fans must be quite nervous about their trip to Croke Park tomorrow.

Although Dublin lost the League final, they look primed for another great run at Sam.

Dublin are -13 on the handicap at Evens and unfortunately for their neighbours and rivals, I can see them getting past that