BACK KAI TO BE ON A HIGH
German can keep Gunners in title race
ARSENAL and Manchester City should have no trouble keeping their Premier League title challenge on track today.
With Liverpool effectively out of the race, Pep Guardiola’s City are now 2-5 favourites to land the crown, with Arsenal around 15-8.
The Gunners still hold a onepoint advantage at the top and sometimes it’s better to have points in the bag – City have a game in hand but also have a Manchester derby FA Cup final to think about.
Therefore I’m not convinced the odds reflect how tight the race could prove to be.
I’d expect Mikel Arteta’s men to comfortably win their two home games against Bournemouth today and Everton on the final day. That means their hopes could hinge upon their trip to face Manchester United at Old Trafford on May 12.
Guardiola’s side should dispose of today’s visitors Wolves and Fulham in their next fixture, but Tottenham will be keen to halt City’s progress in London on May 14 before West Ham travel to the Etihad on the final day in another tricky encounter.
As far as today’s games are concerned, both title challengers are hot favourites.
At the Emirates, Arsenal start around 1-5 in the betting, with Bournemouth 13-1 with BetMGM and the draw as big as 7-1.
There’s no value in backing Arteta’s men to win but Bournemouth have failed to score in only one of their last 15 league games – against Man City – so it’s worth taking the Gunners to win and both teams to score at more attractive odds of 11-8.
I’d fancy the Gunners to win this one 3-1, at odds of 10-1 with bet365 and William Hill. But Sky Bet’s odds of 3-1 for the home side to win 3-0, 3-1 or 3-2 are worth considering.
Kai Havertz is enjoying by far his best scoring season in English football and he’s hit three in his last two league games so he’ll be looking forward to facing the Cherries.
The German is 6-5 to score at any time but I’d fancy the 9-2 that he grabs the opening goal.
Team-mate Bukayo Saka is another player at the top of his game, so backing both him and Havertz to find the net could pay dividends at Sky Bet’s 7-2.
The same firm offer an enhanced 8-1 that both Saka and Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke score. With 18 goals in 35 league appearances, there’s every chance the Cherries striker could ensure that bet comes to fruition.
Over at the Etihad, Man City can set a new club record of 43 home games unbeaten in all competitions when Gary O’Neil’s Wolves visit.
With little to play for, Wolves have gone off the boil recently and, having failed to score in four of their six away games against current topeight sides, I reckon City could keep a clean sheet here.
City are unbackable at 1-10 for the home win, with Wolves a massive 25-1 and the draw 23-2 with BetMGM. Take Guardiola’s men at bet365’s 13-2 to win this 3-0 – and I’d expect Kevin De Bruyne to play a big part again.
The Dutch maestro set up both City’s goals against Nottingham Forest last week and Sky Bet’s 15-2 that he repeats that feat here could pay off.
The same firm offers an enhanced 3-1 that De Bruyne gets two shots on target, which could be a decent bet.