Bournemouth win makes Arsenal Prem favourites once more
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Arsenal headed to the south coast this weekend facing what was effectively a must-win game after Leicester’s stunning dismantling of Manchester City a day before.
The Foxes had opened an eight-point gap over the Gunners after their three-goal salvo at the Etihad, and Arsene Wenger’s men needed to end a slow run of form.
Handily, two goals inside 90 seconds from Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain provided the goods, and thrust Arsenal above City into third.
London rivals Spurs still hold second, but according to the bookies, Arsenal’s victory over the Cherries was enough to see them reinstalled as favourites for the Premier League.
The Gunners are 15/8 for a first league title in 12 years, with Leicester right on their tails at 2/1.
Manuel Pellegrini’s men are out to 10/3 following their lacklustre defeat to the Foxes, while Spurs are the outsiders of the four at 9/2.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side were 20/1 on Christmas Day, but since Santa visited the white half of north London has won six, drawn one and lost one of their eight league fixtures.
In any other season, Tottenham would be the talk of the town, but nobody handed Leicester the script.
All in all, though the Foxes hold a five-point lead over Arsenal and Spurs, with City a further point behind, the sharp end of the Premier League is on a tenterhooks as the top four come together on Valentine’s Day for a really super Super Sunday.
Arsenal host Claudio Ranieri’s rampant team at midday, and the Gunners will be out to repeat their 5-2 victory at the King Power Stadium in September.
Ladbrokes are 3/4 that Wenger’s men close the gap to two points with victory, while the east Midlands side are 7/2 to cause another surprising-but-so-much-anymore success with Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and co.
The 4pm game sees Tottenham head to the north-west, and with Pochettino’s team scoring in every away league game since the opening day of the campaign, they’ll have every confidence of causing City another dilemma, having hammered the blue half of Manchester 4-1 at White Hart Lane.
Spurs are 13/5 to continue their title-charge with a fifth league win in succession, while City are 20/21 to bounce back from their Leicester nightmare.
In thrilling contrast to Chelsea’s one-sided dominance last season, we’ve got a full-on four-horse race this time around. Who’s your money on?
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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