TURNS out that both Newcastle and Arsenal are nil-y men.
No, I’m not referring to the Gunners’ three runners-up finishes in a row, or ignoring the Toon ending a 56-year trophy drought last season.
Almost unbelievably, in 15 of the last 16 clashes between these two, someone has ended up getting nil. And on top of that, there have only been two draws between the sides in 29 meetings.
Guess what? Both of those were 0-0.
No guarantees someone will end up with nil tomorrow, of course. But if you want to follow the path of history, Eddie Howe’s side are 5-1 with the likes of Sky Bet, bet365 and Betfred to win to nil, while the visitors can be had at a best-priced 27-10 with William Hill.
Last season, the Geordies edged the league fixture 1-0 at St James’ and won both legs of the Carabao semi-final 2-0, when they were absolutely flying.
Now in the absence of once-revered No 9 Alexander Isak, and the wake of the saga that saw him strike his way to Anfield for £125million, goals have been in short supply for the Tynesiders.
Bet Balls
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- Draw half-time, Forest full-time v Sunderland tonight is 15-4 with BetGoodwin
- Spurs to beat Wolves 4-0 tonight is 16-1 with BetGoodwin
- Newcastle to beat Arsenal 2-0 is 14-1 with BetGoodwin
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They have managed just three in five league games all season and drawn all three aways so far… who’d have thought it, 0-0.
So we know they remain a very decent defensive outfit. What we know of Arsenal is they haven’t lived up to their billing as almost title favourites so far this term.
Largely because Mikel Arteta has been rightly accused of playing with the handbrake on in the big games this season.
At Anfield, they were done by a late Dominik Szoboszlai wonder strike, while Gabriel Martinelli snatched a draw against City in the dying seconds last weekend.
Playing safe has left the Gunners five points off Liverpool’s 100 per cent pace at the top and seen them drift out to 2-1 to secure a first title since 2004.
Still they are a best-priced 23-20 with Coral, Ladbrokes and Betfred to prevail tomorrow and Coral’s John Hill reckons that is a chance worth taking.
He said: “Arsenal have to go for it, as they can’t afford to fall any further behind Liverpool.
“I see Arsenal winning and it being an entertaining game, so I’ll be taking them to oblige and both teams to score at 16-5.”
His William Hill counterpart Lee Phelps likes the prospect of Arsenal’s Brazilian winger playing his part again.
He said: “Gabriel Martinelli is on a hot streak and you wouldn’t bet against him finding the back of the net again at 11-4.”
A gamechanger for Newcastle could be the return to league action for Antony Gordon after suspension.
He scored twice against the Gunners last term and is a big-game player. He’s also a lumpy 19-2 with Unibet to score the opener and a very playable 7-2 with Paddy Power and Sky Bet to score anytime.
Now he’s got 6ft 6in Nick Woltemade in the middle, I see the Geordies just edging this one.
And the 10-1 bet365 go 1-0 on is a big price for Eddie Howe’s boys.
Yes, Gordon’s just the tonic.
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Dark Horse
11-2: Liverpool hold the only 100 per cent record in the Prem this season. But the longest unbeaten run in the division of 11 games, going back to last season, belongs to today’s hosts Crystal Palace.
Palace saw off the Reds in the Community Shield and are a lively 11-2 to beat the visitors and BTTS.
EARLIER in the season, I tipped Brighton at 18-1 and Spurs at 11-1 to win the Carabao Cup – and both remain in it, as we get down to the last-16.
The Seagoals have gone mad in rounds two and three, putting out strong sides and winning 6-0 at both Oxford and then Barnsley this week.
The away draw in round four at Arsenal has rather put a spoke in their wheel. But they did win there 3–1 in the same competition in 2022 and have lost only once in their last five trips to the Emirates.
The draw has fallen just as poorly for Spurs, who face a trip to holders Newcastle. And Thomas Frank’s impressive side may edge the Geordies on hunger as they seek a first trophy since winning the League Cup in 2008.
CARABAO CUP (best price): 4-1 Liverpool; 5-1 Man City; 7-1 Arsenal; 8-1 Chelsea; 9-1 Newcastle; 11-1 Spurs; 12-1 Brighton; 20-1 Fulham, Palace.
GOODWINNERS’ ENCLOSURE
ROBERT SANCHEZ’S horror show at Old Trafford was the stuff of dreams for us here at BetGoodwin Towers.
Chelsea’s pre-match price of 11-8 had been piled into by the punters but the Blues’ keeper’s early bath put the skids under that, as they were beaten 2-1.
And although we took a few sizable bets in-running for the draw in Sunday’s Arsenal-Man City clash, Gabriel Martinelli’s late equaliser did us a solid – a draw is always a favourable result for bookies.
Favourable results are one thing that’s been in short supply at Villa Park.
We certainly didn’t see their collapse coming. And not getting over the line at Sunderland, who were down to 10 for over an hour, is not a good sign.
So Fulham look a good thing to us at 2-1 tomorrow to beat the Villans on their own patch – and Unai Emery’s side are now 12-1 for the drop.
The weekend’s biggest game is Arsenal at Newcastle tomorrow. And while Eddie Howe’s side are certainly not the entertainers this term, they are a solid defensive unit.
But until Yoane Wissa comes back, we think the Magpies will continue to struggle in front of goal.
We see a tight game at St James’, but Gabriel Martinelli, who has responded well to his new competition on the flanks, is flying. And we like him to fire Arsenal to a narrow win. And he is 4-1 to score anytime.
Liverpool are favourites in every tournament they enter at the moment, and they lead our Carabao Cup book at 4-1. For those of you who fancy Newcastle to go back-to-back, they’re trading at 8-1.
Nowhere will the competition be fiercer than at Bethpage Black this weekend, with a raucous Ryder Cup now underway.
We led out with USA 13-8 to lift the trophy, with Europe 5-4. We haven’t had an away win in the Ryder Cup since Europe’s 2012 victory in Illinois, but we think that visitors are well placed to end that drought.
The BetGoodwin Nap Acca this week is Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, Spurs, Ipswich and Luton all to win for a massive 13-1.
And one more Special for you, we’ve boosted over 1.5 goals in all 10 Premier League games this weekend to monster 10-1!
TV Previews
Brentford v Man United
BRYAN MBEUMO got an impressive 20 league goals for midtable Brentford last term.
He returns to the GTech at lunchtime with only one Prem goal for his new employers United.
His old side are in the bottom four but unbeaten at home this term.
Inconsistent United have lost two out of three here and draw at 3-1 looks the shout, with Mbeumo to strike first at 15-2 with Unibet.
FORECAST: 2-2
Forest v Sunderland
HAVING started the season heavy odds-on to go straight back down, Sunderland have impressed so far.
With one defeat in five games, they sit a lofty seventh.
It’s a different picture for Ange Postecoglou, who is yet to win in four attempts as Forest boss. In his defence they’ve all been away.
He should get off the mark here, with Calum Hudson-Odoi the anytime scorer tip at 4-1 with MGM.
FORECAST: 2-1
Tottenham v Wolves
THOMAS Frank has already transformed Spurs into a side who’ll give anyone a lot of trouble, instead of getting in their own way.
They were slick and aggressive as they came from 2-0 down to take a point at Brighton last weekend.
Wolves are pointless and surrendered 3-1 to Leeds at home last week. Big home win tonight, with Brennan Johnson the 6-1 pick with Paddy Power to score first.
FORECAST: 4-0
Top Tips
Pro bet
Stoke to beat Norwich, Stockport to beat Reading, Mansfield to beat Rotherham, Bradford to beat Blackpool, Gillingham to beat Harrogate. Acca pays 21-1 with Coral.
Retirement bet
Palace to beat Liverpool, Birmingham to win at Coventry, Middlesbrough to win at Southampton, Northampton to beat Bolton, Exeter to beat Huddersfield, Doncaster to win at Luton, Notts Co to win at Crewe, Bromley to win at Swindon. Perm 1 x Acca, 8 x 7-folds, 28 x 6-folds. Acca pays 36,258-1 with Betfred.
Away day
Bournemouth to win at Leeds, QPR at Sheff Wed, Lincoln at Peterborough, MK Dons at Shrewsbury. Acca pays 31-1 with Betfred.
Top draw
Charlton v Blackburn, Wimbledon v Wycombe, Wigan v Cardiff, Bristol Rovers v Salford. Acca pays 130-1 with Coral.
TV Special
Brentford v Man United draw, Forest to beat Sunderland, Spurs to beat Wolves, Newcastle to beat Arsenal. Acca pays 35-1 with Betfred.
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