Football Wednesday Night Matches

After the game was called off because off a tube strike on Boxing Day Arsenal and West Ham will now do battle Wednesday evening as both teams seek a crucial three points. For Arsenal they need to get themselves back in the Champions League hunt after defeat at Chelsea saw them fall seven points behind Tottenham (although they do have this game in hand). West Ham meanwhile know that with the bottom teams starting to pick points that they are not safe as they sit just eight points above the drop zone.

Bookmakers make the Gunners strong favourites at 10/21 (pinnacle). Arsenal have a great head-to-head record against West Ham going unbeaten in their last ten meetings (winning the last five of these). The Hammers have taken just one point from their last five away games though if you think they can get something here then you can get the draw at 19/5 (Stan James) and the away win is 7/1 (bet365/Skybet/Stan Jaes). I think Arsenal should win but that price is giving nothing away and in a game between two inconsistent sides it might pay to swerve the outright markets and look for another bet.

Theo Walcott is the 4/1 (general) favourite to grab the first goal while Olivier Giroud is a 9/2 (general) chance, Lukas Podolski is 11/2 (ladbrokes) while Santi Cazorla is 8/1 (ladbrokes). Those looking for a West Ham player to grab the opener can get Andy Carroll at 12/1 (BWin) while Carlton Cole is 14/1 (BWin), Kevin Nolan is also 14/1 (BWin) while Joe Cole looks standout value at 20/1 (bet365/betway). Cole grabbed a goal at the weekend and if he saw Arsenal at Chelsea will be heartened by the defending on show as the full backs and centre backs were unable to communicate where to pick up the runners from midfield. Be sure to also back him in the anytime market where he is 6/1 (bet365).

The other games that takes place Wednesday evening is in the League Cup and sees Swansea against Chelsea. The Swans are 2-0 up from the first leg and bookmakers have them as 4/11 (general) favourites to qualify while it is 5/2 (ladbrokes) that Chelsea do. The bet that appeals to me is for Chelsea to win on the night at 20/21 (Stan James). Though the Blues went down in the first leg I think three things point to them being a good bet to win the second leg. First is the presence of Dembe Ba. Ba caused Swansea a number of problems in his brief appearance from the bench in the first leg and his presence from the start could be key. Secondly is the mental factor that a 2-0 lead holds. The Swans will defend manfully but when you know that you can lose a game 1-0 and still go through this has to be seen as a small safety net. The third factor is that Chelsea have produced some of their best performances away from Stamford Bridge winning each of their last six away from home and playing some great football in the process.

Dembe Ba is expected to most of the damage and bookmakers agree by making him 9/2 (BWin/ladbrokes/betway) to score the opener while Fernando Torres is a 11/2 (general) chance and Michu is rated 7/1 (general). It is Juan Mata at 8/1 (ladbrokes/Betway) who appeals to me. The Spaniard netted at the weekend and for a player with such a knack of finding himself in the right place at the right time this look value as does the 5/2 (ladbrokes) are offering in the anytime scorer market.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Chelsea to beat Swansea, 20/21 (Stan James)
SILVER: Juan Mata to score v Swansea, first 8/1 (ladbrokes/BetWay), anytime 5/2 (ladbrokes)
BRONZE: Joe Cole to score v Arsenal, first 20/1 (bet365/Betway), anytime 6/1 (Bet365/BetVictor)

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22/01/2013     © Frixo 2024