Hammers look good things on opening day

Arsenal are 4/9 (BETVICTOR/william hill) to start their season with three points when they play host to Aston Villa. The Gunners have had a quiet time of it in the summer with Arsene Wenger yet to sign that marquee player that would appease their fans. Three points against Villa seems a must if the panic is not to set in early. Villa are dangerous first day opponents as they have pace and power up front in Benteke, Agbonlahor and Weimann, while Lambert will hope his new signings can tighten up a leaky defence.

Villa were beaten by more than one goal just five times last season on their travels in the league and with a 1.25 start look value on the Asian Handicap. bet365 and 188 BET are going evens which will pay a full win if Villa Win or draw or a half win if they lose by one.

All the signs point to the game at Carrow Road between Norwich and Everton being a high scoring affair. The last two meetings between them at Carrow Road have produced seven goals, five of the last six matvhes at Carrow Road producd over 2.5 goals while 14 of the 19 Everton away games in the league last season did the same. Throw in the fact that Norwich have new attacking options in Ricky van Wolfswinkel, Gary Hooper and Nathan Redmond while Everton will be adjusting to a new system at the back and you have all the makings for goals. You can get 4/5 (bet365/BETVICTOR) that both teams score while the over 2.5 goals is a 21/20 (GENERAL) chance.

Sunderland entertain Fulham at the Stadium of Light and I think the home side must claim all three points here. The fixture list has been cruel to them and this presents one of the few chances of claiming all three points at home before Christmas. Di Canio is likely to have mad this clear to his side and considering Sunderland lost just one home game to sides in the bottom half of the table last season and the 13/10 (bet365/betfred/william hill) looks the value bet.

West Brom take on Southampton at the Hawthorns as the Baggies look to continue a run that has seen them lose just one of the last eight meetings between these sides and they are 7/5 (bet365/BETVICTOR/WILLIAM HILL) for victory. Southampton though will not be easy opponents as they ended the season in form losing just two of the last ten and the draw is a 12/5 (GENERAL) chance while a Saints victory is 11/5 (GENERAL).

NO in the both teams to score market at 5/4 (BETVICTOR/WINNER) would have paid in three of the last five West Brom games and three of the last five Southampton games and with both sides set to play with two holding midfielders goals might be scarce.

The best of the bets though is West Ham to see off Cardiff at evens (GENERAL). This is a good price seeing as the Hammers were the eighth best performing home side last season and did not lose a game against any of the teams in the bottom half of the table in front of their own fans. The Bluebirds meanwhile had a poor away record against sides in the top half in the Championship and it will not get any easier in the Premier League.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: West Ham to beat Cardiff, evens (GENERAL)
SILVER: Aston Villa +1.25 start on Asian Handicap, evens (bet365/188 BET)
BRONZE: Sunderland to beat Fulham, 13/10 (BET365/BETVICTOR/WILLIAM HILL)

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16/08/2013     © Frixo 2026