Chelsea set to finally stop the rot with London pride at stake
THE PUNTER Ben Cleminson previews the best of the Premier League action
DESPITE having a combined age of 117, Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger continue to squabble like school children.
Playground prince Mourinho has got the digs in against the Frenchman ahead of tomorrow’s clash but nothing can mask the fact that Chelsea have had a shocking start to the season.
Collecting just four points from five games is a simply awful return and, more worryingly for a man whose teams are famed for their defensive strength, the Blues have a negative goal difference after conceding the most in the Premier League.
If Chelsea lose for a fourth time tomorrow then there’s every chance they will drop into the bottom three – and Mourinho’s odds in the sack race will shorten from the 6/1 currently on offer.
Having finally beaten the Portuguese at the 14th attempt to lift the Community Shield last month, Wenger will be confident his charges can claim all three points, which can be backed at 19/10 with Sportingbet.
However, they lost 2-0 at Stamford Bridge last time out, having been beaten 6-0 in 2013/14, and 2-1 the season before that.
Chelsea are 7/5 favourites with Sportingbet and Mourinho’s home record in the Premier League is simply stunning.
The shock defeat to Crystal Palace there was only the second in exactly 100 home league games. Incredibly, he’s won 76 of those.
Beating Maccabi Tel Aviv 4-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday provided welcome respite, and Arsenal toiled as they lost 2-1 at Dinamo Zagreb, but I wouldn’t read too much into those results.
Mourinho’s priority will be to address his side’s failings at the back in order to avoid defeat.
With a focus on protecting Asmir Begovic’s goal, they may not trouble former custodian Petr Cech regularly at the other end.
The sides have drawn 0-0 in three of their last four meetings at the Emirates and I wouldn’t be surprised to see that trend transferred across the capital with another goalless encounter this time out.
Sportingbet offer the draw at 12/5 and it’s worth backing ‘no goalscorer’, which stands in the event of own goals, at 11/1 in the first scorer market, rather than 0-0 in the correct score market, at the same price.
If it is a low scoring game then selling total goals with Sporting Index at 2.75 will return a profit.
POINTERS
Draw 12/5 (Sportingbet)
No goalscorer 11/1 (Sportingbet)
Sell total goals 2.75 ( Sporting Index)