The Editors' Premier League Betting Battle 2016/17: Round 30

Editor
30 March 2017

Mike expects Arsene Wenger to be under more pressure come Sunday evening

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A dramatic round of fixtures last time saw Mike's lead at the top of the standings cut drastically as Dan, Joe, and Luke all bagged impressive winners. With the Battle now looking wide open here's where the editors' tenners are headed this weekend...

"The Hammers are safely ensconced in midtable and there is already a sense of drift to Slaven Bilic's outfit, who come into the game on a three-game losing streak, and with just one win in their last six. I think they might find a motivated Hull a bit too much."

Mike Norman
Back Man City @ 2.47/5 to beat Arsenal
Sunday, 16:00
Live on Sky Sports

The heat has definitely been turned up in this season's Battle with some terrific recent winners for Dan, Joe, and Luke, and I'm under huge pressure to maintain the lead I've held since the outset.

Another man under huge pressure is Arsene Wenger and I'm taking his men to lose again when they host Manchester City on Sunday.

The Gunners have lost four of their last five in the league, including at home to Watford, and I just don't see them turning that poor form around. You don't become a bad team overnight so there's still plenty of ability in this Arsenal squad, and that leads me to believes that off-field matters - Wenger's contract, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil's potential departures etc - are having a negative effect on the field.

Man City have been excellent on the road this season and they're now unbeaten in seven in the Premier League. I just think they'll have too much class for a struggling Arsenal side on Sunday afternoon and they'll leave the Emirates with all three points.

Mike Norman 2016-17 P/L: +£51.90

Dan Thomas
Back Over 3.5 Goals in Southampton v Bournemouth at 3.052/1
Saturday, 17:30
Live on BT Sport 1

I'm timing my winning run quite nicely and long-time leader Mike is now within striking distance. So I'm probably being foolhardy sticking with the same bet for the fourth round in a row, but the Over 3.5 Goals bus has served me well, winning at each stop-off, so I'm going to stick with it.

The location for this week's attempt at finding a goal-fest is St Mary's, where Southampton host neighbours Bournemouth in an exciting looking tea time fixture.

There have been 26 goals in the last six for Claude Puel's men and with nothing but pride to play for, they will be going for the win against a Cherries team who have been equally entertaining in recent weeks, with 23 goals netted in their last half dozen.

Bournemouth's defensive record away from home leaves a lot to be desired, with 31 goals conceded - only Hull and Swansea have let in more - but they will fancy their chances against a Saints side who have lost two on the bounce at home, conceding eight.

It all points to goals then and a touch over 2/1 about four or more looks good to me.

Dan Thomas 2016-17 P/L: +£35.40

Joe Dyer
Back Hull to beat West Ham @ 2.546/4
Saturday, 15:00

Swansea, Liverpool and Bournemouth have all been beaten by Hull City at the KCOM Stadium in 2017 and I think Marco Silva's relegation battlers can add West Ham to their list of victims when the two meet on Saturday.

Put simply, Hull need the points far more than the Hammers, are in decent nick at home and the greater intensity they will bring to the game makes them a decent bet in the match odds.

The Hammers are safely ensconced in midtable and there is already a sense of drift to Slaven Bilic's outfit, who come into the game on a three-game losing streak, and with just one win in their last six.

I think they might find a motivated Hull a bit too much.

Joe Dyer 2016-17 P/L: +£15.40

Luke Moore

Back Swansea to beat Middlesbrough at 2.0811/10
Sunday, 13:30
Live on Sky Sports 1

A couple of good winners have seen me right back in the race, and with a few more well-chosen bets I can at least get myself off the bottom of the table. There's still plenty of time left though, so I don't necessarily have to go big prices just yet.

And that brings me on to this week's selection. I can't believe Swansea are odds-against to beat Middlesbrough on Sunday. The Swans have won their last three home games, and all the opponents (Burnley, Leicester and Southampton) were better than Boro. What's more, Boro have scored a grand total of eight goals away from home all season in the league - that's almost one in every two games. They've won just once.

The only thing that would give me pause for thought here is that, with Steve Agnew in temporary charge, The north-easters might get a bit of a new manager bounce. But based on the evidence of his first game in the hot seat, I saw nothing to suggest this will be the case. Middlesbrough are as good as down anyway, but if they lose this they're doomed. And I think they will lose, so Paul Clement's men to do the business at around 21/20 suits me down to the ground.

Luke Moore 2016-17 P/L: -£39.30

***

For individual match previews of every single Premier League game visit our dedicated Premier League section here on Betting.Betfair.

The Editors' 2016/17 Season P/L:

Mike Norman
P/L: +£51.90

Dan Thomas
P/L: +£35.40

Joe Dyer
P/L: +£15.40

Luke Moore
P/L: -£39.30

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