Arsenal leads EPL odds
With every passing week, Arsenal Football Club’s chances of winning the English Premier League continue to rise. That comes despite a youthful squad, lack of big-money player transfers, and years of subordination to other top sides.?
seven points clear of second place
The Gunners are now +130 to win the league with DraftKings after opening the season at +2200. Despite now being seven points behind Arsenal in the league, reigning champion Manchester City is still favorite to win the league at odds of -130.
No team has ever had a seven-point lead on New Year’s Day and not gone on to win the league. Granted, this season is a little different because of the November FIFA World Cup, but Arsenal is still well on its way to winning its first league title since the 2003/04 season. The team is 17 points ahead of where it was this time last season.
The current Premier League table reads: Arsenal 43 points, Man City 36 points, Newcastle United 34 points, Manchester United 32 points. City and Newcastle dropped points by settling for draws over the weekend, allowing Arsenal to move into its commanding lead.?
Raising the standard
Arsenal had shown glimpses of brilliance in seasons past but was never able to sustain top-level play. Criticism fell on their lack of squad depth along with the absence of a prolific goal-scorer and a suitable manager who could help the team recreate its early 2000s glory under coach Arsene Wenger.
the ex-player has taken the brunt of the criticism
Many have attributed the team’s turnaround to the decision to back current manager Mikel Arteta. Since joining as head coach in 2019, the ex-player has taken the brunt of the criticism when things have not gone well for the club. Sportsbooks had him at odds of +1400 to get the sack at the beginning of the 2022/23 season.
The decision to retain the Spaniard is now paying off in spades. Through “Arteta ball,” the once-lethargic, defensive structure has been replaced with a free-flowing and intricate system. The boss has also led the development of key players in Arsenal’s starting lineup, including captain Martin ?degaard and academy product Bukayo Saka.
Defying expectation
It comes to the shock of many that Man City is not leading the league. The champs are favored to win the title nearly every year and manager Pep Guardiola is regarded by many as the best in the world. Recent addition Erling Haaland is also on a record-setting goal-scoring pace with 21 league goals to his name already.
Tottenham, Liverpool and Chelsea finished in the top four last season but now sit fifth, sixth and eighth respectively. None currently appear to have the internal stability or cutting-edge to challenge the Gunners for the title.
Arsenal will be back up to bat Tuesday when it hosts current third-place challenger, Newcastle.