THERE’S the Havertz and the Havertz nots and it turns out Viktor Gyokeres falls into the latter category.
Arsenal’s showcase signing from last summer has now been reduced to the role of £64million benchwarmer, after being an unused sub in the Gunners’ opening two Premier League wins.
Displaced by German sort-of-striker Kai Havertz, Mikel Arteta has decided that the Swede is not the answer to the club’s 20-year search for the next Thierry Henry, even after his 22 goals in all competitions last season.
Nor was Julian Alvarez, Vinicius Jr or Lautaro Martinez. Despite being the champions of England and Champions League runners-up, Arsenal could not attract the kind of world class hitman that would have been a genuine next-step upgrade.
Now if they had Chelsea’s nuclear trident of Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer sitting in the Emirates dressing room every week, the rest of the Premier League might as well pack up and go home.
Still the Gunners can console themselves with the fact that they improved Europe’s finest midfield with the arrival of Bruno Guimaraes and bolstered the best defence with England’s Ezri Konsa.
Not to mention having one of the best wingers in the game Bukayo Saka and the already impressive new boy Christos Tzolis joining him on the flanks.
Bet Balls
- Newcastle to beat Bournemouth 2-1 today is 7-1 with BetGoodwin
- Hull and Villa to draw tonight, BTTS, is 7-2 with BetGoodwin
- Man United to win at Everton tomorrow and over 3.5 goals is 17-4 with BetGoodwin
- Arsenal and Chelsea to draw 3-3 tomorrow is 40-1 with BetGoodwin
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The market has the Gunners odds-on to retain their Prem League crown but the big early-season movers have been tomorrow’s visitors to the Emirates Chelsea, in from 9-1 to 5-1.
Now they’ve solved their keeper problem by bringing in World Cup-winner Emiliano Martinez, they look genuine title contenders.
And Coral’s John Hill has been impressed by the Blues so far: He said: “I love everything about Chelsea going forward. I think it’s the best front line in the Premier League but I still have big concerns about their defence.
“With the depth the Gunners have, I can see them winning multiple trophies this season. So I am backing Arsenal to win tomorrow and BTTS at 23-10. Chelsea should get on the scoresheet.”
Arsenal are odds-on for the clash, the draw 3-1 with Betfred and the Blues a best-priced 17-4 with bet365.
Yes, Chelsea have been a little chaotic so far this term in beating Fulham 3-2 and Brighton 4-3 but that chaos and their quality can break up Arsenal composed patterns enough to get something tomorrow.
Goals are almost guaranteed, with BTTS a best-priced 3-4 with BetGoodwin. So draw and BTTS at Betfed and BetVictor’s 4-1 is the selection, with 2-2 trading at a tempting 16-1 with Betway.
Last weekend’s Dark Horse came rattling down the outside as SunSport’s Kevin Dunne landed a very tidy 10-1 winner with Chelsea beating Brighton, both sides scoring in the first half and Cole Palmer scoring anytime.
Our football tipster also advised Blues to win and BTTS at 5-2.
He also weighed in with Man United to beat Ipswich and over 4.5 goals at 18-5 and had Yoane Wissa to score anytime for Newcastle at Spurs at 12-5.
Dark horse
10-1: Seven goals in their first two games tell you all you need to know about the Chelsea attack. Arsenal are champions so they know where the net is. William Hill go a best-priced 12-1 both teams score in both halves.
Goodwinners’ Enclosure
TOTTENHAM took a £300m punt in the summer and sadly there’s no cash-out available for Roberto De Zerbi to claw any of it back!
The Italian signed 10 players, including a £100m on Sandro Tonali who was hooked as Spurs were beaten 2-0 by the midfielder’s old side Newcastle in North London – tipped up by us at 19-10 in this column last week.
The terrible start has left De Zerbi’s lads joint bottom of the Prem with De Zero points – and we are getting some nibbles at a shortening 12-1 that they get relegated in this a highly-anticipated season.
Tottenham fans should expect a turnaround and so does the market with Spurs still 5-2 to finish top six.
You’ll never walk alone but the three points never fancied joining Liverpool for a wander as they were held by Forest at Anfield. The visitors’ first point of the season was a great result for our traders here at BetGoodwin Towers.
Still we got burned on anything with BTTS in it, as Chelsea and Brighton banged in another seven goals to add to the seven the pair got on opening weekend, with the Blues winning a thriller 4-3 at the Bridge on Sunday.
Despite their incredible start to the season, Hull remain our 4-11 favourites to go down. Beating co-promoted side Coventry at the weekend made it two wins from two.
But can the Tigers keep this up? Tomorrow’s visitors Aston Villa are pointless and struggling to even get a shot on target. Hull to win to nil at 11-2 could be a very interesting play.
Overall, the three newly-promoted sides are unchanged at the top of the relegation market, with the Sky Blues 2-5 and Ipswich 6-5. Fulham are the big movers and are into 12-5 for the drop.
Tomorrow our 17-10 title favourites Arsenal host Chelsea, now into 5-1 after signing keeper Emiliano Martinez from Villa, in a blockbuster at the Emirates.
We make the Gunners 4-6 favourites but, what with the Blues undeniable firepower, we like the draw and over 1.5 goals in the match at 15-4 as the best bet of the game.
Finally, the BetGoodwin Banker Acca for this weekend is… Brighton, Burnley, Leicester And Northampton all to win at a huge 10-1!
Top Tips
Pro bet
Brighton to beat Leeds, West Brom to beat Watford, Bradford to beat Mansfield, Huddersfield to beat Notts Co, Salford to beat Port Vale. Acca pays 20-1 with Betfred.
Retirement bet
Charlton to win at Stoke, Bristol City to win at Burnley, QPR to beat Middlesbrough, Wrexham to win at Swansea, Blackpool to win at Reading, Orient to win at Luton, Crawley to win at Accrington, Gillingham to win at Rochdale. Perm 1 x Acca, 8 x 7-folds, 28 x 6-folds. Acca pays 28,838-1 with bet365.
Away day
Southampton to win at Lincoln, Sheff Wed at Peterborough, Walsall at Exeter, Grimsby at Cheltenham. Acca pays 19-1 with Coral.
Top draw
Fulham v Palace, Birmingham v Wolves, Swindon v Colchester, Crewe v York, Acca pays 140-1 with Betfred.
TV Special
Newcastle to beat Bournemouth, Hull-Villa draw, Man United to win at Everton, Arsenal-Chelsea draw. Acca pays 68-1 with Betfred.
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