Premier League Betting: Fulham v Arsenal

Best Bookies, Betting, Bookmakers, Fixed Odds, Football, Tipsters | selectabet | August 23, 2008 at 8:12 am

Fulham v Arsenal – Live on Setanta Sports 1. Kick Off 5.30pm

It’s the first London derby of the season tonight as Fulham host near neighbours Arsenal in a game that’s live on Setanta Sports 1.

Roy Hodgson may hand new signing Andy Johnson a home debut whilst Arsene Wenger welcomes back Alexandre Song from Olympic duty. Samir Nasri appears to have shaken off a niggling thigh injury but the influential Cesc Fabregas is still injured and new signing Mikael Silvestre is doubtful due to a muscle strain.

As you would expect, Arsenal have the upper hand in this fixture – in fact Fulham must hate the sight of the Gunners. They’ve lost more matches (12) and dropped more points (38) to Arsenal than to any other club in the Premier League. Arsenal’s last four visits have seen them lose once (2-1) and record 3 comfortable victories (3-0, 4-0 and 3-0). It’s no surprise then Arsenal are short favourites at 8/13 (Ladbrokes, Paddy Power) to win this one.

Last year at Craven Cottage Emmanuel Adebayor netted a double and he’s 5/1 (Paddy Power) to bag the first goal today and Samir Nasri is 14/1 (Ladbrokes) to repeat his first goal scorer role from last week. Andy Johnson is looking for his 100th league goal and is 10/1 (William Hill) to be first on the score sheet).

Arsenal have scored every time they’ve visited Fulham in the Premier League, that’s 7 matches in total and you’d have to think they’ll find the net in this one. In fact with the potential of David Healy and Andy Johnson up front for Fulham, there’s plenty of firepower on show. That means there could be goals in this one and the 1/1 (Bet365, Bet Direct, BetInternet, Stan James) available on there being over 2.5 goals looks attractive.

For me it’s an Arsenal win at 8/13 (Ladbrokes, Paddy Power) and over 2.5 goals at 1/1 (Bet365, Bet Direct, BetInternet, Stan James).