Sanchez a good choice to be the first goalscorer

The popularity of backing a forward in bookies' '˜first goalscorer' markets is completely understandable.
Arsene Wenger takes his title-chasing Arsenal side to Old Trafford on SundayArsene Wenger takes his title-chasing Arsenal side to Old Trafford on Sunday
Arsene Wenger takes his title-chasing Arsenal side to Old Trafford on Sunday

The odds against predicting the scorer of a game’s opening goal tend to be attractive, rarely being shorter than 5/1, even for an in-form striker, but there’s a reason for bookmakers’ apparent generosity.

Punters have only one opportunity during the course of a match to hope that their selection comes good, but these hopes can be dashed should a centre-half trundle forward to head home from a set-piece, or a full-back with one goal to his name in 200-odd appearances suddenly bundle one home.

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By contrast, although they offer much shorter prices, ‘anytime scorer’ markets offer punters an opportunity to make a profit at any point during 90-plus minutes’ play. For this reason, many professional punters argue that this is their preferred option.

Backers persuaded by this argument may, therefore, fancy the look of Stan James’s 12/5 for Alexis Sanchez to find the net at any time when Arsenal travel to Old Trafford on Sunday for a fixture the Gunners kick off as bet365’s 13/8 favourites.

The same player is 13/2 (William Hill) in the game’s ‘first goalscorer’ market.

It’s been a long time since Manchester United opened as 2/1 underdogs (BetVictor.com) on their own patch, but such has been their steady decline over the past three years that perhaps it’s not completely surprising.

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Arsenal have an excellent opportunity to strengthen their title-winning credentials on Sunday and backers can get 5/1 (Coral) against Arsene Wenger’s men emerging victorious at 90 minutes following a drawn opening half.

Paddy Power rates the chances of both teams scoring at 5/6, but BetVictor’s massive 15/2 for the away side to record a 1-0 victory has proved just as popular as backing Sanchez to score.

Having taken maximum points from their last five league matches, it’s no surprise to see Tottenham installed as Betfred’s 4/7 favourites to overhaul Swansea at White Hart Lane and make it six wins on the bounce.

Though Spurs were unexpectedly beaten 1-0 by Crystal Palace in the FA Cup at the weekend, it was only their second defeat since mid-December, form which accounts for Swansea’s massive 8/1 odds (bet365) to return to winning ways following two draws and a defeat in their last three outings.

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Yet with Tottenham’s confidence sky-high, most backers expect them to secure maximum points, even though cautious types wold suggest that Stan James’s hefty 7/2 for it to finish on level terms cannot be discounted.

Spurs have conceded only three goals in their run of five consecutive victories and they’re 11/10 at William Hill to win while retaining a clean sheet, although if those odds appear less than generous, the same cannot be said of Coral’s 11/4 for Spurs to emerge victorious at 90 minutes following a drawn opening half.

Paddy Power rates the chances of both teams scoring at 6/5, but BetVictor’s 7/1 for the home side to record a 2-0 victory has proved understandably popular.

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