Arsenal on the drift after Scholes writes off their title hopes
Published:Having opened at 6/1 in the 2011/12 Premier League title betting odds, Arsenal are now freely available at 8/1.
This morning Paul Scholes has been in a number of papers writing off Arsenal’s title bid for the upcoming season and it seems punters are listening to him.
The Arsenal players returned for pre-season training yesterday and Arsene Wenger has his toughest job yet getting his squad ready for a title challenge amidst rumours of player discontent, and Scholes believes Arsenal’s pretty football won’t be good enough this season.
“They [Arsenal] just flatter to deceive,” said the 36 year old. “They may play the prettiest football but it doesn’t always produce the results they need.”
Scholes hasn’t become a betting expert since retiring from Manchester United at the end of last season but following his influence on the Premier League odds, maybe he should consider it as a new career change.
While Scholes has been one of the greatest players in the Premier League era, Arsenal’s drift in the title betting could be down to the rumours linking Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri with a move away from the club.
Gael Clichy has already left the club for Manchester City and Fabregas looks certain to seal his move to Barcelona at some point this week after arranging a meeting with Arsene Wenger.
Whether Nasri makes the move north to Manchester United remains up in the air but Scholes would love to see the Frenchman at Manchester United, and Nasri will not be impressed to see Fabregas go should he leave.
Arsenal’s title odds will drift further if Fabregas and Nasri leave, and with Wenger yet to get busy in the transfer window, it’s difficult to see how Arsenal will mount a title challenge without their best players.
Manchester Untied remain the 7/4 favourites to win the Premier League next season.
