Matchweek 17 and 18 of the 2021/22 EPL season, joint midweek and weekend games, saw Chelsea drop further points and the Gunners reinforce their Top 4 credentials.
Here’s how it looked for punters:
Trouble at the Bridge
Everything’s turning south at Chelsea. And quickly.
Once title favourites for the 2021-22 EPL season, the Blues have won just one of their last four league games and, to make matters worse, have a number of positive COVID cases in their ranks. Coach Thomas Tuchel was left hugely frustrated after the 0-0 draw with Wolves on the weekend, which his side started as $1.78 favourites (this after failing to take points against Everton midweek despite starting at $1.22 H2H with Palmerbet). “We talk about protecting players and a safe environment but it is not safe,” he said. “I would be not surprised if the next test shows up and we have more positives.”
The Blues are now out to $8 in Palmerbet’s title market.
🗣️ "We talk a lot about safety and protecting the players, not so sure we did this today."
Thomas Tuchel pulls no punches when talking about the decision to go ahead with the #WOLCHE game. pic.twitter.com/z8HInFW0nd
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 19, 2021
Gunners continue charge
Winless and goalless in their first three games of the 2021-22 campaign, Arsenal’s turnaround has been pronounced this EPL season. A third straight win — this time a 4-1 victory over Leeds — has them humming. The Gunners started as $1.59 favourites at Elland Road and justified their favouritism; Gabriel Martinelli continuing his brilliant recent form with a brace. At one stage $13 Top 4 hopes with Palmerbet, Mikel Arteta’s men are now into $3.60.
Are you starting to trust the process? 👀#LEEARS #Arteta #Martinelli pic.twitter.com/sP0KEsYcqP
— AFTV (@AFTVMedia) December 19, 2021
City superior
Another week, another win. It says a lot about a club when the coach unimpressed with a 4-0 win — but that is Pep Guardiola and his ever-high standards at Manchester City. Despite being away from home, the Sky Blues went in as heavy $1.13 favourites against Newcastle and did the job with two goals either side of the break. Given Chelsea’s travails and Liverpool being held by Spurs, City shortened even further in Palmerbet’s EPL title market on the back of the win, now into $1.36. It’s the shortest they’ve been all season.
But Guardiola wants more. “The first half was one of the poorest we’ve played this season,” he said after the Newcastle win. “We were not there. We didn’t play in any rhythm and everyone had too many touches, losing balls.” Let’s hope he feels the Christmas cheers in the coming days.
Man City break the all-time English top flight record for most league wins in a year (34) as they fire 4️⃣ past Newcastle 🤯 pic.twitter.com/L8vtGkMdSQ
— 433 (@433) December 19, 2021
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