Betting special: Which of Wenger's new recruits will net first?
Arsenal have failed to score in their opening two Premier League games. Willie Duncan looks at Paddy Power's market on which of the Gunners' new signings will hit the target first
When Robin van Persie left Arsenal earlier this month to complete a move to English Premier League rivals Manchester United, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger must have been hoping that one of his triumvirate of new summer signings – Olivier Giroud, Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla – would step up to the plate and help to bridge the goals gap created by the departure of the Dutch striker, who scored 37 goals in 48 games for the north London club last season.Two games into the new season, though, and the signs are not immediately bright for Arsenal or, indeed, for Arsene Wenger’s new recruits.
Two consecutive 0-0 draws against Sunderland and Stoke City is not the kind of start that anyone at Emirates would have been hoping for. Paddy Power have responded to the mini-goal-drought by opening a market focusing on which of the new summer signings will be first to hit the target for the misfiring Gunners.
Frenchman Giroud joined Arsenal having scored 25 goals in 42 appearances for Ligue 1 side Montpellier last season, but has failed to hit the ground running here.
Indeed, some sections of the English media are already question whether Giroud is the “new Gervinho” – a tag which the 25 year old striker will be desperate to shed. Giroud is 13/8 (2.63) with Paddy Power to be first of the new boys to net.
Sharing 13/8 (2.63) favouritism at Paddy Power with Giroud is Germany international striker Lukas Podolski. The former Koln striker has also failed to find the net in his first two outings for Arsene Wenger’s side but, at least, offered some promise with an industrious display on the left against Stoke City, although the striker’s wayward finishing was often to his detriment.
Of Wenger’s new recruits, the performances of Santi Cazorla, above those of Podolski and Giroud, have drawn praise from onlookers and the Spanish star’s creative spark may hold the key to unlocking defences for the Gunners this term.
Cazorla is chalked up at 15/8 (2.88) with Paddy Power to be the first of the new signings to score for Arsenal and the former Malaga star may be the value selection here given the sticky start endured by both Giroud and Podolski.
| BET |
OF THE |
DAY |
| BEST BET |
| Santi Cazorla at 15/8 (2.63) with Paddy Power |
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Willie Duncan is a freelance sports journalist. Willie, from Edinburgh, has covered Scottish football for over 10 years and he specialises in football betting markets from across Europe. You can also follow Willie on Twitter
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