Weekend Review: Bookies benefit from Arsenal’s Champions League misery
Premier League champions defeated by PSG in tense penalty shootout, as a draw in 90 minutes and a low-scoring affair meant layers finished “very nicely ahead”
Bookmakers ended the European football season on a high, as PSG (8/11 to lift the trophy) retained their Champions League title by beating Arsenal 4-3 on penalties after a cagey 1-1 draw in 90 minutes at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary.
Kai Havertz put the Premier League champions ahead in the sixth minute with a clinical strike from a narrow angle, and the Gunners held on to their lead until midway through the second half, when Ousmane Dembélé converted a penalty to tie the match.
Neither side was able to find a winner inside 90 minutes or extra time and so the game went to a penalty shootout to decide if PSG could become the second side in the Champions League era to win back-to-back titles, or whether Arsenal could be crowned champions for the first time.
However, Eberechi Eze fired wide for the Gunners after a stuttering runup, only for goalkeeper David Raya to save Nuno Mendes’ resulting spot-kick.
Needing to find the back of the net to take the shootout to sudden death, Brazilian defender Gabriel blasted over from 12 yards to hand the title to the French champions.
With the match ending a draw after 90 minutes, as well as under 2.5 goals and few shots on target, the layers came out on top in the showpiece European clash.
FDJ United’s Ali Gill said: “A great result for the book […] a tough way for Arsenal to lose, but a result cheered on by the trading room as the draw in regular time and just the two goals saw us finish very nicely ahead.
“The game going all the way to penalties is always great for additional turnover, and Arsenal were marginally the fancied team once spot-kicks arrived, so overall the game went about as well as we could have hoped.”
Bet365’s Steve Freeth highlighted how the result on Saturday was a vast improvement on last season’s final – when PSG beat Inter Milan 5-0 in a one-sided affair.
“PSG made us suffer last year by destroying Inter, but a low-scoring cagey game with hardly any shots on target is right up our street,” he said.
Betfred also revelled in the result, as fans watched Luis Enrique’s side cement themselves once again as the best side in Europe.
“A Champions League final low-scoring 90-minute draw is invariably a cracking result for the books, and that’s exactly what transpired in Budapest on Saturday night,” said Alan Firkins.
“The reigning champions were warm favourites but were in the main stifled by the Gunners leaving the lottery of penalties, and inevitable heartbreak for some. On this occasion it was those wearing red.”
In an attempt to bury the news over the weekend, Liverpool sacked head coach Arne Slot – 12 months after leading the Reds to a Premier League title.
Former Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is the 4/7 favourite to succeed the Dutchman, with Stuttgart manager Sebastian Hoeneß next up at 4/1 and current Germany national coach Julian Nagelsmann currently priced at 13/2,
As for next season’s Premier League odds, Arsenal are favourites to retain their title at generally around 6/4. Manchester City can be backed at 7/2, while Liverpool are 6/1 and Manchester United a best-priced 13/2. Chelsea, with no European football next season are 11/1 in places.
Across the tracks, 12/5 favourite Constitution River, ridden by Ryan Moore, was triumphant in the French Derby at Chantilly on Sunday, defying a wide draw to land almost £750,000 in prize money.
It was a one, two, three for trainer Aidan O’Brien, with Hawk Mountain (66/10) and Montreal (36/1) filling the places.
The trainer will be looking to continue his winning ways this weekend at Epsom in the Betfred Derby.
His leading fancy Benvenuto Cellini is the 7/4 favourite to take the £1m prize on Saturday. Andrew Balding-trained Item is second in the betting at generally 7/2 and 4/1 in places.
Firkins added: “The French Derby at Chantilly on Sunday went the way of Aidan O’Brien and his Wootton Bassett colt Constitution River. Ryan Moore pounced late, leading home an O’Brien one, two, three and expertly overcoming a wide draw.
“It’s the Betfred Derby at Epsom on Saturday, and Aidan is eyeing a big-race double courtesy in the main of favourite Benvenuto Cellini, a son of the mighty Frankel and effortless winner of the Chester Vase last time out 31 days ago. This is a step up, but he looks to have a massive engine and a blistering turn of foot.
“Twenty-four hours earlier no-one would be remotely surprised if Aidan lifted the Betfred Oaks too, probably with Amelia Earhart, though stablemate and impressive Irish 1000 Guineas winner Precise is certainly a force to be reckoned with if getting the trip.”
Switching to tennis, the men’s French Open tournament is wide open, after world number one Jannik Sinner (3/10 following two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz’ withdrawal with a wrist injury) was dispatched in the second round by 56th-ranked Juan Manuel Cerundolo.
BOYLE Sports’ Brian O’Keeffe said: “Over in Paris, the French Open has been blown wide open after the exit of pre-tournament favourite Jannik Sinner, as well as shock defeats for Casper Ruud and Novak Djokovic.
“Alexander Zverev now heads the betting, but Fonseca has forced his way firmly into the conversation after his impressive victory over Djokovic.”