Weekend Review: Premier League draw fest sees bookmakers come out “well on top”

Bookmakers enjoyed a weekend full of positive results across the Premier League, as Arsenal edged closer to the Premier League title.

Sunday’s 1-0 victory over West Ham leaves the Gunners (1/2) five points clear over second-placed Man City, who have a game in hand, with two games remaining.

Leandro Trossard gave Arsenal the lead in the final 10 minutes of the game. And with the game wrapping up, the Hammers thought they equalised through Callum Wilson – only for VAR to intervene and rule it out for a foul on goalkeeper David Raya.

For West Ham, the defeat dents their survival hopes as they sit one point behind Tottenham who play Leeds United on Monday night.

In Saturday’s action, Liverpool and Chelsea played out a 1-1 (11/4) draw, as Manchester United were held to a goalless stalemate (5/2) against Sunderland – much to the delight of bookmakers.

And on Sunday, more results went against punters as all three of the 2pm kick-offs finished in draws.

Nottingham Forest drew 1-1 against Newcastle, Crystal Palace and Everton played out a 2-2 draw, as did Burnley and Aston Villa.

Belting results

While the main talking point coming out of the weekend was the ending at the London Stadium, bet365’s Steeve Freeth noted that bookmakers finished “well on top”.

“An incredible ending in East London, where we’d have taken a draw for accumulator business, but a low-scoring game sealed an excellent couple of days after last weekend’s mauling,” he said.

“Leandro Trossard broke West Ham and Manchester City hearts with a late winner, having seen David Raya make a crucial save just minutes earlier.

“A final twist occurred late in injury time when substitute Callum Wilson appeared to have equalised, only for VAR to come to Arsenal’s rescue.

“The day before, Manchester City did what was required with Pep Guardiola’s side scoring three second-half goals without reply against Brentford.

“Our super-boosted Liverpool to score in the first half against Chelsea, landed after six minutes, giving punters a great start.

“However, customers didn’t have much else to shout about on Saturday, where we had some belting results on the coupon with a heavily rotated Manchester United drawing 0-0 at Sunderland being a highlight in a game where not much happened.

“Sunday followed in a similar vein, with favourites Aston Villa, Everton and Newcastle all drawing with bookmakers finishing the Premier League weekend well on top.”

Betfred’s Alan Firkins also pointed out the controversial finish in the West Ham game and that overall, it was a good weekend for the operator.

Firkins said: “A raft of top-flight Premier League stalemates were very encouraging for the trading desk over the weekend, but it was a match that looked to be booked for a draw until VAR intervened that grabbed all the headlines.

“Arsenal went to West Ham looking for a win to further their title ambitions. The Hammers, deep in the relegation mire, had their own equally compelling agenda. Trossard strikes on 83 minutes, and the Gunners lead.

“Deep into added time, a chaotic corner. You know the ones – pretty much every corner taken in the Premier League this season. Jostling, holding, misdemeanours aplenty – and in the carnage Wilson rifles in a stunning equaliser.

“Cue four minutes and counting of VAR picking over that corner wreckage, and an ultimate decision to re-referee the part where Arsenal ‘keeper Raya is pressurised shall we say in the manner goalkeepers are hounded every week.

“No goal was the eventual outcome.”

Though the disallowed goal helped punters, FDJ UNITED’s Ali Gill said draws in several other games overcame that one result.

“Overall a great weekend of Premier League action from our point of view, with results across the board going our way,” said Gill.

“Perhaps the biggest VAR decision since its introduction, in the closing game of the weekend, certainly went the way of the punters and stopped a major swing in our direction, but draws for Liverpool against Chelsea, Man Utd, Villa and Newcastle made for good reading from the trading floor.”

Arsenal are now 1/7 to win their first title in two decades.

On the continent

While results in England fell the way of bookmakers, European fixtures benefitted customers.

Barcelona (3/5) won the Spanish title after dispatching Real Madrid 2-0, with England’s Marcus Rashford opening the scoring with a free-kick.

Celtic (3/4) beat Rangers to end their rival’s title hopes, while leaders Hearts were held to a 1-1 draw against Motherwell to leave them just one point ahead at the top of the table.

In Italy, both Inter (3/4) and Juventus (2/5) won away from home, beating Lazio and Lecce, respectively.

There was also a 3-2 away win for Roma (2/5), making for a miserable set of results for bookmakers.

It continued in Germany, with the top-five all picking up wins.

Freeth added: “Another twist in the Scottish Premiership – what a shame it’s coming to an end next weekend. Hearts were held at Motherwell and Celtic ended Rangers’ title challenge by beating their fierce rivals after going a goal behind.

“Barcelona sealed their 29th La Liga title with three games remaining having beaten Real Madrid with the minimum of fuss. The two early goals had us fearing heavy losses at Camp Nou, but it remained at 2-0, much to the delight of the trading department.

“Elsewhere on the European coupon, we had strong favourites Inter and Juventus winning in Serie A.

“Favourites Bayern Munich, Dortmund, Leipzig and Hoffenheim all won in the Bundesliga. However, Harry Kane not scoring, after missing his first penalty of the season, certainly benefitted us on the bet builder side of things.

“Lens 1-0 win ensured their Champions League qualification next season while sending opponents Nantes down in process.

“Lens host a PSG side on Wednesday who left it late to beat Brest 1-0 with Desire Doue getting a vital 82nd minute winner.

“There was small consolation for Ligue 1 punters on Sunday night, with Lyon the only losing favourite from eight matches.”

Not the One

Horseracing saw one of its flagship flat festivals with the three-day event at Chester where Amelia Earhart (13/5) proved too strong for favourite I’m The One (6/5) in the listed Cheshire Oaks.

Winning by two lengths, the Aidan O’Brien-trained horse is now the favourite, 3/1, to win the Oaks at Epsom next month.

Firkins said: “Aidan O’Brien enjoyed a fantastic three days at Chester and his Amelia Earhart rocketed to the Betfred Oaks after taking the Cheshire equivalent impressively on the Roodee last week.

“The daughter of Camelot appreciated the step up in trip for which she’s regally bred, and will take some stopping at Epson on 5 June.”