EPL 15,16 & 17 Sept

Saturday's games

It is an interesting weekend in that three of the four big clubs are playing away from home and therefore the bookies will be praying that at least one of them fails to win away from home, otherwise the payout is going to be huge.

I tend to like to oppose the big clubs away from home at the early stages of the season, especially as the Champions League proper starts on Tuesday. There is something to be said for blindly betting on the handicap on Everton, Spurs and Portsmouth on this basis as I think all their handicaps are a little too high but my feeling is that Arsenal are the most vulnerable.

I have seen the Gunners twice this season and while I admit they were impressive against Portsmouth 13 days ago the bookies seem to have got carried away with their start to the season. Spurs have had their own mini turmoil but they have played better than their scorelines suggest and while as an Arsenal fan I hate to admit it, Tottenham are the value bet on the Asian handicap. Getting a 1/4 goal start at 1.82, Spurs are worth a two point bet.

[Arsenal won 3-1]

The other games I am happy to leave alone as it may take some time for the teams to settle after the international break.

Sunday's and Monday's games

I thought about tipping Aston Villa for their trip to Manchester City as I think they are in good form at the moment but the handicap line is not that generous and I think it is probably a game that wise punters will leave alone.