The Friday Flutter: Premier League, GAA and the FA Cup

Another agonising near miss last week but we are sure we will land the magic treble this week.

Spurs’ Gylfi Sigurdsson joins Cork’s Conor Lehane on our list of bet busters. The Rebel hurler scuppered our 15/2 treble a fortnight ago and the Icelandic midfielder kyboshed our 17/1 treble last week.

His late equaliser denied Everton all three points, a win we had punted on alongside a Kerry victory in the League and a Conor McGregor KO in the UFC. So close, but that has been the story for us in the last two weeks.

We’ve reduced the odds a bit this week to get us back on track as the gambling gods surely won’t be so bloody cruel to us three weeks-in-a-row. This treble should return odds of about 7/1.

Arsenal v Norwich, both teams to score, 10/11

The Gunners are probably playing their best football of the season at the moment. Averaging almost two goals a game lately they are making a real push for the top four and we don’t see the Canaries stopping them, especially if injured keeper Mark Bunn doesn’t make it.

At the other end, Per Mertesacker’s suspension means Arsenal’s best defender is out and without the big German, we reckon Norwich could nick one.

Dublin to beat Mayo, 4/9

We won’t roll out the hoary old sterotypes about Mayo and Croke Park, mainly because it is not true anymore, but we don’t see the Connacht champions surviving this trip to HQ. Lucky in many way to even make the final four this is a bonus match for James Horan, who has a September retribution date in mind for 2013, not a League final.

Jim Gavin, in his first year as Dublin boss, probably quite fancies a run at the League title and he has the tools, especially in the forwards, to do it. We don’t see a repeat of the mauling Mayo received in the League match at Croker, but a home win looks most likely all the same.

Chelsea to beat Man City, 2/1

When it comes to Cup competitions, it is hard to back against Rafa Benitez. The Spaniard may be hated by some sections of the Chelsea fanbase but he knows how to win trophies and after piloting his side to the Europa League last four this week, we fancy he will book a place in the FA Cup final too.

Manchester City, despite their win at Old Trafford, have a look of disinterest to them and we just don’t see them having the desire that Chelsea do in this one. As I’ve said before, betting on the FA Cup is a tricky business but when it comes to Benitez v Mancini in a one off game, there’s only one option.