Weekend Review: Bookies rejoice after Aston Villa astound Arsenal
Dean Smith’s side eased to a deserved 3-0 away win over the Gunners as Super Sunday delivers the goods for the layers
A surprising set of Premier League scorelines on Sunday left punters cursing a shift in fortunes following a smooth-running Saturday.
Aston Villa’s good start to the season continued as they cantered to a 3-0 away win over Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, thanks to two goals from summer signing Ollie Watkins.
Manchester City and Liverpool played out a 1-1 draw, with the fixture not living up to expectations of excitement and glamour.
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— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) November 9, 2020
Both results pleased the bookies after a Saturday of run-of-the-mill results which suited the punters.
Betway’s Chad Yeomans told EGR it was a “tougher weekend” for the layers, but that Sunday had provided some solace.
He said: “There were plenty of winning favourites this weekend, which made it a tougher weekend for the layers. On Sunday, our First Goal Wins offer on the Manchester City versus Liverpool game meant that we paid out on both Liverpool to win – as they scored first – and then on a draw of which the game ended.
We leave Manchester with a point.#MCILIV
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 8, 2020
“The last game of the day saw a slight shock as Aston Villa thrashed Arsenal 3-0 at the Emirates, and it was Ollie Watkins’ first goal (as own goals do not count) that led us to having 56 winners of our £50,000 weekly prize pot in our free-to-play game 4 To Win,” he added.
Betfred’s Alan Firkins also noted that Sunday went some way towards making up for Saturday’s punter-friendly results.
He said: “A tough Saturday on the football front, especially given Fulham’s late penalty miss. Sunday was better courtesy of the Etihad draw and Villa’s sensational win at the Emirates.”
Elsewhere, in horseracing, 73-1 shot Order of Australia secured a shock win in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
? "It's a team effort from Aidan & everyone & we're happy to be a cog in the wheel. It's a remarkable experience & this is for all at home."
Travelling head lad Pat Keating enjoys a 1-2-3 for @Ballydoyle as Order of Australia wins #BreedersCup Mile.pic.twitter.com/VN94Ihy4H4
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) November 7, 2020
The Aidan O’Brien-trained horse, ridden by Pierre-Charles Boudot, won by a neck ahead of Circus Maximus and Lope Y Fernandez, in second and third respectively.
Firkins said: “Europe fared very well in the turf races at the Breeders’ Cup, but several of the heavily-supported raiders came up short.”
William Hill’s Rupert Adams said: “Good weekend all round – a few big surprises from racing, including the Breeders’ Cup. The Liverpool versus Manchester City draw and Arsenal result both delivered for the coffers.”