Shay Says - Episode 14
Welcome to Shay Says, the latest football betting blog from LeoVegas’ Irish ambassador, Shay Given.
This week, the Republic of Ireland and goalkeeping legend previews three fixtures from the Premier League, including title contenders Manchester City and Arsenal’s respective matches.
Let’s see what Shay Says!
Aston Villa v Newcastle
Aston Villa have a great chance of making the top six. They’ve quietly sneaked into the reckoning after sitting in the mid table positions for most of the season.
No one was really talking about them, and then they had four victories in a row; they’re doing brilliantly so the top six is definitely a target. Unai Emery is quietly going about his business and has done an unbelievable job since he went in there.
It’s going to be a tough game again for Newcastle, a third in just over a week away from home. I’m going to go for a 2-2 draw between two of my old sides.
If Newcastle can get a draw at Aston Villa, a team who are really flying, then seven points from three away games will be a fantastic return in trying to get that Champions League spot.
I reckon both teams would be happy with getting something from the game. In terms of scorers, I fancy Alexander Isak. He’s in a real rich vein of form and seems to just be getting better week by week.
For Aston Villa, it’s hard to look past Ollie Watkins – similarly to Isak, he’s banging the goals in.
SHAY SAYS: ASTON VILLA 2-2 NEWCASTLE
Manchester City v Leicester
Leicester have possibly left it too late to change manager. Once they decided to get rid of Brendan Rodgers, I think they should have acted quicker in making the call and then lining up his replacement.
They had two home games, against Bournemouth and Aston Villa, where you’d think it would be massive for them staying up in the Premier League and they didn’t have a new manager in place.
Maybe it was naïve, I always think if you’re getting rid of a manager you need another lined up. They have that bounce effect, especially when they had two home games of the magnitude that they just missed out on. It’s a possible six points gone.
It's going to be touch and go, it’s hard to say if they’ll stay up. There are obviously lots of teams circling around them, it’s so tight around the bottom. With the new manager Dean Smith, John Terry and Co. it’s going to be a baptism of fire away at Manchester City. They couldn’t ask for a tougher start for their first game.
I think it’s inevitable that Man City will win the game, probably comfortably as well. But Leicester won’t be judged on that game, they’ll be judged on the remaining fixtures and whether they can get enough points on the board to stay in the division.
I’m going to go for a home City victory, with Kevin De Bruyne as an anytime goalscorer. Erling Haaland is too obvious. I think it will be quite an easy victory for Man City, probably around 4-0.
SHAY SAYS: MANCHESTER CITY 4-0 LEICESTER
West Ham v Arsenal
Looking at the Liverpool v Arsenal game, near the end, when Aaron Ramsdale made those two brilliant saves, especially the one off Mohamed Salah that was deflected into the top corner, it was a phenomenal save… The importance of that could be massive come the end of the season.
I know they were 2-0 up but I’d say Arsenal gained a point from that match, rather than losing two.
Ibrahima Konate should’ve scored in the last minute from a yard out as well. It was a massive opportunity for Liverpool to take the spoils, so looking at it in the cold light of day I see it as a point gained and I’m sure Mikel Arteta will be saying the same to his team.
They’re still in the driving seat and it’s in their hands to win the Premier League, albeit it’s a bit tighter now since City have a game in hand and the Gunners need to go to the Etihad in a few weeks. It sets us up for a brilliant finale.
For Arsenal, going to West Ham shouldn’t be an issue. In their last home game, West Ham conceded five against Newcastle, so I think Arsenal are going to have too much for them on the day.
I’m going to go for a 3-1 win to Arsenal, with Gabriel Martinelli my anytime goalscorer. I think Arsenal will get back to winning ways.
SHAY SAYS: WEST HAM 1-3 ARSENAL
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