I support Arsenal. Despite growing up in Manchester, my Dad – a Londoner who had been going to Highbury from the 1940s – didn’t really give me a choice. At the age of 6 I was given an option…either support The Arsenal, or leave home. I supported Arsenal.
It wasn’t easy in the 1980s as a young school kid, surrounded by Manchester United fans. Arsenal vs Man Utd was a fixture that when it was approaching, inspired both dread and glorious excitement in equal measures. Lose, and going to school on Monday was going to be unbearable, a real test of endurance that no child should be subjected to. Win, and by ‘eck was I going to make myself unbearable to everybody else! And remember, in these pre-Premier League days, you didn’t see Arsenal or any other club’s shirt on the streets in a northern city as you do today. I was in BetFred on Saturday and there was a lad with an Arsenal scarf tied around his head, That wouldn’t have happened in 1986! I was on my own back then, and knew it!
So, this season, with Arsenal leading the way in the title, attempting to fend off a nation state with what is without a doubt the best squad in the world, led by one of, if not THE best managers, things have been getting more and more exciting with the result of every game now having a potentially massive impact on the outcome.
Which is why, when Erling Haaland came up as a value bet for BetFred’s Double Delight/HatTrick Heaven offer playing against bottom of the league Southampton, I cr….well, let’s just say I wasn’t happy. Let’s face it, if you had to back a striker at the moment to score a hat trick to save your life, it would be Haaland. And were he to score a hat trick and having backed him, you’re quids in. But do I want him to score at all? No, I flamin’ well don’t!
Never have I been so conflicted placing a bet. Bearing in mind with the DD/HH bets I stake enough to win a certain amount, at the short odds Haaland was (but still a value price) it was a pretty hefty bet I struck too. Without wanting it to win!
Haaland did score first, and then a second time to double my profit. I’d be lying if I didn’t say that knowing the winnings I had coming took the edge off my anguish. Only the edge, mind. I’d still rather have lost the bet, providing no other City player had scored first and them having won anyway of course.
The one thought I’ve had though, and a scenario I’m dreading arising…what happens if a City player is deemed value to score the first goal when they play Arsenal? Please, no. Genuinely don’t think I could put the money down. I’d feel just too dirty.
All round a good week. PGA Profit having the winner of the Masters helped, and of course Erling Haaland’s double strike helped push the profit up to0. Pity.
Betting 2023-24
DD/HH: Staked 22.6pts, +3.05pts, roi 13.49%, High: 3.05pts, DD: -0pts, Max DD: -10.3pts.
Edwards Tips (Golf Outrights): Staked 3.65pts, +3.091pts, roi 84.67%, High: 3.65pts, DD: -0.559pts, Max DD: -0.559pts.
Football Coupons: Staked 9pts, +11.441pts, roi 127.07%, High: 14.03pts, DD: -2.589pts, Max DD: -3pts.
Golf: Staked 436pts, -112.05pts, roi -25.69%, High: 0pts, DD: -112.05pts, Max DD: -112.05pts.
Lucky 15s: Staked 29pts, +10.43pts, roi 35.96%, High: 12.554pts, DD: -2.124pts, Max DD: -5.294pts.
NFL:
PGA Profit: Staked 40pts, +37.704pts, roi 94.26%, High: 37.704pts, DD: 0pts, Max DD: -1.02pts.
Value Bets: Staked 18pts, +3.4pts, roi 18.88%, High: 5.9pts, DD: -2.5pts, Max DD: -2.5pts.
TOTAL: roi 35.92%, roc 5.43%.
