Top Irish online bookmaker PaddyPower as opened football betting on the latest clash between the English and Scottish football giants and with so few English and Scottish players likely to be on display it’s the foreigners who are expected to dominate the goals. Dutchman Robin Van Persie is the 7/2 favourite to score most goals over the two games followed by the Russian Arshavin at 9/2 with England’s Theo Walcott at 8/1. On Celtic’s part, Australian forward Scott McDonald leads the way at 8/1 to be top scorer.
Not surprisingly, PaddyPower expect Arsenal to progress to the Group Stages of the Champions League and are just 1/4 to win the tie, with Celtic 11/4. Arsenal are 6/5 favourites to win the first leg despite the match being at Celtic’s European fortress at Parkhead.
As so often with footballs ‘Battle of Britains’ the tie will be expected to be fast-paced and full blooded with PaddyPower taking football bets on how many red cards are produced over the two legs, offering 15/2 for two or more, whilst Celtic are the 5/6 favourites to be shown the most cards.
A spokesman for paddypower.com said: “Arsenal may be the strong favourites to progress to the money rounds of the Champions League but, as Manchester United will tell them, Celtic are no pushovers in Battle of Britain clashes and they may have just the style and spirit that can unsettle The Gunners.”
1/4 Arsenal
11/4 Celtic |
