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Top 4 odds: Arsenal tipped to miss out on Champions League qualification

By on June 20, 2022

Mikel Arteta Arsenal

The new Premier League season is just around the corner and the bookmakers are once again tipping Arsenal to miss out on a top four finish.

After finishing eighth in the 2020 and 2021 seasons, Arsenal went into the 2021/22 campaign being tagged as huge outsiders to break back into the top four. Not a single journalist or pundit expected the North Londoners to finish fourth or better with most tipping us to struggle to even qualify for any type of European competition.

Mikel Arteta’s young squad shocked everyone by putting together a sustained challenge for fourth. At one stage, Arsenal were five points clear with just a few games remaining and it looked as though we were going to end our six-year absence from the Champions League. In the end, Arsenal fell just short – finishing a point behind Tottenham in fifth place. It was a disappointing end to the season, but in many ways Arsenal exceeded expectations by finishing fifth.

Outsiders again

Therefore, it comes as no surprise that once again the pundits and bookmakers are backing Arsenal to fail in their quest of breaking into the top four this coming season. Betting sites such as https://www.bestpayingonlinecasino.co.uk/ are tipping the Gunners to finish behind most of their rivals this year and bookies price us as the 2/1 outsiders to finish in the top four.

Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United are all expected to finish ahead of Arsenal, according to the latest odds. Obviously, defending champions City are likely to finish in the top four and Pep Guardiola’s men are huge 1/33 favourites to do so. Liverpool are also likely to be nailed-on for a place with the Merseysiders priced at 1/14.

However, after those two, I really see the race for 3rd and 4th as being wide open – very much like last season. Chelsea made an excellent start last year but collapsed mid-season and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Thomas Tuchel’s men struggle this coming campaign so I don’t think they are guaranteed a top four place. Chelsea are currently priced at 8/11 and I think that’s generous.

Tottenham were extremely fortunate to come fourth last year and at 4/6, I don’t see any reason why they are backed to come ahead of Arsenal this season. Antonio Conte is a terrific manager but Spurs are heavily reliant on Hueng-min Son and Harry Kane – an injury to either would derail their campaign.

Man Utd are 6/5 to finish fourth and it’s a big surprise to see the bookies backing them to finish ahead of Arsenal. United are in complete disarray and new boss Erik ten Hag needs to overhaul his squad. I think they are a couple of years behind Arsenal in that cycle as Arteta has already stripped his squad down and rebuild a talented young group of players.

The Spaniard is also investing wisely this summer with the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Youri Tielemans, Fabio Vieira and Lisandro Martinez expected to move to the Emirates, so Arsenal are going to be a much stronger squad next season.

It’s no surprise that the Gunners are being tipped to miss out as the bookmakers and pundits always write us off these days, but I think Arteta’s side can shock a few people this campaign. I will definitely be backing us at odds of 2/1 to finish in the top four.