Matchweek 1 of the Premier League is upon us and the division’s biggest transfer of the summer Declan Rice provides our way into what looks a tricky coupon on which to find value.
Rice departed West Ham for Arsenal in mid-July and the England midfielder is expected to make his presence and absence felt for both his new and old clubs as well Betzone News followers.
Premier League Matchweek 1 tips
Arsenal to win to nil vs Nottingham Forest @ 1/1
Bournemouth to beat West Ham @ 17/10
Man Utd to win to nil vs Wolves @ 13/10
Bet on the latest Premier League odds at Betzone
Forest away scoring woes unlikely to end at new, improved Arsenal
A dozen Premier League teams conceded fewer home goals than the Gunners last term, but there’s reason to suspect that they can still deliver at shutout win to kick off the campaign.
Nottingham Forest finished the 2022/23 campaign with the worst away record in the top-flight, claiming just eight of their 38 point on the road. They scored just 11 times in 19 away fixtures and have failed to source obvious goalscoring reinforcements so far in the summer window.
Bolstered by the midfield arrival of Declan Rice, the return of fit-again first-choice centre-half William Saliba and Aaron Ramsdale playing for his place ahead of the impending arrival of David Raya, the Gunners should be able to emulate the nil part of the 5-0 win they enjoyed against Forest last season.
Tip: Arsenal to win to nil vs Nottingham Forest @ 1/1
Life without Rice set to get off to a losing start for West Ham
On the flip side of the Rice coin are a West Ham side that can’t be anything but weakened by the loss of their all-action ex-captain. The Irons have yet to sign a replacement for the 24-year-old, who left the London Stadium this summer along with Manuel Lanzini and Gianluca Scammaca.
Bournemouth were beaten home and away by West Ham last term but they look too big to beat an incarnation of the East London side depleted by the loss of their best player.
The Cherries are likely to take the game to their guests under the attack-minded command of former Rayo Vallecano coach Andoni Iraola and that feels like the right approach given only Leeds lost more away games than David Moyes’ men last term.
Tip: Bournemouth to beat West Ham @ 17/10
United look win-to-nil bankers against unimproved Wolves
Arguably the price of the weekend must be the Manchester United win to nil bet against Wolves, in a fixture that pits hosts with the best home defensive record in last season’s EPL vs visitors with the second lowest away goals total in the division last term.
Much like Forest, Wolves have done little to improve matters, letting long-time line leader Raul Jimenez leave for Fulham and signing Matheus Cunha, who scored twice in 20 loan appearances for the club in 2022/23, permanently from Atletico Madrid.
