EPL Betting Futures – Arsenal Close the Gap on City

Nearly a month ago, Manchester City were an 11/8 favorite to win the EPL title. A mediocre few weeks has kept the Citizens entrenched in third in the table, but they remain the very slight favorites to hoist the Premier League Trophy (creative name guys) come May.

Arsenal have moved into a tie with Leicester City at the top of the standings and have made an incremental gain on City in the title futures. Meanwhile, Leicester still aren’t getting much respect, though they’ve finally vaulted past a truly uninspiring Manchester United squad.

Here’s a look at the complete EPL landscape and current title odds.

2015-16 EPL Title Odds (as of Jan. 14, 2016)

Manchester City (6/5) – 40 pts (12-4-5):

Despite sitting third in the table, City remain the favorite for one reason: their star-studded roster which is full of players who have already won an EPL title. The problem will come when City try to juggle the EPL and the Champions League. At some point, they’ll need to make a decision on which one will be their primary focus, and I’d bank on the European tournament.

Arsenal (5/4) – 43 pts (13-4-4):

It’s been over a decade since Arsenal won the EPL; this might be the best chance the Gunners have had of making a real run at the title. That’s not really thanks to their play – Arsenal have been inconsistent, as usual –  but an unpredictable Premier League season. If the Arsene Wenger can stop his squad from occasionally getting blown out by middling teams, the Gunners will be able to pull away from the herd.

Leicester City (12/1) – 43 pts (12-7-2)

Leicester City are this year’s Cinderella story. Will they be able to keep up the momentum, or will they write the same script as Southampton last year? With over half a season of impressive results under their belt – including a recent 1-0 win over Tottenham at White Hart Lane – the squad is proving it’s here to stay. Riyad Mahrez is proving a worthy companion to James Vardy up front.

Tottenham (16/1) – 36 pts (9-9-3)

The Spurs need a solid run in the next month to stay in contention.  The recent loss to Leicester at home didn’t help matters. The squad may have resigned itself to fighting for a top-four finish and a spot in next year’s Champions League.

Manchester United (25/1) – 34 pts (9-7-5)

Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal doesn’t look long for this world – this coaching world, that is. (He’s not dying, that we know of.) Not only have United’s results been dismal of late (1-2-3 in the last six), but they’re playing an incredibly bland brand of soccer that has fans clamoring for change.

Liverpool (80/1) – 31 pts (8-7-6)

Unlike United, Liverpool play appealing soccer, attacking with vim and vigor; the problem is that they defend like a team from Andorra’s goal-happy second division. Like Tottenham, Liverpool are more realistically aiming for a berth in next season’s European tournaments versus an EPL title.

The Field:

Chelsea: 150/1

West Ham: 150/1

Everton: 500/1

Crystal Palace: 750/1

Stoke City: 1000/1

Southampton: 1500/1

Watford: 1500/1

West Brom: 2000/1

Bournemouth: 2500/1

Sunderland: 2500/1

Swansea: 3500/1

Newcastle: 4000/1

Norwich: 4000/1

Aston Villa: 4500/1

(Photo credit: Ronnie Macdonald from Chelmsford, United Kingdom (Gunnersaurus and the Arsenal Flag) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.)