EPL Odds: Has Manchester Left London For Dead?

This Premier League season may not pan out too well for the London clubs. Defending champs Chelsea have lost a handful of key players, Tottenham failed to make a significant signing over the summer, and Arsenal continues to flounder under the leadership of Arsene Wenger.

Meanwhile, the Manchester clubs are riding high after a summer spending spree. Both Man City and Man United are sitting comfortably at the top of the table, tied on points (13 points) and goal difference (+14). The city of Manchester is yet to taste defeat this season and both City and United have a three-point buffer over third-placed Chelsea.

Pundits and bookmakers all agree: the 2017-18 will probably go to a Manchester-based club. Chelsea has the best chance out of any London-based club to win the league (6/1 odds), but their patchy start to the season has placed them at a disadvantage. The Spurs (20/1) ended last season in second and had a shot at the 2015-16 title as well, but they sat idly by as the other big clubs rushed to improve their rosters. And then there’s Arsenal (30/1), who are currently in 12th-place and will be lucky to finish the season within the top four.

The other London clubs have a better chance of being relegated than winning the title. West Ham made a handful of big signings over the summer, picking up former Man United star Chicharito, England keeper Joe Hart, and Stoke hero Marko Arnautović. But the investments haven’t paid off. They opened the season with three straight losses and have only managed to defeat the newly promoted Huddersfield so far. Watford was recently thrashed 6-0 by Manchester City, and Crystal Palace have lost their opening five matches.

Manchester United haven’t looked this good since Alex Ferguson retired and Manchester City have finally found their footing under Pep Guardiola, so understandably the odds of a London club winning the title are pretty low (3/1). If anyone is going to stick it to their northern counterparts, it’s probably going to be Chelsea.

It’s still very early in the season, though. Tottenham have a way of surprising us and it’s not too late for Arsenal to reverse course. As for the others, they’re  more interested in staying put.

2017-18 EPL ODDS

ODDS A LONDON TEAM WINS THE 2017-18 EPL TITLE : 3/1

ODDS TO FINISH AS THE TOP LONDON TEAM IN 2017-18

Chelsea: 9/11

Tottenham: 7/3

Arsenal: 4/1

West Ham: 200/1

Watford: 200/1

Crystal Palace: 1000/1

ODDS TO BE RELEGATED FOR 2018-19

Crystal Palace: 1/2

West Ham: 5/1

Watford: 5/1