With the Gunners currently sitting in second place, 2024-25 hasn’t been the Premier League season fans were hoping for. Nevertheless, the Gooners will be out in force for Arsenal’s remaining matches.
If you’re planning to be among them, you might be looking to enhance the experience of watching the match by taking a flutter or two. If your strategy starts and ends with win-draw-win bets, you’re barely scratching the surface.
There’s a whole ecosystem of betting markets out there that you should be taking advantage of. If you pride yourself on knowing Arsenal’s playing style, you might be sitting on a few untapped betting opportunities.
Sure, there are still several weeks left of the season to go, but by implementing these tips now you’ll have plenty of time to get some practice rounds in before the 25-26 season begins in earnest.
Live betting
Live betting is one of the most dynamic ways to engage with an Arsenal match, especially because the Gunners’ high-energy, possession-based play under Arteta lends itself to in-play markets. A slow first half? Don’t panic—Arsenal love a late surge.
Understanding Arsenal-specific trends opens up the potential for valuable bets like second-half goals, late winners and even specific passages of play. Think Arsenal will pin an opponent back and rack up corners?
This type of insight sets you apart as someone who can capitalise on the finer details of the game.
Player performance bets
Taking the analysis up a notch now, player performance markets can be exciting to tap into. Advanced metrics like expected goals (xG), progressive carries and defensive actions per game can reveal trends that might be overlooked in the main betting markets.
For example, Bukayo Saka is often a nightmare for opposition defenders to deal with, regularly racking up shots-on-target and making key passes. If he’s up against a full-back who struggles in one-on-one situations, betting on Saka to register a goal contribution (goal or assist) could bring solid returns.
But it’s not all about the attackers. William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães are the dominant players in aerial duels, making them prime candidates for most tackles/interceptions bets, which is especially relevant in matches against teams with a penchant for direct play.
Building on that, if Arsenal are up against a possession-heavy side, then defensive numbers could spike, creating the perfect opportunity for wagers on tackles or ball recoveries.
Playing the long game
Admittedly, this isn’t a strategy to unload here in March, but playing the long game come August will add that extra bit of spice to your fan journey for the 2025-26 season.
Outright markets offer plenty of intriguing opportunities. Just look at last season, for example. Arsenal’s title odds fluctuated wildly throughout the entire year, from 40/1 outsiders to odds-on favourites. Any Gooner backing them early would have seen some pretty substantial value, even if the dream of the trophy didn’t quite materialise.
With a fresh and rapidly-improving squad now home at the Emirates, markets like total points, a top-four finish or being the top London club can all be avenues worth exploring. The key is foresight – are you looking at Arsenal’s trajectory through a clear lens?
Fantasy football and more
If your tactical thinking skills aren’t quite up to scratch to take advantage of some of these more niche betting markets, there are plenty of ways to practice outside of making live bets.
Interestingly, you can take these analytics skills further into iGaming sectors like online poker – especially if you’re looking for something to do during off-season. We don’t just mean any old Texas Hold’em game here, either. How does a satellite tournament that could gain you entry to a major European championship sound?
The parallels with the journey to the Champions League are pretty evident. Much like Arsenal navigating a series of domestic challenges to secure a coveted European spot, PokerStars Power Path sees budding high rollers work their way through a series of satellite games to reach events like the EPT.
These principles of strategy, progression and calculated risks are also the same you’d adopt when seeing your wagers through.
Fantasy Football can also be an excellent training ground, as can any football video game or sim that allows you to pick and back individual players, albeit virtually. By paying attention to player stats and team data, you’ll be able to spot those key Gunners who could shape up to be the leading lights of the season.
By crunching the data and coming up with your picks, you’ll be following the same principles as you would to identify value in betting markets.