An avalanche of bets fall in behind United to win Premiership showdown with Arsenal
Although Arsenal are still slight favourites at 11/8, bookmaker Paddy Power stands to lose over €100,000 if Manchester United win and go on to capture the title.
In what it admits may be “the most expensive blunder of the season”, the bookmaker paid out to customers backing Arsenal for the league on March 3, when Arsenal were eight points clear.
“It looked like they were certainties at the time. We won’t be looking for our money back if Arsenal lose - you can imagine the reaction we’d get if we asked for that,” said spokesman Paddy Power.
A Manchester United victory would put Alex Ferguson’s team into a six-point lead with four matches to go.
However, if Arsenal win, the Gunners would go top on goal difference with five matches to play.
Paddy Power is hoping that history will repeat itself in tonight’s match. “Last year we paid out on Arsenal in March. Manchester United bottled it against Arsenal that time, so hopefully they’ll do the same again,” he said.
Some of the bookmaker’s specials include an offer to refund all losing bets if Paul Scholes scores the last goal of the match.
In the unlikely possibility of either Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger or United’s Alex Ferguson mentioning the other’s wife in the post game interview, Paddy Power will pay out at 50/1.
More serious betting is taking place on Betdaq.com, an Irish betting website set up by Dermot Desmond.
It took in 1.3 million worth of bets during the recent Manchester United/Liverpool game and expects to break the 1.5 million mark for tonight’s match.
Many of the bets come from the Far East, where Manchester United have very strong support.
“The bulk of the money is with Manchester United, horrible as it is to admit,” said managing director Rob Hartnett, a Queen’s Park Rangers fan. “United are the world’s favourite football team and they’re all the rage since the Newcastle match.”
The secretary of the Manchester United Supporters Club in Ireland said the bookmakers were rarely wrong.
“When you see them going in one direction, I think that tells you something.
“I think United will beat Arsenal because they’re on a better roll. A draw wouldn’t be a bad result though,” said Eddie Gibbons.
11/8 Arsenal to win.
15/8 Manchester United to win.
9/4 Draw.
7/1 Ruud Van Nistelrooy to score direct from a penalty.
15/2 David Beckham to score direct from a free kick.
13/5 Thierry Henry to score more goals than Ruud Van Nistelrooy. (Both players must start).
33/1 Fabian Barthez to handle the ball outside his box.
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