Premier League Betting: Arsenal bring in Lille star Gervinho

Premier League / Michael Lintorn / 11 July 2011 / Leave a Comment

Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Gervinho has agreed to join Arsenal

"An early World Cup exit for his nation contributed to him staying at Lille last summer and what followed was easily his most successful campaign since arriving in Europe in 2004."

Gervinho won more trophies last season than several of his new team-mates have earned in their careers, but that's not the reason why he should prove a shrewd addition, says Michael Lintorn.

Sceptical Arsenal supporters and gleeful critics may look at Arsene Wenger's decision to once again shop in Ligue 1 and view the arrival of Gervinho as uninspiring, but the Ivorian forward has every chance of proving a big hit for the silverware-hungry north Londoners.

For starters, unlikely recent additions who the jury either remains out on or has already returned a negative verdict on like Laurent Koscielny and Marouane Chamakh, Gervinho has both appeared and impressed at a World Cup.

Indeed, the 24-year-old's spell in South Africa could have lasted longer had boss Sven-Goran Eriksson not misguidedly dropped him for Ivory Coast's toughest match against Brazil despite him being the standout performer in the goalless draw against Portugal that preceded it.

That questionable call by the Leicester boss arguably worked out well for Gervinho though as an early exit for his nation contributed to him staying at Lille last summer and what followed was easily his most successful campaign since arriving in Europe in 2004.

After two years battling relegation in the Belgian Jupiler League with Beveren, who brought him over from Toumodi in his homeland, two seasons mid-table in France with Le Mans and a decent fourth-place finish in his first term at Lille, the braid-wearer became a double winner in 2010-11.

His impact on Lille's remarkable success on a shoestring, with a team that was assembled for around just £13 million, might not have received as much publicity as Eden Hazard and top scorer Moussa Sow's, however he played a major part, striking 18 times and weighing in with ten assists too.

The goals were no shock, as the wide man netted 13 times in his first campaign at the Stade Lille-Metropole, but the assist rate was a huge increase on four the year before and an indication that his game continues to grow. Gunners fans will be similarly encouraged by the fact that his goal tally has risen every season in France.

Gervinho was able to force a move to Arsenal because he only had a year to run on his contract. The switch is something of a risk though given that he regularly states his desire to play in the Champions League, yet has left a guaranteed spot in the group stage for qualifying action at the Emirates.

He clearly feels that the slight gamble is justified and is [10.0] to be vindicated with a second successive triumph, while it is [23.0] that his first foray into the Champions League is a victorious one.

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Ligue 1 Betting Preview: Can fabulous Lyon upset Lille?

French Football / James Eastham / 24 February 2011 / Leave a Comment

"There are three good reasons to oppose Ligue 1 leaders Lille when they host title rivals Lyon at Stade Metropole on Sunday night."

PSG are always great value for entertainment and their dodgy defence means overs backers are rewarded. So have Toulouse got the attack to exploit them? Meanwhile, James Eastham fancies Lyon to cause Lille problems on a potato patch.

PSG v Toulouse - Sun, kick-off 16:00 UK time

After going a couple of games without scoring (1-0 defeat at Rennes and 0-0 home draw v Lens) PSG bounced back into form last weekend with a 3-0 win over relegation-threatened Nice. A sprightly performance from Nene was one of the biggest reasons behind their improvement: after a poor month by his own standards, the Brazilian left-winger was involved in all three goals on a day when the capital club had 11 shots on target.

PSG's chances of producing another high-scoring performance are higher than you would normally expect because Toulouse's fourth-choice goalkeeper, Ali Ahamada, will start. Yohann Pele, Mathieu Valverde and Marc Vidal (who went off injured last weekend) are all unavailable, so 20-year-old Ahamada - whose first task after coming on as a substitute against Rennes last weekend was to pick the ball out of the net when the visitors scored a penalty - will make his first senior start.

PSG will be confident in attack but are always liable to concede because they grant opponents so many scoring opportunities. Antoine Kombouare's side have kept just two clean sheets in their last 15 league games, so if Toulouse are just slightly more accurate than they were last weekend, when they twice hit the woodwork, the three-goal barrier should be broken.

Lille v Lyon - Sun, 20:00

There are three good reasons to oppose Ligue 1 leaders Lille when they host title rivals Lyon at Stade Metropole on Sunday night. The first is that Lille are experiencing their worst form since moving to the top of the table in December. Last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Montpelier was their first league loss since October 24 but no surprise considering how poorly they'd played in two of their previous three games (against Lens, 1-0, and Auxerre, 1-1). Lyon, in contrast, are in fabulous form: they put four past local rivals St Etienne (4-1) a fortnight ago and followed up with four more against Nancy (4-0) last weekend.

Fatigue is the second factor. Lille have played 39 games to Lyon's 34 this season. Just 18 outfield players have started league games for Lille, and four of those have started just once. Lyon coach Claude Puel has a larger pool of players to pick from so has been able to rest some of his more important players more regularly.

Lyon have had a couple more days to prepare for this game: they hosted Real Madrid in the Champions League (1-1) on Tuesday night, whereas Lille faced PSV Eindhoven away from home in the Europa League on Thursday night. Those extra couple of days of preparation may prove crucial when the sides take to the field.

The field is the third factor: it resembles a potato patch at the moment, which is a major handicap for a side like Lille who enjoy playing fast, precise football on the ground. Lyon prefer knocking the ball around, too, but have been excellent from set-pieces in the past few weeks as Yoann Gourcuff has finally found his range from corners and free-kicks. In a game where aerial accuracy might prove crucial, Lyon have the upper hand.

Lille are too short at [2.24] to win. Either lay the hosts at [2.26], or back Lyon +0&+0.5 Asian handicap at [2.02].

Best Bet: Lyon +0&+0.5 Asian handicap at Lille @ [2.02].
Other Recommended Bet: PSG v Toulouse over 2.5 goals @ [2.16].

PSG are always great value for entertainment and their dodgy defence means overs backers are rewarded. So have Toulouse got the attack to exploit them? Meanwhile, James Eastham fancies Lyon to cause Lille problems on a potato patch....

The ever-in-form James Eastham talks us through his best selections ahead of another weekend of Ligue 1 action....

Lille are still six points clear at the top of Ligue 1 but they could have been further ahead had both Marseille and Lyon not come from behind to win tough away matches. But a tiring side and a poor...

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Europa League Betting: PSV Eindhoven v Lille

Europa League / Editor / 23 February 2011 / Leave a Comment

Star striker Gervinho (left) may be rested by Rudi Garcia tonight if the manager decides the Europa League isn't a priority

Add to that the consideration that Lille, who are [4.1] to win in Eindhoven, have not won in eight European away games and PSV ([1.97]) are unbeaten in ten (including eight wins) and it is difficult to look beyond the Eredivisie leaders.

The first leg was turned on its head in a couple of minutes and now it's Lille who have it all to do. But with the French outfit looking to win their domestic league, this one should only go one way...

With Lille more concerned about defending their Ligue 1 lead, PSV are ready to take full advantage in Eindhoven on Thursday.

When a side is faring unexpectedly well on the home front at the business end of the season it is never easy to work out just how hard they will try in Europe. Lille have surprised even themselves by taking Ligue 1 by storm and at this stage of the campaign you wonder whether Rudi Garcia perceives the Europa League as a boon or a bind.

The French side have the quality to easily sweep aside PSV, but two away goals conceded in the last ten minutes of the first leg has left them needing a win in Holland. Lille looked in control when Idrissa Gueye and Tulio De Melo scored in the opening half-hour at the Stade Métropole, but two late goals in a minute by Wilfried Bouma and Ola Toivonen turned the tie on its head.

That setback was subsequently compounded by Lille's first league defeat - at Montpellier - in 14 matches. With Lyon and Marseille up next in Ligue 1, Garcia must be more concerned about how to preserve his side's two-point lead - rather than negotiating potentially seven more matches before reaching a European final.

Add to that the consideration that Lille, who are [4.1] to win in Eindhoven, have not won in eight European away games and PSV ([1.97]) are unbeaten in ten (including eight wins) and it is difficult to look beyond the Eredivisie leaders.

Lille have bigger fish to fry and to be honest if they cannot beat Vaslui (0-0), Gent (1-1) Levski Sofia (2-2) or Sporting Lisbon (0-1) on their travels why should they beat a PSV side in rich goalscoring form? The draw, incidentally, is available at [3.75].

Recommended bet: Lay Lille @ [4.1]; HT/FT Draw/PSV @ [5.1]

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The first leg was turned on its head in a couple of minutes and now it's Lille who have it all to do. But with the French outfit looking to win their domestic league, this one should only go one...

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Europa League Betting: Lille v PSV

Europa League / Richard Aikman / 16 February 2011 / Leave a Comment

Moussa Sow could be Lille's danger man

"Lille run a tight ship at the back and five shut-outs from their last seven matches has also played its part in an unbeaten run that stretched to its 13th league game on Sunday."

This is a battle of high-scoring league leaders but the French side should ensure bragging rights remain avec les Francais, says Richard Aikman

Though PSV have been scoring for fun in the Eredivisie, Lille have too much quality throughout their side to succumb to the joint-league leaders in Holland.

In all honesty if Lille ([2.06]) can stay top of Ligue 1 until May they will happily forego success this European adventure, which is only still alive thanks to a final group win against Belgian side Gent.

The northern French outfit have broken five points clear of the chasing pack thanks to an impressive tally of 42 goals, 16 of which have come from the division's leading goalscorer Moussa Sow. But Lille also run a tight ship at the back and five shut-outs from their last seven matches has also played its part in an unbeaten run that stretched to its 13th league game on Sunday, when Gervinho and Tulio de Melo silenced Toulouse 2-0.

PSV ([4.1]) can see Lille's league goal-haul and raise it by 20 - after just 23 Eredivisie matches. Balasz Dzsudzsak and Ola Toivonen have racked up a dozen goals each in their side's high-scoring campaign and the Hungarian scored twice in a 4-0 win against AZ Alkmaar at the weekend. Dzsudzsak and Toivonen also added three and two strikes respectively in the group stage as the Dutch side won all three away matches to finish top of group I.

However, despite their impressive strike-rate, PSV, who lost their last home match 1-0 to Den Haag, will find Lille a different proposition to AZ, especially without their ever-present French international centre-back Adil Rami, who has picked up an ankle problem. Ignore the [3.6] about the draw.

Recommended Bets:
Lille to win @ [2.06]
Lille to keep clean sheet @ [2.9]

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