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Manchester United's new boy should lead the line for the 19-time league champions and the stats say that he is a strong bet to finish up with the golden boot. Andrew Atherley explains all Cream rises to the top in the Premier League scoring charts, just as it does in the overall table. In fact, there is an inextricable link between the two. For the statistical evidence, compiled for the past 10 seasons, let's consider first the likelihood of the top goalscorer coming from one of the leading clubs. There have been 11 winners in the past decade (two players tied for first in 2010-11) and every one played for a top-four finisher (five for the champions, two for the runners-up, three for the third-placed team and one for the fourth-placed). In fact, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in 2000-01...

[b]After Mario Balotelli's red card yesterday, and Wayne Rooney's extended run without a yellow card, Ralph Ellis makes a case for discipline being a vital factor in this season's title race.[/b] To buy one brilliant but truculent striker might be considered bad luck; To get two borders on carelessness; To have signed three in the space of as many years means somebody at Manchester City simply doesn't learn his lessons. Blame [b]Mario Balotelli[/b], as some have done this morning, for losing the Premier League title if you like. His red card in the final moments of the 1-0 defeat at Arsenal yesterday that left Manchester United with an eight point advantage at the top of the table was after all pretty damn stupid. But has mad Mario really been any worse an influence on City's...

After their 4-0 humiliation by AC Milan on Wednesday, Arsène Wenger took the unprecedented step of openly criticising his players. The Frenchman, who in the past has usually resorted to smokescreens to detract from his own side's shortcomings, offered no such refuge to his charges at San Siro. "It was one of those nights you never forget," said Wenger, whose side are now 26.0 to pull off a miracle in the return leg against the Italian champions. "It was our worst performance in Europe by far. We were punished and deservedly so. I felt we were never in the game. We were very poor offensively and defensively. It was shocking to see how we were beaten everywhere. There was not one moment in the 90 minutes when we were really in the game. The result is a disaster." It was refreshing ...

[u]Arsenal v Leeds, Monday 19:45pm, ESPN [/u] There are many who question Arsene Wenger's recent record in the transfer market, but his first foray into the January window was a fairly shrewd one. With Arsenal's fine autumn form making way for a run of just four wins in ten in all competitions as the weather has grown colder and the skies darker earlier, it is as if he has anticipated crowd unrest and fresh criticism of his revamped squad, and distracted fans with the return of Thierry Henry. Following confirmation of his two-month loan on Friday, their all-time record goalscorer is eligible for Monday's FA Cup third round tie at home to Leeds, a club who Opta note he has netted 11 times in 11 clashes with, a tally that he will trade at about 2.36 to add to. With Henry expected...

Amid quite remarkable scenes at the usually muted Stamford Bridge, Manchester City's record-breaking start to the campaign was halted by Chelsea, however history suggests that Arsenal should fear facing the wounded leaders on Sunday. The script is already being written for Manchester United to beat QPR earlier in the day to go top, and then the reinvigorated Gunners to kick Roberto Mancini's men while they are down. As a result, they are out to 1.88 to win the title from a low of 1.5. But a glance at the statistics shows that clubs who suffer defeat after posting the longest unbeaten run at the beginning of the season rarely fold in the manner that many assume that they do. In each of the last six years, the last side to have their loss column blemished - and intriguingly Manchester...

[b]Robin van Persie's scoring record over the past year has been nothing short of exceptional but despite being all the rage in 'first goalscorer' and 'to score' markets, he's still available at value prices. Not to mention as Premier League top goalscorer, according to Andrew Atherley.[/b] Robin van Persie is the hottest striker in the Premier League right now and that's good news for Arsenal fans, Arsenal backers and those who have been putting their money on the flying Dutchman in the goalscorer markets. There is every reason to expect his great scoring run to continue when Arsenal host Fulham on Saturday and the stats indicate he is excellent value as first goalscorer. Since his return from injury late last year, van Persie has been first goalscorer in eight of his 29 Premier...

[b]Lee Dixon will stop tipping Robin van Persie to score when he stops scoring. Arsenal will need the Dutchman to carry on his superb form to get something from this match but the way he's going, that's not too big an ask.[/b] Andre Villas-Boas will have been very disappointed with last Sunday's defeat to QPR. While all the talk has been surrounding the two Manchesters, his Chelsea side were quietly creeping up on the rails and looking ready to pounce. There's a lot to like about his options upfront and the midfield looks solid but defensively there are a few concerns. John Terry has been a stalwart at the heart of their defence for years but since the departure of Ricardo Carvalho they've tried a few options, and though the likes of Branislav Ivanovic and [b]David Luiz[/b] are ...

[u]Arsenal v Bolton [/u] The youngsters will be drafted in by Arsenal, but given their recent improvement with six wins in seven, the fact that their second string reached the final last year, and that they last lost at home in the Carling Cup in January 2004, 1.63 is a tasty price for the Gunners. Arsene Wenger's men have won seven on the spin at the Emirates in the competition and six in a row when entertaining Bolton. One area in which they continue to struggle though, even as the results get better, is at the back, conceding in four of their last five in north London. Bolton have scored in four of their five away fixtures, so expect both to score. [i]Best Bet: Both teams to score @ 1.7 [/i] [u]Cardiff v Burnley [/u] In tribute to Paraguay's run to the Copa America Final,...

[u]Arsenal v Swansea[/u] Two weeks is a long time in football when the last result your club recorded was an 8-2 thrashing by a team you were hoping to match, but for Arsenal the day has come to put that nightmare firmly behind them. A home game against 1.66 relegation favourites Swansea - who have yet to score a Premier League goal in 270 minutes of football - is a perfect opportunity for Arsene Wenger and his team to kick start their season, and the Gunners should be backed to win in a canter. With four deadline day signings (Park Chu-Young, Andre Santos, Per Mertesaker and Mikel Arteta) added to their ranks Wenger appears to have plugged some of the gaps left by their high-profile summer departures, so expect a steady climb up the table in the coming weeks. Swansea look destined...