Matchday 2 is almost upon us! After going 2/3 with my opening week picks, it’s time to break down my Premier League best bets on DraftKings Sportsbook for these upcoming contests.
In case you missed it, check out my full pre-season table predictions here.
Place your bets at DraftKings Sportsbook or by downloading the DraftKings Sportsbook app.
Draw No Bet: Aston Villa ML (+225) vs. Arsenal
Fading the second-best team in the Premier League in just their second match of the season?
It’s not as wild as it sounds.
It actually makes more sense to pick against the Gunners before they’re able to get into a groove, as teams are at their most vulnerable at the beginning and end of a season. Arsenal looked decent in their opening match of the 2024/25 campaign, picking up a 2-0 win over Wolves. Defensively they’re as strong as ever, but there’s still a clear hole up top, as no one on the roster can assume the role of a true No. 9. To Kai Havertz’s credit, he did put one in the back of the net, but the lack of a pure scorer will certainly come back to haunt Mikel Arteta’s squad at some point against the top clubs.
Aston Villa found plenty of success in this matchup last year, winning both contests against the Gunners. They’re also the only team capable of boasting a victory over Arsenal in 2024 thanks to a 2-0 result in April. The Villans kicked off their Premier League season with a solid 2-1 win against West Ham, and I expect that momentum to carry over into Saturday’s clash at home. While taking Villa ML straight-up at +340 would net a larger payout, I’m opting for a bit of security with this pick. +225 for a win still provides enough value, but rolling with “draw no bet” ensures your stake is returned if the contest ends in a tie.
Same Game Parlay: Erling Haaland Anytime Goalscorer & Manchester City Over 2.5 Goals (-130)
The reigning back-to-back-to-back-to-back Premier League champions against a recently promoted squad?
Yeah, it’s safe to say I don’t believe this game will be particularly close.
This will be the first meeting between these clubs since 2002, so you can throw any historical matchup data out the window. Since that time, City have only built the greatest dynasty in the history of English football… nothing major, right?
No Prem club scored more goals than Man City last year — 96, a whopping 2.52 goals per match — and no player scored more than Erling Haaland, who won his second consecutive Golden Boot. The Norwegian has found the net against every single team he’s faced in the Premier League over the course of two years. With a few new squads up following promotion, Haaland is going to ensure he keeps that remarkable statistic alive.
Facing City is difficult enough, but challenging them at the Etihad is a different beast altogether. Pep Guardiola’s squad is unbeaten in their last 44 home matches across all competitions. I expect that trend to continue in another strong showing for the champs on Saturday.
Jeff’s Favorite Anytime Goalscorers for Matchday 2
- Eberechi Eze vs. West Ham (+160)
- Ollie Watkins vs. Arsenal (+240)
- Cole Palmer at Wolves (+110)
Those are my favorite Premier League picks for Matchday 2! Stay tuned for more bets next week.
