Arsenal backed into joint-favourites with Man City after Rodri’s season-ending injury

ARSENAL have been backed into joint-favourites to win the Premier League – despite throwing away two points late on at the Etihad.

Mikel Arteta’s men are also already two points off holders – and new fierce rivals – Manchester City after just five games.

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But news of pivotal midfielder Rodri’s injury ruling him out for the season has caused a shift in the outright market with bookmakers Coral.

The Gunners currently sit fourth but could quite easily be top of the league had they not switched off in the dying seconds on Sunday.

Arteta’s side parked the bus and almost left with all three points despite Leandro Trossard’s first half red card which changed the game.

But the landscape of the game had changed earlier than that when Rodri went down clutching his knee on 20 minutes, forcing him off.

Arsenal would equalise a minute later through Riccardo Calafiori.

Reports yesterday confirmed it was a season-ending injury the Spaniard picked up and he was later pictured arriving in Barcelona to have further tests carried out by a specialist.

It’s a crushing blow to Pep Guardiola and co who have often relied on the defensive midfielder.

That’s confirmed in the stats when City have lost A THIRD of the Premier League games he’s missed since arriving at the club (seven losses in 21 games missed) and holding an 11% defeat ratio in his 174 appearances.

He led the stats last season in touches, carries and completed passes last season too.

City missing their key man for the season has forced the bookmakers to react and despite Arsenal only taking a point on Sunday, their odds have been cut into joint-favouritism.

The pair now lead the outright market at 11/8, with Liverpool starting the season strongly at 11/2.

Chelsea are 22/1 and Manchester United 50/1, with Aston Villa, Newcastle and Tottenham further back at 66/1.

Coral’s John Hill said: “It’s rare for one player to have such an impact on a market like the Premier League outright betting, however, Rodri is such a key player for Manchester City, and we think this is a huge blow to their chances of defending their crown.

“We now make Arsenal and Manchester City the joint-favourites for the Premier League title.”

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