Manchester United have firmed to outright favourites for the Premier League with their betting odds now at 8/5 (2.70). Chelsea have long been favourites but a few hiccups in recent weeks has seen their position at the top of the table slowly eaten away. United now sit on top, albeit with Chelsea still having a game in hand. However, a win will still see them on top by only a point. Chelsea have eased a little to 17/10 (2.70).

There is still a lot of money around for Arsenal to knock them both off and their odds have firmed into 14/5 (3.80). You can forget the rest with all of them at 200/1 or longer. This weekend’s rounds will do little to clear the air with Chelsea at home to West Ham and United at home to Fulham. Arsenal have a slightly harder task traveling to the relegation-bound Hull – the Gunners should still come away with the three points.

Talking of relegation, Portsmouth are in a strange place at present. They have gone into voluntary administration which will incur a nine point penalty – this will guarantee relegation at the end of the season. At the same time, they are a real chance of making it through to the FA Cup final – they are through to the semi-finals. An FA Cup final victory would surely have boosted their finances a little. They are at 1/300 in relegation betting. Portsmouth aside, there are really only four clubs fighting to avoid the last two relegation places.

West Ham are best placed on 27 points, three clear of the current drop zone. They face Chelsea this weekend and then follow that up with a trip to Arsenal next weekend. Wolverhampton look to be in trouble. They travel to fellow relegation bound Burnley this weekend then follow that up with a trip to Villa next weekend. A win tomorrow would ease the pressure. Wolves are 6/5 with bookmakers.

Burnley are at home to Wolves tomorrow and a win could see them leapfrog their opponents. They then travel to Wigan in a match where a point would be a big help. The final team in the mix, Hull, face Arsenal this weekend then travel to Portsmouth next weekend. A wounded Pompey may be hard to beat at home so Hull also look to be vulnerable. Burnley are 2/5 to face relegation with Hull at 4/5.

We are coming to the meaty end of the football season and as usual the race at both ends is still tight. Online bookmakers like United to win again and their betting odds are continuing to firm. Anyone fancy the chances of Arsenal?