Arsenal enjoyed a productive weekend as they edged past Leeds United 2-1 to boost their Champions League hopes ahead of the upcoming north London derby.
Mikel Arteta ’s Gunners now hold a four-point advantage over Tottenham Hotspur ahead of the clash and are certainly in prime position to secure a place back in the top four.
Whilst it was certainly a good weekend for Arsenal, famous Gunners’ fan Matt Lucas was also boosted by the result having put a bet on ahead of kick-off at the Emirates Stadium at odds of 175/1. In a tweet, the Little Britain and Come Fly With Me star wrote: “Occasionally I place small bets on unlikely events with long odds…”
The tweet was alongside an image of the bet, with Lucas having predicted that Eddie Nketiah would open the scoring against Leeds, with Whites’ defender Luke Ayling also being shown a red card. In the end, that situation unfolded - handing Lucas a tidy cash windfall.
Former Leeds loanee Nketiah was indeed the man to get the scoring underway as he profited from slack play from goalkeeper Ilian Meslier to stab home. He was then on-hand to convert Gabriel Martinelli ’s cross only minutes later for his ninth goal of the season in all competitions.
Lucas then continued to get even more good fortune at Leeds’ expense after Ayling’s crunching challenge on Martinelli saw him given his marching orders mid-way through the first-half. Having placed just £2 on the bet, the comedian waltzed away with winnings of over £350.
How far could Arsenal go in the Champions League next term? Have your say in the comments below.
He revealed shortly after that he had donated the winnings to a foodbank backed by Leeds United and the Leeds United Trust.
It might have made for a tetchy afternoon for Lucas after his win though as Diego Llorente halved the deficit for Jesse Marsch’s men in north London but the Gunners were able to hold firm for a huge three points. Arsenal could seal their place back in the Champions League with victory against Spurs in the north London derby mid-week.
Even a draw would likely be a positive result for the Gunners, with Antonio Conte ’s Spurs then needing to overturn a four-point deficit over the final two matches of the campaign. Mikel Arteta has already signalled his excitement for the upcoming game.
Speaking after the win over Leeds, he said: “We are going to go for that match with the same enthusiasm that we always do but knowing that this can be a defining moment and that can be another layer of motivation for us to really go for it. I can’t wait for the game.”
Following the North London derby, Arsenal take on Newcastle United at St James’ Park before rounding-off their season with a clash against Everton. Meanwhile, Spurs take on Burnley before tackling already-relegated Norwich City on the final day of the campaign in what is a relatively kind end to their fixture list.
