After a tough start to the season, Mikel Arteta’s odds in the sack race have shifted significantly with him now the even-money favourite to be the first gaffer to face the exit. 

An abundance of absentees resulted in Arteta’s side suffering defeat in their clash at the Emirates on Sunday, after a surprising slip up to league newcomers Brentford on the opening day, causing elevated levels of angst amongst the Arsenal faithful – with many calling for the Spaniard to depart. 

Commenting on the latest episode of Star Sports Trader Chat, Flynn Goward revealed that in spite of falling to a second consecutive league defeat against Chelsea last Sunday, there were ‘encouraging signs’ for the Gunners. 

He also underlined his belief that at the heart of the problem is the inability to bag goals, something that Arsenal fans will hope is remediated by the return to fitness of their talisman, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. 

Goward also revealed that the poor start to the campaign has led to the widening of Arsenal’s price to make it into the top six, with them now priced at 5/2. 

Lukaku’s explosive start saw the chat move to top goalscorer markets, with odds shifting all the time as the season’s infancy continues to provide thrills and spills, with value popping up all over the markets.

The pair concluded the episode by moving away from sport and discussing the culmination of reality TV megashow Love Island, as host Jonny Ward laid his cards on the table by describing the amount of media coverage given to the show as ‘an abomination’. 

The Star Sports trader revealed that the departure of Liberty and Jake, who many had tipped to win the show, represented relief for book, as Millie and Liam getting crowned the victors was a break-even moment for the bookies.