BILLY BUNTER

Weblog: The football punter

Price of Gunners kids in Greece could be a gift

WHAT price would you have got on Arsenal being the only Premier League club sure of a place in the second round of the Champions League with a match to spare?

Still, it's no use dwelling on opportunities missed when there are so many more chances to take the bookies to the cleaners to come.

Early qualification means Arsene Wenger will send the kids to Greece against Olympiakos, who are odds-on as a result.

But young whippersnappers like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Emmanuel Frimpong and Francis Coquelin did well enough against the mighty City in the Carling Cup to make me think there's been a bit of an  overreaction.

I'm worried about the defence - if Per Mertesacker makes the first team I dread to think of those who can't get in - but the prices make  up for that.

There will be more nerves at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea need a point against Valencia.

It won't help if Andre Villas-Boas keeps the faith in David Luiz
either.

The Brazilian hothead should have been sent off again at
Newcastle on Saturday and Alan Hansen had a point on Match Of The Day the other week when, asked what he thought was Luiz's best position,  he replied: "The bench."

I definitely won't be touching the Blues and given their shaky defence Valencia could even nick it.