Arsenal host Sunderland on this season's first Premier League assignment  PICTURE: getty images  

Gunners 5-1 to draw first blood on opening day

ARSENAL are in their usual position of being a team in crisis on the eve of the new season but Paddy Power still rate the Gunners 5-1 favourites to score the first goal of the 2012-13 campaign.

Arsene Wenger’s side host Sunderland with Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud tasked with replacing van Persie. Podolski is 5-2 to be the first debutant to notch in a select field where Giroud is the only other man shorter than van Persie, who could start for Manchester United at Everton on Monday.

It gives United fantastic options with van Persie and Wayne Rooney in tandem, but they are not alone in fielding a deadly duo.

Newcastle’s Senegalese strikers Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba will be looking to cause havoc against Tottenham and bet365 make them 40-1 to score three or more between them and 8-13 to fire blanks.

Boylesports are betting on the first assist and anytime assists on live Premier League matches and Ba is 10-1 to provide the first goal.