Expert Jury: Arsenal rebuild still has a way to go

We asked our top team of writers and a leading odds-compiler for their thoughts on this week's big talking points and this is how they answered...

What is your best football bet this weekend?

Racing Post's Liam Flin: Freiburg suffered their first Bundesliga defeat of the season against Bayern Munich before the international break but the rest should have done them good.

They are overpriced to record their seventh league win of the campaign against lowly Eintracht Frankfurt, who have managed only two wins from 11 games in Germany's top flight this term.

Racing Post's Ian Wilkerson: Port Vale have lost one of their last ten League Two matches and should have too much for struggling Oldham.

The Latics have suffered consecutive 3-1 home losses to Walsall and Swindon and Vale should be full of confidence having won 4-1 at Crawley in their last away outing.

Racing Post's Steve Davies: A lot of League Two gaffers keep pinpointing Mansfield as a decent team who will turn a corner and it looks like they may just have done it finally.

The Stags are on a four-game winning streak spanning three competitions, culminating in last weekend's 2-1 win at Stevenage, and they can take care of backmarkers Scunthorpe.

Betfair's Emmet O'Keeffe: Bournemouth look like banker material away to Derby. The Cherries have the best road record in the Championship and face a Derby side almost certain to be playing in League One next season after this week’s further points deduction.

Who are the most vulnerable favourites?

Racing Post's Liam Flin: I would avoid Swansea at a shade of odds-on at home to Blackpool in the Championship.

Prior to the international break, the Swans were thumped 4-0 by Bournemouth and they trail Blackpool by two points in the standings.

The Seasiders, meanwhile, have won three of their last five games and took a decent point off playoff hopefuls QPR in their last match.

Racing Post's Ian Wilkerson: Sunderland are going through a slump and I would not be keen on backing them to beat Ipswich.

The Black Cats have been thumped by Rotherham and Sheffield Wednesday in their last two outings and dumped out of the FA Cup by League Two Mansfield while League One leaders Plymouth are the only team to have beaten the Tractor Boys in their last seven.

Racing Post's Steve Davies: Sheffield Wednesday clearly have a bit about them but what they don't have is the muscle in the box to outscore teams.

They are averaging barely more than a goal a game and constantly draw too many games. It makes them hard to fancy them at short odds at Hillsborough and even more so away, especially at a strong unit like Accrington.

Betfair's Emmet O'Keeffe: As mediocre as Leicester have been this season, Chelsea look a short price given their issues in attack. That Chelsea could manage only a single goal against Burnley and Malmo was worrying and there's no guarantee that Romelu Lukaku’s return will fix their issues.

Is Arsenal's upturn in form for real or a false dawn?

Racing Post's Liam Flin: Given some of Arsenal's best players this season are still fairly young - Emile Smith Rowe, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Aaron Ramsdale are all 23 and under - it genuinely feels like it could be the start of something.

They still have a fair way to go if they are to be regularly competing for the top four but wins over Leicester and Tottenham already this term suggest they are not to be written off.

Racing Post's Ian Wilkerson: The Gunners have gone eight games unbeaten since they were thumped at Manchester City but they have played a lot of teams who are going through tough times so it may be a little early to judge.

They are playing some decent football though and I’d expect them to finish in the top six, which, at their stage of development, would not be a bad season.

Racing Post's Steve Davies: We've got to accept that the Arsenal glory days are over – there are now two or three bigger clubs in the top flight and history counts for nothing.

And that means that their level is probably challenging for the top six, which means there will less consistency than in the past. So in short, the upturn in form probably won't be sustained – but the dark days are probably behind them.

Betfair's Emmet O'Keeffe: I'd suggest a false dawn. Arsenal still sit mid-table in the xG rankings and I remain sceptical about Mikel Arteta and those above him making Arsenal’s transfers. Their central midfield still looks weak and Thomas Partey is nowhere near justifying his £50m price tag yet.

Who out of Eddie Howe, Steven Gerrard and Dean Smith will have the biggest impact on their new club?

Racing Post's Liam Flin: After taking some time away from the game, Newcastle's Eddie Howe could have the best chance of long-term success in the Premier League out of the three.

He knows how to keep a club up and can help to inspire former Cherries talents such as Ryan Fraser, Matt Ritchie and Callum Wilson on Tyneside. And, of course, the financial backing will help.

Racing Post's Ian Wilkerson: Like Tottenham snaring Antonio Conte, I don’t think Norwich could have got a better manager than Dean Smith.

Even if he cannot keep the Canaries up, he should be an ideal director for a Championship campaign next term. There is a lot of expectation on both Howe and Gerrard and I’m not sure they will be able to live up to it.

Racing Post's Steve Davies: In the short-term, Gerrard has the better tools to work with and Villa will be fine. But if Howe or Smith can keep Newcastle or Norwich up, that surely will count as a bigger impact and I'm not sure either manager can pull that off.

Long-term Howe will have the bigger impact because at some point he'll get cash to burn.

Betfair's Emmet O'Keeffe: I would lean towards Steven Gerrard. Rangers’ European performances were superb under his management, he has a core of good Premier League players to work with at Villa and he will undoubtedly be backed in the transfer market by the owners. Howe and Smith both face tougher tasks for different reasons.

Give us a winner on the midweek coupon

Racing Post's Liam Flin: Salzburg can secure a knockout berth in the Champions League with victory over Lille on Tuesday and Karim Adeyemi could be the greatest beneficiary of his side playing on the front foot.

Adeyemi has struck 15 goals in all competitions this term and is a good bet at 11-2 to open the scoring at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

Racing Post's Ian Wilkerson: Exeter should be too strong for Colchester. The Grecians are unbeaten in League Two since the opening weekend and have recently posted victories at Crawley and Salford.

They should see off a team who have scored more than oncfe in just one home game this season, and that was against bottom side Scunthorpe.

Racing Post's Steve Davies: Since beating Manchester United in their opener it's all gone wrong for Young Boys in Champions League Group F.

Three straight losses mean they'll probably have to win their last two just to make the Europa League and the first of those is at home to Atalanta immediately above them. The Italians look a far better side and can see off the Swiss easily enough.

Betfair's Emmet O'Keeffe: Porto win or draw double chance looks a fair bet against Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp’s side is weakened by injuries and I would expect him to play a League Cup standard side with top spot in Group B already secured. Porto’s last-16 qualification still hangs in the balance and they are good enough to take at least a point.

Not got a Paddy Power account? Sign up and get up to £50 in free sports bets

Place a single £10 Sportsbook bet and get money back as a free bet if it loses. There are x5 Free Bets available. Max refund per qualifying bet is £10. Only deposits made via Credit/Debit Card will be eligible for the promotion. Paddy's Rewards Club: Get a £10 free bet when you place 5x bets of £10+. T&Cs apply 18+ begambleaware.org

MORE FREE BETS

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport