Who offers value in the top scorer market?

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Think of the Premier League top scorer market and there’s one name that instantly springs to mind – Didier Drogba. The Chelsea man has been on fire this season, carrying over his stunning form from the last couple of campaigns and performing crucial roles in tight fixtures against teams such as Arsenal. Always a favourite to finish the season at the top of the goalscorer charts, Drogba is now as short as 2/1 to do just that, with Carlos Tevez, his closest rival, at 9/2.

Tevez is always a threat in front of goal and his poaching instincts are second to none. However, the defensive manner in which Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini sets up his starting 11 means that 6-0 scorelines, the like of which Drogba is always likely to be involved in, aren’t going to be a commonplace occurrence for the Citizens. Furthermore, reports that Tevez and Mancini were involved in a dressing room bust-up at half-time during last weekend’s Newcastle game make that price look even less tempting, with Mancini never afraid to drop high-profile players due to off-pitch issues.

If you’re looking for an outside bet on the top scorer market, you might want to take a quick look at the price of Florent Malouda. At 16/1 in the football betting, the Chelsea man is surely worth a small bet. Already among the goals for the Premier League leaders this season and growing in confidence with each passing week, the man widely regarded as the Premier League player of 2010 is surely one of the first names on Carlo Ancelotti’s team sheet at the moment.

Another outsider to bear in mind is Darren Bent. Although no one makes Sunderland betting tips to win the league, the striker should still bag more than his fair share of goals.

Finally, it’s worth sparing a thought for those unlucky punters who deemed it worthwhile placing a bet on Robin van Persie before the season started and brought with it the usual catalogue of injuries that seem to follow the Arsenal man around like the plague. At a current price of 40/1, it’s quite clear that football fans aren’t putting much faith in the Arsenal striker finding fitness or form any point soon.