Arsenal welcome Manchester United to the Emirates for what used to be a huge Premier League fixture. With the home side currently sixth, a point and a place ahead of their great rivals, this clash may not have quite the same significance in the title race at it once would have. Having said that it remains a massive game and it is sure to be fiercely contested between these attack-minded sides.
The Gunners remain unbeaten on home soil in the league and with the Red Devils without an away Premier League win this term many are sure to feel the home side will claim the three points. The bookies price them at 5/4 (Sky Bet) to do just that, whilst the draw is available at 12/5 with Bet365 and Louis van Gaal’s men are outsiders at 12/5 with BetVictor.
There is no real reason why United should be poor on the road and it may be an anomaly that corrects itself come May but the fact remains they have taken just three points from five away games despite only travelling to one side currently in the top 12 of the table. They performed well in their most recent away day, despite going down 1-0 at great rivals City but their 5-3 defeat at Leicester was a huge blow. They have a number of injured players and their defence remains unstable (to put it kindly) and they will need a big improvement if they are to avoid a defeat here.
Of course, Arsenal have problems of their own, having let a three goal lead slip at home to Anderlecht in the Champions League and then following that with a 2-1 defeat at Swansea last time out. Pressure is mounting at the Emirates, with many feeling that the failure to add a top notch defensive midfielder and centre back is coming home to roost and that this was an error so bad that Arsene Wenger should pay for it with his job. Years of failing to contend for the Premier League or Champions League give the former Monaco boss little currency and he needs to strengthen his squad in January or face the wrath of the terraces.
This looks set to be a close game between two sides low on confidence and we feel it could go either way – see our three top betting tips below.
Betting Tips
- Draw – Odds of 12/5 with Bet365 look very solid given there is little between the sides and LVG may send his men out with a draw in mind.
- Both teams to score – BTTS has won in four of five Premier League games this term at the Emirates and looks good again here at odds of 13/20 with Ladbrokes.
- Under 2.5 goals – Both teams may well score but we don’t see too many goals in this one as the visitors won’t over-commit going forward. It could easily end 1-1, available at 7/1, but under 2.5 is a nice insurance policy of a bet to go alongside it at 23/20, both odds at BetVictor.