The English premier league approaches the final chapters of another thrilling campaign this Sunday (May 7th), in what has been an explosive season, as league rivals Arsenal FC and Manchester United FC lock horns at the Emirates Stadium, with Kick-off commencing at (18:30 CET/17:30 GMT).
The Gunners will be looking to bounce back, after their humiliating league defeat to their derby rivals Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend, and will come up against a formidable opponent, in the Red Devils this Saturday. The side is currently experiencing a colossal unbeaten run, under boss Jose Mourinho, and a dejected Arsenal side will need to galvanize spirits, if the club is to claim victory this Sunday.
ARSENAL FC vs. MANCHESTER UNITED FC
3-Way: 1: Arsenal FC +100; X: +275 Draw; Manchester United FC +330
Spread +0.5: Arsenal FC +100 ; Manchester United FC +114
Total +2.5 : Over -108; Under +102
ARSENAL FC
Arsenal FC has struggled to capitalize on their promising start to this English Premier League season, and the club has been on the receiving end of some crushing losses in recent weeks. Last weekend, the Arsenal FC were comprehensively beaten by their local rivals Tottenham Hotspur, after a mesmeric display by midfield magician and future star Dele Alli, alongside the league’s current top goal scorer Harry Kane sealed victory for the Spur’s, in a soul destroying loss at White Hart Lane.
However, at home the side has been able to cultivate some momentum of late, and the club has hit a purple patch, that has seen the Gunners string together a three match unbeaten streak on home soil. Out of those three matches, two of them have been victories, one of which was a comfortable win against the Hammers (3:0), and the other, produced a lethal attacking display, against the fourth from bottom side Hull City (2:0).
The Arsenal FC has a decent home record going into this Sunday’s fixture against the Red Devils. The club has won ten of their fifteen matches on home soil in the English Premier League, only having lost twice as the hosts all season. The clubs manager Arsene Wenger will be hoping that his side can increase their tally to eleven wins, when they take on Jose Mourinho’s Red army this Sunday, in what promises to be a gripping tie, between two titans of English football.
The Gunners will be banking on their ace Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez to rediscover his shooting boots on Sunday. The talented forward has netted nineteen times for his club this season, and is two behind the Tottenham striker Harry Kane, and five behind the Everton frontman Romelu Lukaku, in the race for the Golden Boot. The previous winner of the prestigious BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award Theo Walcott, has enjoyed another blistering season, and has fired home ten goals in the English Premier League, collecting nineteen in all competitions throughout this campaign. The Gunners striker Olivier Giroud, has a tally of nine goals in the league, and an overall sum of thirteen goals in all competitions.
The Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka will miss this weekend’s clash with the Red Devils, the 24 year old player is suffering from a Swollen Ankle injury that he sustained in the clubs recent North London derby match, and has been declared unfit for Saturday’s scintillating showdown, whilst the German International Shkodran Mustafi, returned to full training this week, following an Ankle injury, and is likely to feature in the manager Arsene Wenger’s starting eleven.
MANCHESTER UNITED FC
Manchester United FC has surprisingly, performed better away from home, than at the Old Trafford Stadium this season in the English Premier League, as the side has the best away record in the league, and has won ten of their fifteen trips away in the top flight throughout this campaign. The manager Jose Mourinho, and his side have only lost three matches all season, and the club is currently enjoying an unbeaten spell of twenty four consecutive matches. Away from home the Manchester United FC has been in sensational form, this impressive spell has seen the club win their last four competitive league matches, and remain unbeaten in their last ten league appearances.
The Red Devils also possess the best defensive record in the English Premier league, a record that has seen the club keep seven clean sheets, and concede only thirteen goals on their travels this season. The club has had no issue scoring away from home either, and has notched up an impressive tally of 27 goals from the attacking third, only failing to score twice, out of their fifteen matches played as the visiting side, only the top two teams in the English Premier League have scored more goals in attack, away from home this season.
The Red Devils top goalscorer this season, is the Swedish sensation Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the attacking maestro has netted seventeen goals for his club in the league, and has a grand sum of twenty eight goals in all competitions. The creative midfielder Juan Mata has found the net on six occasions, whilst the pacey youngster Marcus Rashford, has a goal tally of five goals domestically, scoring ten in all competitions.
The Manchester United FC manager Jose Mourinho, has had to deal with a long list of casualties this season, due to the unrelenting demands that come from playing European and English Premier league football simultaneously, week by week, which has gradually taken its toll in devastating fashion.
The side has had to wave goodbye to their Swedish Talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Marcos Rojo, who have both suffered season ending injuries towards the climax of this campaign. The most expensive player on the planet Paul Pogba, has returned to training, after missing his clubs stalemate against the bottom dwelling side Swansea City, due to injury. However, the boisterous midfielder Maurios Fellaini, will be absent from this Sunday’s crunch match, the Belgian is currently serving a three match suspension, after his head to head debacle with Sergio Aguero, in the Manchester derby last week.
Arsenal FC vs. Manchester United FC FC Prediction
Arsenal will be distraught after their 2:0 loss in the last weekend’s North London derby clash to a bitter league rivals Tottenham Hotspur, and Arsene Wenger’s side will need to be in top form against the Manchester United outfit that has gone unbeaten in their last twenty four league matches.
This fixture has a history of goals, the Arsenal FC’s top goalscorer Alexis Sanchez, and the expeditious forward Marcus Rashford will be looking to get on the scoreboard this Sunday, and take home all three points for their respective clubs.
If I had to decide which team will take the spoils of victory this Sunday, I would be inclined to go with Manchester United. The Red Devils are in excellent form, and has momentum on their side. However, I will take the double chance on the visitors and go with the over 2.5 goals.
MY PICK: Manchester United FC X2 DC (-108)
TOTAL: Over 2.5 goals (-108)
