The English Premier League continues this weekend, so take a look at our tips and predictions for the Arsenal vs. Manchester United match. With plenty of picks and markets to choose from, don’t waste your time and join the action at Get More Sports.
Arsenal vs. Manchester United
Three-Way: 1: Arsenal +156; X: +250 Draw; 2: Man United +220 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread 0: Arsenal -127; Man United +125
Total +2.5: Over +102; Under -105
ARSENAL
The Gunners are in a fine form of three consecutive wins in the Premier League, in which they didn’t concede a single goal and scored eight in return. Arsenal destroyed Huddersfield 5:0 in the latest match at Emirates, thanks to goals from Alexandre Lacazette, Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, and a brace from the substitute Olivier Giroud. Arsene Wenger’s side dominated the game, allowing just 30% of ball possession to the Terriers and completed 809 passes, even 477 more than Huddersfield. The German international Ozil recorded a couple of assists and a goal in under four minutes as he finally played a significant role in the attack after the fans voiced their displeasure over Ozil’s pale displays this season. The Gunners are welcoming the Red Devils on Saturday, in a highly anticipated tilt and are slight favorites to get three points, which would get them close to a point away from Man United. Arsenal is currently in the 4th position in the Premier League with 28 points, 12 behind the league leaders Manchester City. Although they are not in the mix for the title at the moment, Wenger’s team is looking to secure the Champions League football next season, and a win here would boost their morale and chances of doing so.
Arsenal played 22 games so far in the 2017/18, recording 15 victories, two draws, and five losses with a goal difference of 41:22, which is 2.86 goals per contest on average. The Gunners have been fantastic at home in this campaign as they won all seven Premier League matches at Emirates, scoring 20 and allowing only four goals in the process. They won the previous two H2H duels in London, scoring five and conceding none in return, so the Red Devils will have a lot of work to do to escape Emirates undefeated on Saturday. These rivals met 225 times since 1894, and Arsenal won 82 in opposite to United’s 96 wins.
Alexandre Lacazette is the team’s top scorer with seven goals in 15 appearances, while Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez are following him on a goal-scoring chart with five goals apiece. Theo Walcott, Danny Welbeck, Aaron Ramsey, and SeadKolasinac contributed with three goals to their respective names, while the Welsh international Ramsey is the most creative individual at Emirates with seven assists at the moment. With a pair of dishes in a win over Huddersfield, Mesut Ozil has five to his name, while Granit Xhaka and Kolasinac recorded four dishes each. Lacazette will not be able to help his teammates in a derby as he sustained a groin injury against the Terriers and Wenger substituted him at the start of the second half so that Giroud will serve as the main man in the attack on this one. Wenger also cannot count on the long-term absentee Santi Cazorla, while Walcott is doubtful with an illness. Giroud, Sanchez, Ozil, and Ramsey will be the players to watch for the hosts as they are in good form at the moment and any of them could turn out to be a match winner.
MANCHESTER UNITED
The Red Devils are also on a three-game winning streak in the Premier League as they beat Watford 4:2 at Vicarage Road in the mid-week. Man United got to an early 3:0 lead after only half an hour of play through phenomenal Ashley Young who bagged a brace against the former team, while Anthony Martial scored to give Jose Mourinho’s side a huge advantage at the break. The Hornets responded with a couple of quick goals in the period between the 77th and 84th minute, but Jesse Lingard’s excellent solo effort secured the win for the visitors with four minutes to go. Lingard received a pass in his own half and ran at Watford’s defense that was unable to stop him, so the English international decided to go for glory and succeeded. Man United is now in the 2nd position in the Premier League with 32 points, four more than the Gunners, but eight fewer than the city rivals Man City, and a potential defeat here would likely see the Citizens going 11 points clear of the Red Devils.
Manchester United played 22 games in this campaign, recording 16 victories, two draws, and four losses, with a goal difference of 49:13, which is 2.81 goals per contest on average. The Red Devils are not in the best form when it comes to away matches in the Premier League as they suffered two straight defeats to Huddersfield and Chelsea before winning at Watford. Mourinho’s team failed to score in the past two visits to Emirates and won just once in the previous five travels to London, so I am sure the Portuguese tactician would be happy with a point from this clash. He is known for “parking the bus” and going with all-defensive approach when facing the top opponents on the road, which was evident in a 0:0 stalemate with Liverpool at Anfield earlier this season. Arsenal has a high-flying offense and keeping the net intact will be a huge task for the visitors, and I am not convinced they will manage to secure a clean sheet here.
Romelu Lukaku is the team’s leading scorer with 12 goals in 21 appearances, while Anthony Martial with eight, and Marcus Rashford with seven are also the key contributors to the attack. Rashford is the best assist-maker with seven dishes to his name; Martial and Henrikh Mkhitaryan added six assists apiece, while Lukaku, Jesse Lingard, and Ashley Young chipped in with four each. Mourinho started with Lingard and Martial on the wings behind Lukaku and that paid off against Watford as he left Juan Mata and Mkhitaryan on the bench (the Armenian wasn’t even included into 18 players that visited Vicarage Road), and the gaffer could opt for the same names at Emirates. Mourinho will be without the midfielder Michael Carrick who is out with a calf injury and will not feature on Saturday, while the centre-back Eric Bailly is still struggling with a knock and will probably be unavailable for this tilt. Phil Jones is doubtful to play with a hamstring injury, so in case he is not ready to perform, the “Special One” could go with Lindelof, Smalling, and Rojo at the back again. The midfield dynamo Nemanja Matic sustained a muscle injury at Watford, and although he will travel with the team to Emirates, Mourinho is unsure whether the Serbian will play on Saturday. Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera are the candidates to step in alongside Paul Pogba in middle of the park if Matic is sidelined.
Arsenal vs. Manchester United – Match Prediction
I am anticipating an interesting clash with goals on both ends, as each team has excellent forwards, so I would be surprised if they fail to produce goals on this one.
MY PICK: Both teams to score YES (-128)
