Prediction: Both Teams To Score and Manchester United to Win
Odds: 10/3
Bookmaker: Bet365
Mikel Arteta continues his search for his first win in charge of Arsenal as the Gunners take on Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The two teams clash on New Year’s Day, with the Red Devils aiming to cut the gap to the top four, whilst the hosts will be hopeful of kicking off 2020 in the top-half of the Premier League.
Arsenal
Despite having only claimed one point from his opening two games as Gunners’ boss, there has certainly been a marked improvement under Arteta. The Gunners did eventually fall to a 2-1 loss at home to London rivals Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium last time out but did put in impressive showing during the first-half of the match. On paper now though, the North Londoners have only won two out of their last 17 matches in all competitions and are now 11 points adrift of the current top four. If they have any aspirations of returning to European football next season, they really do need to start getting victories under their belt. As always, it is the Gunners’ defence that has seen them suffer this year. The team have only managed to keep three clean sheets in 20 Premier League games – only Norwich City and Tottenham Hotspur have a worse record than that.
Team News
The Gunners’ injury-hit season was given another significant blow last time out with Calum Chambers having to be withdrawn against Chelsea. The centre-back joins fellow defenders Sokratis, Kieran Tierney, Hector Bellerin, Sead Kolasinac and Rob Holding on the sidelines. Elsewhere, Gabriel Martinelli, Dani Ceballos and Granit Xhaka are slight doubts so will be assessed ahead of the game.
Manchester United
Just like the Gunners’, Manchester United’s main deficiency this season has been in their defence. The Red Devils have too only managed to keep three clean sheets this season and it could be difficult to add to that against a Gunners’ side that possess one of the most lethal forwards in England in the form of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. For all of the criticism that United and indeed boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have received so far this season, they are actually in relatively positive form. Following the poor defeat to Watford just before Christmas, the Red Devils have actually won each of their last two Premier League games and have only lost one out of their last nine league matches. As a matter of fact, they now have the opportunity to make it three consecutive league victories for the first time since January. Indeed, with a win, they could potentially cut the gap to fourth-placed Chelsea to only a point.
Team News
Defensive duo Marcos Rojo and Eric Bailly are slowly but surely returning to fitness for Solskjaer but the clash with Arsenal is likely to come too soon. Midfielder Scott McTominay remains ruled out until at least the end of January, with Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Axel Tunazebe both set to be missing.
Key Facts To Consider
- Manchester United boast the better head-to-head record between the two teams (W99, D49, L83)
- United could make it 100 victories against Arsenal with a win
- The last match between the two ended 1-1
- Mikel Arteta lost 11 of his 17 matches against Manchester United as a player
- There hasn’t been two draws between the two sides in the same season since 2003/04
Conclusion
Manchester United come into this clash in somewhat better form than the Gunners and look well-placed to earn another victory in their pursuit of the Premier League top four. The clash always provides entertainment and considering the two sides’ lack of clean sheets this season, that should continue.
Prediction: Both Teams To Score and Manchester United to Win
Odds: 10/3
Bookmaker: Bet365
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