Manchester United are in trouble. Louis van Gaal’s men are quickly drifting away in the race for the top four, and are low on confidence following a couple of very bad losses. Meanwhile, Arsenal’s dreams of a first league title in 12 years are very much alive. Can the Gunners continue to keep pace at the top with a win over their old rivals?
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Line: Manchester United +175 vs. Arsenal +142, tie +200; total 2.0 – view all EPL lines
Betting on Manchester United
Manchester United are still showing no signs of improvement under Louis van Gaal. And based on their recent results, they are getting even worse. They lost 2-1 to relegation-threatened Sunderland last time out in the league, as well as to Danish minnows Mitjylland in the first leg of their Europa League tie.
Their second leg will be on Thursday, giving United just two days in between games. That could force van Gaal into fielding a weakened team against the Danes.
However, United will still be without Wayne Rooney for the foreseeable future. Rooney, the team’s co-leading scorer this season with seven league goals, is out for a couple of months with a knee injury.
Rooney’s absence will be a tremendous blow to a United team that has scored just 15 goals in 12 games at Old Trafford this season. Anthony Martial, though, has scored twice in his last three league games, and should provide a nice injection of pace up front that’ll trouble Arsenal’s slower central defenders.
Speaking of defense, United’s backline should keep them in the game against Arsenal’s very dangerous attack. United have conceded just five goals in 13 league games at home – easily the best mark in the league – and have conceded more than one goal just once.
United can also call on some terrific history against Arsenal at Old Trafford. They haven’t lost at home to the Gunners in the league since 2006 (six wins, two draws).
With their Champions League dreams all but dashed after a 2-0 first leg loss to Barcelona in midweek, Arsenal’s focus now shifts to the more pressing task of reclaiming the English Premier League title, as per Per Mertesacker. The Gunners have a crucial three-games-in-seven-days stretch upcoming, and will be desperate to get it started on the right note.
Arsenal got a big home win over Leicester City last time out in the league to move within two points of the leaders. They’re currently fifth in the form table over the last six matches with back-to-back wins, three draws and a single loss. They have an identical record over their last six on the road.
To the Gunners’ credit, they defended quite well for the first 70 minutes against Barca, only to be outdone by the class of Leo Messi. They should be able to maintain that sort of defensively solidity against a United team that has not displayed a cutting edge in attack for most of the season.
Arsenal’s attack blitzed United for three goals in the first 20 minutes back in their first meeting in October. Although, the Gunners goals have dried up in recent weeks. They’ve been held scoreless in five of their last eight games in all competitions, and could struggle to break down a resolute United defense that does not give up many goals at home.
Writer’s Prediction
Arsenal end their Old Trafford drought with a 2-0 win.
