Premier League: Arsenal vs Manchester United - Betting Tips, Odds & Prediction

Arsenal host Manchester United on Monday morning New Zealand time in a match that may well determine if the former can pull away at the top of the Premier League ladder.

The hosts are sitting pretty in first place, while the visitors will be desperate to keep their momentum after a massive result on the weekend. Safe to say this clash has got all the makings of a real doozy. Will Arsenal show why they’re the best in the league, or can Manchester United pull off another upset under Michael Carrick?

I’ve looked at all the key factors for this Arsenal vs Manchester United preview. From the latest on the squad to the hard stats, I’ve got everything you need, including a $3.40 play that looks like a bit of a steal on some new betting sites.

Arsenal

I reckon Arsenal are the most balanced team in the world right now.

They’re currently leading the league and for good reason. They’ve only let in 14 goals all season, which is just ridiculous. Coming into this after a couple of draws, they’ll be hungry to get back to winning ways. 

I’ve seen them dominate at Emirates Stadium plenty of times this year. They just refuse to give an inch, playing a style that just suffocates. If you give Martin Odegaard or Bukayo Saka a sniff of the ball, you’re in trouble. I think they’ll try to boss the midfield from the jump. 

You can check out betting apps in NZ to see how the markets are moving, but I’m fairly confident they’ll be the ones controlling the pace.

Team News: Piero Hincapie and Riccardo Calafiori are sidelined. Mikel Arteta might give an update on their progress soon.

Predicted Lineup: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Odegaard, Rice, Merino; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli.

Manchester United

Manchester United are looking like a different beast under Michael Carrick.

Their recent 2-0 win over Manchester City was a statement. In fact, they’ve now lost just once in their last 10 league games - the kind of consistency we haven’t seen from them in ages. They’re sitting in fifth and look like they actually believe they can beat anyone.

The big boost for United is having Bruno Fernandes back to his best. He’s been pulling the strings and creating big chances at a high rate. They love to hit teams on the break, and with the pace they’ve got out wide, they can hurt Arsenal if the hosts get too cocky. Remember: this United side is much tougher than they were a few months ago.

Team News: Joshua Zirkzee and Matthijs de Ligt are still out. Shea Lacey is back in the mix after his suspension.

Predicted Lineup: Onana; Mazraoui, Yoro, Martinez, Dalot; Mainoo, Ugarte, Fernandes; Diallo, Hojlund, Garnacho.

• Arsenal are unbeaten at Emirates Stadium in all competitions this season.
• Manchester United have won only one of their last five visits to this venue.
• Both teams have scored in four of the last six meetings between these two sides.
• Arsenal have the best defensive record in the Premier League, conceding only 0.63 goals per game.

I’m expecting a high-quality match where both sides have their moments.

Arsenal are so tough to beat at home, and I do think they’ll have too much for the visitors in the end. They’ve got a point to prove after dropping points recently, and won’t want to let Manchester City or Aston Villa get any closer. 

I reckon their structure and the way they control the ball will eventually wear United down. Manchester United will definitely have a crack though. They’re full of confidence after their derby win and have got the individual quality to find the net. I can see Marcus Rashford or Alejandro Garnacho catching the Arsenal backline out at least once.

My pick is a 2-1 win for Arsenal. It’ll be close, but the home advantage and that rock-solid defence should see them through.

Arsenal to Win and Both Teams to Score @ $3.40

I’m putting my money on a home win where both sides get on the scoresheet.

Arsenal are the better team, but Manchester United are too dangerous to be kept quiet for 90 minutes. They’ve scored in most of their recent away trips and Carrick has them playing with a lot of freedom.

Getting $3.40 at Sportaza for this outcome is great value because it covers the most likely scenario: a hard-fought Arsenal victory where the defence slips up just once.