Arsenal v Man Utd – Preview, Predictions and Best Bets

Arsenal host Man Utd in the English Premier League at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday night. Mikel Arteta’s team have lost four times at home already this season and host a Man Utd team who are unbeaten on the road. Arsenal will be looking to close the gap to fourth spot whilst United are looking higher than that.

Arsenal Form

The Gunners are in great form in the league. Five wins and a draw in their last six matches has seen Arteta completely turn around a streak of one win in ten in the Premier League. The side are scoring goals again and are also defending well with four clean sheets in the last six.

The last two matches have seen a 3-0 win over Newcastle and was followed by a very good 3-1 win away at Southampton after trailing 1-0. Bukayo Saka and Alexandre Lacazette continued their fine recent form and Nicolas Pepe scored the other.

Arsenal Team News

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is a big question mark having missed two matches due to the ill health of his mother. It is not clear if he will be in the squad for this match but it appears unlikely. Pepe could therefore keep his place in an unfamiliar role as a left winger.

Both Emile Smith-Rowe and Thomas Partey went off with muscle problems at Southampton and are touch-and-go for this game. The feeling is that this was more down to fatigue than injury and both could be fit otherwise Willian and Mohamed Elneny could step in.

Kieran Tierney missed the last match with a calf problem so Cedric Soares may cover in that position again after excelling against Saints. Arsenal brought in Martin Odegaard on loan this week from Real Madrid and he could be on the bench.

Arsenal Motivation

Arsenal will play to win this match. Arteta’s side won at Old Trafford earlier this season by sitting deep and not giving Man Utd the open match that they like. The coach could again set up in quite a compact shape and look to spring counter attacks. A draw would not be a bad result either. It keeps the good atmosphere and unbeaten run going in the squad.

Man Utd Form

Man Utd had a chance to go back to the top of the table in their last match against bottom-placed Sheffield United. Instead, the side were complacent and lethargic and were beaten 2-1 at Old Trafford. That defeat ended a 13-match unbeaten run with ten wins and three draws.

A defeat has probably been coming considering the fine margins in recent United matches – they need a last minute goal to beat Wolves, a fortunate penalty to beat Aston Villa and a late goal to beat Burnley. United drew 0-0 with Liverpool then beat Fulham 2-1 in their two games before losing to The Blades.

Man Utd Team News

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has only a few injury concerns for this match. Eric Bailly was set to start the last match but was injured in training so Axel Tuanzebe played. Victor Lindelof or Bailly, if fit, will partner Harry Maguire against Arsenal. Luke Shaw is also set for a recall at left-back.

In midfield, Fred will return in place of Nemanja Matic but Scott McTominay may only be on the bench with the recent form of Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes. Edinson Cavani should play up front with either Mason Greenwood or Anthony Martial missing out.

Man Utd Motivation

United are incredibly good on their travels and will play to win this match. With more space afforded to them than when they play at home, they can expose any team on transitions. Solskjaer tends to be quite cagey in the bigger game with an aggressive midfield, less focus on possession and looking to get the ball forward quickly on the break.

Arsenal may not give them the game that they want though and a draw is probably not going to be considered a bad result although they probably won’t actively settle for one until the final 30 minutes if under pressure.

Key Stats

Arsenal have won 5 of their last 6 PL matches

Arsenal have kept 4 PL clean sheets in their last 5 PL matches

Arsenal have won 4 of their 10 home PL matches this season

Man Utd have lost 1 of their last 14 PL matches (W10, D3)

Man Utd have scored 2 or more goals in 9 of their last 14 matches

Man Utd have conceded 23 goals in their last 14 matches

Man Utd have 8 of their 10 away PL matches (D2)

Prediction

Both of these sides are in fine form. A draw is a reasonable tip but Man Utd’s away record and Arsenal’s injury doubts mean the best bet may be on an away victory.