12 Jun 2019
The outcome in the race for a Champions League place could be determined on Sunday as Arsenal host Manchester United in the Premier League.
Arsenal are in fifth place, a point and a place behind United, and both have Chelsea snapping at their heels in sixth, two points behind Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United side with a game in hand.
The Genting Casino Premier League football odds to finish in the top four have Chelsea at 4/5, United at 11/10 and Arsenal at 15/8.
RACE FOR THE TOP FOUR
Before delving into Sunday’s game, let’s have a closer look at the games that each of that trio face.
United reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League with an incredible 3-1 win at PSG on Wednesday, and they will certainly feel they can go further. They are also in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, and have an away tie at Wolves next week, so are still fighting on three fronts.
In the Premier League, they face games against Watford (H), Wolves (A), West Ham (H), Everton (A), Man City (H), Chelsea (H), Huddersfield (A) and Cardiff (H). The trips to Wolves and Everton are tough enough – Wolves are fighting for seventh spot, which brings a UEFA Europa League spot this season – but the Manchester derby will be key to whether they maintain their position in the Champions League spots.
Chelsea host Wolves on Sunday before a long trip to Kiev for their Europa League second-leg tie with Dynamo on Thursday. While they have a healthy 3-0 lead, they have to go to Everton just three days later and further Premier League games include Cardiff (A), West Ham (H), Liverpool (A), Burnley (H), Man Utd (A), Watford (H) and Leicester (A). How they fare on their trips to title-chasing Liverpool and United may be key.
Arsenal, on the other hand, appear to have the easiest run-in of the trio. Sunday’s clash with United would appear to be their biggest test, as they will then face Wolves (A), Newcastle (H), Everton (A), Watford (A), Crystal Palace (H), Leicester (A), Brighton (H) and Burnley (A). Given that Burnley, Brighton, Palace and Leicester should all be safely in mid-table with little to play for, win two of three at Wolves, Everton and Watford, and 15/8 for a top four spot starts to look a big price.
UNITED THE FORM TEAM?
Manchester United have picked up five straight wins in the Premier League and the Gunners are unbeaten in their last 14 top-flight fixtures at home, winning 12 of those. Something has to give.
Arsenal surrendered their top four spot when drawing 1-1 at Tottenham last week, and they were very unfortunate not to come away with all three points, when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s stoppage-time penalty was saved.
The performance was marred by Lucas Torreira receiving a late red card and he now serves a three-match ban.
Arsenal’s main concern is with their defence, as they have conceded a few soft goals recently and they are 23/10 to keep a clean sheet.
United also missed a penalty last week, but a late winner from Romelu Lukaku saw off Southampton in a 3-2 victory, to give the Belgium international four goals in his last two EPL games following a brace in a 3-1 win at Crystal Palace. That win means they are unbeaten in their last 12 and with that stunning and controversial win in Paris, if interim boss Solskjær has not already secured himself the job on a full-time basis, surely the announcement must be soon.
No team in history had come from 2-0 down at home to win a European Cup tie before the miracle in Paris and lest we forget they went there minus 10 players, such is the lengthy injury list at Old Trafford. Mason Greenwood, making his debut, and Tahith Chong, another academy product, were both on the pitch when Marcus Rashford struck the decisive penalty, awarded by VAR. Rashford is 8/5 to score at any time against Arsenal, Lukaku is priced at 17/10.
United claimed that astonishing success with a cobbled-together midfield of Fred, Scott McTominay, Andreas Pereira and Ashley Young.
Arsenal have a mountain to climb if they are to reach the Europa League last four, after a capitulation at Rennes on Thursday night. Alex Iwobi gave them the ideal start, but defensively they were a shambles by half-time when Sokratis Papastathopoulous was sent off for a plethora of cautionable offenses. Nacho Monreal inadvertently turned a cross into his own goal in the second half and Ismaïl Sarr made it 3-1 late on. The Gunners had never lost in France before.
GOALS ON THE CARDS?
There are usually plenty of goals when these two meet. United’s lengthy injury list, coupled with Arsenal’s propensity for conceding silly goals means the trend may well continue.
Both teams have found the net in nine of their last 11 meetings, with four goals scored in three of the last four games. Indeed, three goals or more have been scored in eight of the last 11 meetings, including when United won both their last two trips to the Emirates 3-1.
It is 4/6 that over 2.5 goals will be scored in Sunday’s clash, while it is 4/7 that both teams score. Both sides have potent strike-forces, and questionable defences.
History is on United’s side, though. Arsenal have won just three of the last 17 meetings (D5 L9).
However, those who put faith in trends may wish to know that the Gunners have not lost three consecutive meetings at home since 1983-85 and it is 2/5 for an Arsenal win or draw on the Double Chance market.
In the last 47 games between the two played at Arsenal, the home side has won 20, United won 18 and nine games were drawn, and given United’s depleted squad, there may be a few looking at the 4/6 Arsenal win, draw no bet market. The draw is on offer at 5/2 and given that both sides make a habit of conceding, a 1-1 draw is available at 11/2.
For all the odds on this vital Premier League game, click here.
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