Arsenal vs Manchester United 22-01-2023

Preview

When Manchester United plays league-leading Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon, they will try to maintain their title aspirations. The Gunners are on the verge of winning their first league championship since the 2003–04 campaign.

With one game remaining, they presently have a five-point lead over the defending champions Manchester City. However, given that Manchester United, who are currently in third place, are currently eight points behind Arsenal, their potential loss here would make the competition much more exciting.

Both teams will enter this match in good spirits after last weekend’s victories over ferocious local rivals. Despite giving up the game’s opening goal just after the hour mark, Manchester United displayed outstanding team spirit to battle back against Manchester City.

Mikel Arteta’s team will have no fear in the second half of the season, including against Sunday’s opponents, Manchester United, thanks to Manchester City’s loss in the derby last week, which has put Arsenal fully in control of the Premier League title race.

The Gunners were given the opportunity by City’s 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford, and they richly deserved their 2-0 victory over their nearby rivals Tottenham on Sunday, which gave them an eight-point lead over the competition. Marcus Rashford scored twice in a 3-1 victory over Arsenal in September, making United the only club to defeat Arsenal this season. Erik ten Hag’s team has turned the tide with a run of successful performances after the World Cup break.

Form Guide: Arsenal

Arsenal, who currently have a game in hand on the champions, is on the verge of breaking the 50-point barrier at the halfway mark, which would put them on course to match Man City’s centurions of 2017–18. However, that advantage has been reduced back down to five after City earned their win over Spurs.

Arsenal is answering practically every test that has been offered to them and is unbeaten in their previous 12 top-flight games, winning 10 of them, while opposition supporters love pointing out that there is still a lot of Premier League season left.

Arsenal’s 10-game winning streak may have been snapped by Newcastle United at the Emirates earlier this month, but the Gunners have not given up a goal since the start of the year, and they have all the drive they need to make up for their defeat at Old Trafford.

Arsenal fans are starting to believe after they secured their first Premier League away win over arch-rivals Tottenham since 2014 with last Sunday’s 2-0 triumph. A Hugo Lloris own goal and Martin Odegaard’s long-range strike put the Gunners in control and they fended off a late fightback from Spurs.

Arsenal suffered their only league defeat of the season when going down 3-1 to United at Old Trafford in early September, but was the better team for large parts of that contest.

Form Guide: Manchester United

When Bruno Fernandes gave United a lead at halftime against Crystal Palace on Wednesday, they appeared to be on track for their 10th straight victory in all competitions. The Red Devils were in charge for an hour, but after that, they put in more effort, which may have been the result of their hectic schedule starting to wear them down.

Although David de Gea was able to contain the Eagles, he was powerless to stop Michael Olise’s breathtaking stoppage-time free kick. Casemiro has been suspended for this trip as a result of his 80th-minute card for a challenge on Wilfried Zaha.

Manchester United is looking unstoppable at the moment. Erik Ten Hag’s men are doing just everything right at the moment. A win against Arsenal will improve their chances of grabbing the top spot. Many football pundits and prediction platforms are already indicating an exciting title race between these two sides in the upcoming weeks.

Still sitting pretty in third place as Ten Hag works his magic, Man United have an eight-point gap to make up to Arsenal and a three-point deficit to make up to Man City, whose vastly superior goal difference should keep them safe in the runners-up spot for now.

The Red Devils may drop to fourth by the time that Sunday rolls around if Newcastle can do what they could not – beat Palace away from home – but a 16-game scoring streak certainly serves as a reason for optimism ahead of a trip to North London.

How the game could go

Even though Ramsdale had to save Arsenal multiple times in the North London derby this season, they have frequently struggled to close the back door at the Emirates. Arsenal’s flawless defensive record may still stand in 2023.

It is still challenging to identify a weak link in this dynamic young team, and with Man United operating without Casemiro as their primary midfield enforcer, we can only imagine the Gunners clearing yet another test of their title credentials.

United have scored in their last nine Premier League away games and should have put their game against Palace to bed long before the Eagles struck in injury time. And the belief they have gained in the last few weeks should ensure they adopt a positive attitude, so there could be some merit in backing a 2-1 correct score in favor of the home team.

The Gunners were tremendous for much of last Sunday’s North London Derby and while United are enjoying a lengthy unbeaten run of their own, there’s no tougher fixture in the Premier League calendar right now than Arsenal away.

Arteta’s side is firing on all cylinders and it’s hard to envisage a Casemiro-less United slowing them down this weekend, even if Ten Hag opts for a more pragmatic approach.

Betting Predictions

BTTS (YES)

We see no other outcome but for both teams to score in this match. Games between United and Arsenal are not like most derbies – in those games, we usually see goals and especially when Arsenal is the home team. They will score and United will not be far behind either. Both teams have improved defensively but they have incredible attacks, while both teams have scored in three of the visitor’s last four fixtures and two of the Gunners’ last four outings in the Premier League. Bet9ja have 1.60, 1xbet have 1.63 and Paripesa have 1.63 odds.

Over 2.5 goals

It is expected to be a riveting contest between these two teams on Sunday. Arsenal will look to continue its dominance at home. On the other hand, Man United recently handed a defeat to the defending champions. With these teams in such good form, backing over 2.5 goals in this game as each of the last three meetings between these two clubs has ended with over 2.5 goals being produced. Over 2.5 Goals have been scored in three of Arsenal’s and four of Man Utd’s last five outings in the league and cup. Bet9ja have 1.70 odds, Paripesa have 1.76, and 1xbet have 1.76 odds.

Anytime Goalscorer (Arsenal)

Odegaard

Odegaard has been Arsenal’s star player this season and his form of late has been second to none. The Norway international has scored 8-goals in the Premier League this season making him Arsenal’s top scorer in the league, and two of those goals have come in the club’s last three league games. If anyone is going to score for Arsenal this weekend then Odegaard is the number-one choice. Bet9ja have 5.25 odds for him to score while Paripesa have 3.25.

Nketiah

Eddie Nketiah has scored five goals in his last six matches in all competitions and is the favorite to get the first of this game. Stepping up since the unfortunate injury to Gabriel Jesus it is safe to say he is a safe pick here given his recent form these past few weeks. Bet9ja have 2.90 odds for him to score while Paripesa have 2.50.

Anytime Goalscorer (Manchester United)

Marcus Rashford

Marcus Rashford has been on fire this season and he broke several records for scoring in consecutive games. He finally failed to score in the game against Crystal Palace and will be extremely pumped to see his name on the scoresheet once again versus Arsenal. He scored twice in the previous game against them at Old Trafford earlier this season. Bet9ja have 3.65 odds for him to score while Paripesa has 3.00 odds

Bruno Fernandes

The midfielder looks most likely to score here in today’s game. Martial might be out of this one and the team would need goals elsewhere and that’s where he comes in. He just clocked a century of goal contributions for the club in all competitions in such a record time it is no doubt he would have an impact today. Bet9ja have 4.80 odds for him to score while Paripesa have 4.50.

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