The highlight of Saturday's action sees Arsenal take on Manchester United and Tom Carnduff has two best bets for the contest.
Football betting tips: Premier League
2pts Half-time result to be a draw at 6/5
1pt Thomas Partey to have 4+ tackles at 3/1
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Arsenal v Manchester United
- 17:30 GMT on Sky Sports Main Event
- Match odds: Home 9/5 | Draw 12/5 | Away 29/20
Not many would have expected Manchester United to be heading into this contest on the back of a defeat, but they were stunned by Sheffield United at Old Trafford and now face an Arsenal team who are starting to come good after a rough first part of the campaign.
Mikel Arteta's men are up to eighth in the table but, more importantly, within touching distance of the European places. Being less than a couple of wins from the top-six was almost unthinkable given what we were seeing from them early on. A 1-0 victory over Manchester United was their last positive league result before going on a winless run.
United remain the best away team in the league though and Arsenal have lost at home to the likes of Aston Villa, Burnley and Wolves already. The 12/5 available on the draw looks a decent option given the recent form of both sides.
There are some good prices elsewhere though and the first focuses on Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey. There are some injury concerns surrounding him heading into this game but the Gunners remain hopeful that he will be involved. If he is, the 3/1 available on four or more tackles looks great value.
Tackling is one of Partey's strengths. He had four in the last meeting between these two while posting the same amount in just 21 minutes after being a second-half substitute against Crystal Palace. Three of his last six Arsenal league appearances have seen at least three successful tackles.
There were five tackles in his only Europa League appearances (against Rapid Wien) while there were three and four in his two LaLiga showings this season before completing his move to Arsenal. His career so far at the Gunners has been very stop-start, but the 3/1 on him being heavily involved in the midfield battle is worth backing if he is in that starting XI.
This could well be a game where the odds-against price on under 2.5 goals comes in, but the appeal comes in taking the half-time result to be a draw. Arsenal's last three home games have all been level at the break, with each also seeing a 0-0 scoreline after 45 minutes.
Each of United's last five away have also been a draw at half-time, with 0-0 scorelines against Burnley, Everton and Liverpool. It's 2/1 across the board for a repeat of that here, but the 6/5 available on the draw is good enough as it provides the 'safety net' of both teams getting one in the first 45 minutes.
A 1-1 score at full-time is available at 11/2, although the preference is to avoid correct score predictions given the unpredictable nature of both teams. We can hope for a low-scoring first-half though, in a game where Partey should see significant involvement if he starts.
Score prediction: Arsenal 1-1 Manchester United (Sky Bet odds: 11/2)
Arsenal v Manchester United best bets
Odds correct at 1600 GMT (28/01/21)
Opta facts
- Arsenal have won their last two Premier League matches against Manchester United, last winning three in a row in September 1998 under Arsène Wenger.
- Manchester United are winless in all four Premier League games against Arsenal under Ole Gunnar Solskjær (D1 L3) – the Norwegian is the only Red Devils manager to face Arsenal more than once in the top-flight without winning a game.
- Arsenal are looking to record a Premier League double over Manchester United for only the fourth time – the Gunners have won the league on two of the previous three occasions they’ve done so (1997/98 and 2001/02), also managing it in 2006/07, finishing 4th.
- Manchester United haven’t lost three consecutive away top-flight games against Arsenal since May 1991 – the Red Devils last lost three away league games in a row against any single opponent versus Brighton between 1982 and 2018.
- Arsenal have kept a clean sheet in each of their last three home games in all competitions, as many as they had in their previous 19 at the Emirates. They Gunners last recorded four consecutive shutouts at home in April 2019, a run that included a home win over Manchester United.
- Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is looking to become the first ever Gunners manager to win his first three league matches against Manchester United, and only the fourth to win their first three Premier League games for any club against the Red Devils, after Carlo Ancelotti, Manuel Pellegrini and Garry Monk.
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