Arsenal v Man City Match Result
Arsenal are a shade of odds-against to win this Premier League football match. The Gunners are averaging two points per game domestically this term, although that still leaves them six points behind a high-flying Liverpool side having played a game more. It’s not an ideal situation and it’s clear that Bukayo Saka’s injury has clearly put paid to their attacking output.
However, you have to back to the beginning of November to find the last time that Arsenal were beaten in the Premier League. That was a 1-0 defeat away to Newcastle, while it was the same team that beat them at the Emirates in an EFL Cup semi-final clash although there’s plenty to like about the way in which this team can get positive results.
On the flip side, they will have had a midweek encounter against Girona and it’s hard to feel too confident that they’ll beat an opponent who are starting to find some form. Although there was a recent 4-2 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, City have been starting to motor in the Premier League.
The champions came from behind to win 3-1 against Chelsea on Saturday and that came after a 6-0 drubbing of Ipswich Town, with the team also going 2-0 up at Brentford before tossing away that advantage at the death. However, Erling Haaland is getting back among the goals and Phil Foden is proving to be a formidable presence in the team.
The draw is trading at an attractive price and we can’t rule out the teams cancelling each other out. There will be huge motivation from both teams to get the right result although the managers will be urging that the players keep calm heads in this encounter.
Goals Under/Over
The previous game between these teams ended in a 2-2 scoreline and the bookies think it’s marginally more likely that we’ll see Over 2.5 Goals at the Emirates. Manchester City’s last six games in all competitions featured at least four goals which brings Over 3.5 Goals into contention although the Arsenal defence will be in no mood to allow shots on target to be taken.
The Gunners edged a feisty clash at Molineux when winning 1-0 last weekend and that came after a 3-0 win against Dinamo Zagreb. William Saliba is back in central defence with Gabriel which means that they’ll be confident of nullifying the dangerous Erling Haaland although their previous three home matches have seen the goal count going over 2.5.
We can’t help but feel that Under 2.5 is the value here. Both teams will have had Champions League encounters during the week, while Mikel Arteta has previously spoken about matching City in terms of the overall tactics. The absence of Bukayo Saka robs the home side of their most dangerous attacking player.
BTTS
According to the Premier League betting sites, there’s a greater than 60% chance of both teams finding the net in this game. It’s plausible that the net will bulge at both ends on the basis that both sides will be going for a victory. Manchester City have discovered how to score goals again, with Erling Haaland the sort of forward who the Arsenal fans would appreciate having.
City are banging in the goals right now, with three notched against Chelsea and they raced into that two-goal lead at Brentford before being pegged back. And that’s the other thing – the City defence is far from settled or watertight right now, with Pep Guardiola trying to find the right blend of players in the absence of Rodri.
However, if you look beyond the 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium earlier this season, the previous head to head clashes have been altogether more cagier. The two sides played out a goalless draw at the Etihad last March where a sum total of three shots on target were registered throughout the contest.
Previously to this, a late Gabriel Martinelli proved the difference when the sides met at the Emirates and it’s possible that there’ll be a chess-like feel to this game again. Arsenal can ill-afford to drop any points and that means winning points the hard way could be the strategy.
First Goalscorer
Let’s start with Erling Haaland who continues to score goals at a rate of knots. The Norwegian has notched twenty-four times already this season and the forward has scored in three consecutive clashes, with goals coming against Ipswich, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. That was preceded by a brace against West Ham and it’s clear that the forward will need to be snuffed out.
With Gabriel and William Saliba aiming to demonstrate a physical presence against Haaland, perhaps that will open the door for Phil Foden who is capable of ghosting into attacking positions. It’s worth noting that Josko Gvardiol has scored five goals and he’s certainly the player to consider in the First Scorer market at the bigger odds.
For Arsenal, Gabriel was able to score a headed goal at the Etihad Stadium and perhaps he can be considered again while the City defence is in a state of disarray. The Gunners will hope to have a new forward in the door although it was Gabriel Martinelli who scored a late winner in this fixture last season and perhaps he’s the player to be with here.