One of the Premier League’s biggest rivalries resumes on Wednesday evening as a rejuvenated Arsenal take on the latest iteration of Manchester United.
Though clearly a conflict that has simmered down due to fluctuating fortunes for both teams in the last decade, the fans old enough to remember the classic battles between Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger. They will never talk as if this isn’t an important game to win, irrespective of the league table context.
And with the recently appointed Ruben Amorim on the cusp of experiencing this fixture for the first time, it will be a great chance to see how he and his players will respond to an Arsenal team who have scored 10 goals in their last two matches.
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Arsenal vs Manchester United Preview
With Liverpool’s electric start to the season showing no signs of faltering, the chasing pack are under immense pressure to maintain a near-perfect record to stay within striking distance. Of that hopeful pack, Arsenal seem the most reliable team to hunt down Liverpool, with the last few weeks being a period of stabilisation and recovery for the Gunners.
Arsenal come bouncing into this fixture following 5-1 and 5-2 wins away at Sporting and West Ham respectively, with the return of Martin Odegaard proving a crucial turning point. The Norway captain has been evidently influential in how the team attacks and defends, adding to the potent threat of Bukayo Saka and helping to bring the best out of the other players around him.
Perhaps Arsenal’s win over Amorim’s former employers Sporting could be seen as foreshadowing, as Amorim has immediately implemented the same tactical principles that he left behind in Lisbon in his early weeks in Manchester. Mikel Arteta’s team ruthlessly exposed particular areas in the Sporting setup, racing to a 3-0 half-time lead. And they were even more clinical against West Ham last Saturday evening, scoring four goals without reply within 36 minutes.
United, meanwhile, eventually trounced Everton 4-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday, but things were quite evenly contested before Marcus Rashford’s opening goal in the 34th minute. From there, confidence grew and they took advantage of a poor Everton side who sit bottom of the 2024 calendar year table of existing Premier League teams, showing how far their sub-standard run has been.
If Arsenal have actually turned a corner in their season, this – like seemingly all of their remaining games – is a must win. They have to capitalise on a team in a period of transition under a new manager trying to coach some new ideas. For United, though, this seems like a fantastic opportunity to really mark the start of the Amorim era by getting a positive result away at a genuine title contender.
Arsenal vs Manchester United Odds
*All odds are subject to change
Arsenal are rightly favourites heading into this one, with a Gunners victory at 1.46. A United win is priced at a huge 6.75, while the draw is at 4.75.
Arsenal vs Manchester United Betting Tips
Correct Score – Arsenal 3-1 @ 10.50
We’re going big with our first tip! Arsenal start fast with an early lead but are pegged back by United equaliser, forcing them to increase their attacking focus that results in two more goals for the home side. So says our Magic 8 Ball.
Goalscorer – Bukayo Saka Anytime @ 2.25
He’s Arsenal’s most reliable goalscoring threat, and that’s at the same time topping their assists chart as well. His overall progression has continued this season, meaning that he’s a good tip to score any time he takes to the pitch.
Both Teams to Score No Draw @ 2.40
Although famed for their great defensive record last season, the Arsenal defence have been noticeably short of clean sheets so far this term. Of course, this has been somewhat down to red cards and injuries, but still, they just don’t seem as secure. So, we fancy United can generate enough to score one way or another, if not do enough to avoid defeat.
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