English Premier
2012-01-22 - Arsenal vs Manchester United
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Sunday 22 January 2012 - Kick Off 4pm
This game is live on TV
Arsenal
It wasn't that long ago that a lot of people were talking about the recovery made by Arsenal after a really poor start to the season. While it was a good run, I did urge caution that they had taken advantage of a nice set of fixtures, but the Gunners have even begun struggling against some of the weaker teams in the League.
The situation remains tense enough that Thierry Henry, returning to the club where he really made his name, got into an argument with a fan at the end of the 3-2 loss to Swansea last weekend.
The fact that Arsenal are still in touch for a place in the Champions League next season is a testimony to their manager, but they are 5 points behind Chelsea in 4th place. They, like Tottenham, would have been happy seeing the teams around them failing to win on Saturday and should give them a boost going into this game. Arsenal are 7-2-1 at home this season, scoring 16 goals and only conceding 6.
Arsenal are also looking to avoid their 3rd consecutive defeat in the Premier League after falling to Fulham and Swansea in their last 2 games. They have won less than half of their last 12 games in all competitions after winning 8 of 9 games before that. Arsenal have won 3 of their last 4 games at home, but it might be a little troubling that they have failed to score more than 1 goal in a game at home in their last 6 games in all competitions.
Thomas Vermaelan is a major doubt for this game and that is not good news for a defence that struggled mightily last week. Mikel Arteta is out and Thierry Henry is a doubt.
Manchester United
Manchester United bounced back to form in their last couple of games, wins over Manchester City and Bolton Wanderers, but there is still a concern that the depth in the squad is not quite good enough to keep tabs with Manchester City if the latter have a second half to the season as they did the first.
Sir Alex Ferguson continues to get the best out of what he has and it is quite amazing that they are so close to City considering all the problems they have had so far.
United will wake up on Sunday morning with a 3 point deficit to Manchester City that may have been extended in the earlier game on Sunday afternoon. The Red Devils have won the most away games in the League this season, one season after winning just 5 League games all year, and they are 7-2-1, scoring 19 goals and conceding 6. The team still have the best away defence in the League so far.
The win over Bolton at home last week meant United stopped a run of consecutive defeats in the Premier League. Despite having the best away defence in the League, United were beaten 3-0 at Newcastle United last time out, although they had won their previous 5 away games in the League all with clean sheets.
There are a couple of doubts regarding Rio Ferdinand's fitness, but Phil Jones and Chris Smalling should be involved. Anderson is out until the end of the month, while Ashley Young and Tom Cleverley are getting closer to a return. Danny Welbeck was forced off last week when scoring the second goal against Bolton, but is expected to start this weekend.
Head to Head
You would have to have been living on a deserted island if you missed the fact that Manchester United beat Arsenal 8-2 at Old Trafford earlier this season.
Arsenal beat United 1-0 here last season towards the end of that year, but have struggled against them in recent seasons.
The Gunners had won just 1 of their previous 4 home games against Manchester United in all competitions, losing the previous 2 both 1-3.
Prediction
I would be surprised if this is anything but an entertaining game on Sunday afternoon as surely both teams will feel they can get at the backline of their opponents and they may also figure that is the best way to protect their defensive frailties.
Arsenal have consistently given up chances in their games and face a team that is more than capable of exposing the lack of pace in the defence. United should be able to find the space behind the Gunners backline and have strikers in Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck that can score goals.
On the other hand, the lack of consistency in goal has made United a little nervous when it comes to defending and they had conceded 8 goals in 3 games before keeping a clean sheet against Bolton. They will face an in-form Robin Van Persie that can create something out of nothing and I would be surprised if Arsenal don't get on the scoresheet here.
If either team has ambitions to win this, I feel they will need to score at least 2 goals for those reasons. Before Arsenal's 1-0 win here last season, 6 of the last 7 games played in North London had finished with at least 3 goals scored and I think that run could be extended here.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Arsenal 2-3 Manchester United
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Over 2.75 Goals @ 2.00 (Pinnacle)
