English Premier
2025-03-09 - Manchester United vs Arsenal
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Sunday 9th March 2025 - Kick Off 4:30pm
This game is live on TV
Manchester United
A strong performance in Europe looked to be putting Manchester United in command of their Last 16 Europa League tie with Real Sociedad, but a Penalty for the hosts turned the momentum. At the end of the evening, Manchester United might be pretty happy with the 1-1 draw in San Sebastian and the season really does feel like 'Bilbao or Bust' for the club with the Final of the Europa League set to be played there in May.
Ruben Amorim has been pretty clear that there is plenty of hard work to do in order to turn Manchester United around and that winning a Cup will only be papering over issues. Despite that, the manager knows silverware can offer breathing room in a season where Manchester United are 14th in the Premier League table and 14 points behind the top four places. The side have a disappointing 6-1-7 record at Old Trafford in the Premier League where Manchester United have scored 20 goals and conceded 24.
Manchester United have won 1 of their last 5 games in all competitions and have been dumped out of the FA Cup in that run. More encouraging is the fact that they have lost 1 of their last 5 at Old Trafford in all competitions in normal time and Manchester United have won 3 times in that run, which is a big improvement on the losses that had piled up here a couple of months ago.
Patrick Dorgu will continue a domestic suspension, while the manager has made it known that he expects all of the injured players that missed the Europa League Last 16 First Leg to miss out again. Risks will not be taken with Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte in the hope that both are available for selection in the Second Leg against Real Sociedad.
Arsenal
Recent games had seen an injury hit Arsenal team struggle to score goals and that has probably cost them any chance of catching Liverpool in the Premier League title race. However, the players will have been given a real boost about what can yet be achieved this season when crushing PSV Eindhoven 1-7 in the Champions League Last 16 in the Netherlands during the week.
With a spot in the Quarter Final effectively wrapped up, Mikel Arteta will want his Arsenal team to push forward with the momentum earned and not offer encouragement to those behind them in the Premier League standings. There are 13 points between Arsenal and League leaders Liverpool, which looks almost impossible to bridge, while recent results have left them 'only' 8 points clear of 5th placed Chelsea. The Gunners head to the North West with a 7-5-2 away record in the top flight.
Arsenal had failed to score in 3 of their previous 4 games in all competitions following the 5-1 thumping of Manchester City, but then managed seven in Eindhoven. The side have now won 4 of their last 6 away games in all competitions, but Arsenal were held to a goalless draw at Nottingham Forest in their last away Premier League game.
The March international break may offer Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka the time to return to first team training and offer Arsenal a real boost to take into the final two months of the season.
Head to Head
Arsenal beat Manchester United 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League in December, but the FA Cup Third Round tie finished 1-1 at the same Stadium in December.
That tie was eventually won on Penalties by Manchester United, but they have won none of their last 5 against Arsenal in normal time.
Manchester United had beaten Arsenal twice in a row at Old Trafford before the 0-1 defeat here last season.
Prediction
It has been several years since Manchester United versus Arsenal would see both teams fighting it out for the Premier League title and this fixture does lack the glamour of previous meetings.
Some of that is down to the fact that neither have a lot to play for in the Premier League with the focus turning to European competition.
Mikel Arteta has refused to throw in the towel in the Premier League title race though and his team were very comfortable winners in Eindhoven on Tuesday evening. The players should be rested and there will be no real distraction of the upcoming Second Leg against PSV with such a big lead on the board.
They can travel to Old Trafford looking to secure three points to just keep themselves a little interested in the Premier League title race and Arsenal should have just enough to do that.
Ruben Amorim's team have played well in the big games in his short time in charge with Manchester United happy to sit back and counter, but the manager admitted some of his players are tired and with little room for rotation. Playing on Thursday in Spain and facing this fixture on Sunday is tough at the best of times, but even more so with Manchester United's main focus on the Europa League Last 16 Second Leg against Real Sociedad following the 1-1 draw in San Sebastian.
It may mean some players are withdrawn earlier than they would be if this game meant a lot to Manchester United and that should only offer Arsenal more of an edge.
You have to expect The Gunners to have a lot more intensity as the fixture moves past the 60th minute mark, while the set piece ability of Arsenal offers them another threat throughout.
The odds have drifted further and further in favour of Arsenal with the current situation around both teams and Mikel Arteta's team should win. There will be a concern that the attackers have all emptied the chambers in the 1-7 win in Eindhoven, but Arsenal should still have enough in the final third and can keep Manchester United at arm's length in an away win on Sunday afternoon.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal
