Arsenal vs Manchester United Predictions
Arsenal Seek Another Big Win to Demonstrate Title Credentials
For soccer fans of a certain age, Arsenal vs Manchester United will always be the eminent rivalry in the Premier League. Between 1996 and 2004, the two clubs exclusively shared the title. The teams managed by Arsene Wenger and Alex Ferguson had a grudging respect for each other - but there was plenty of enmity too.
For some time, though, Arsenal and United have been shadows of their former selves. Manchester City and Liverpool have dominated the division in recent seasons. United have not won the title since 2013, the year Ferguson retired. Arsenal have gone 19 years without claiming the prize.
Yet there are signs of life at both clubs. We will explore United’s progress below, but Arsenal have undoubtedly been the story of the 2022/23 campaign so far. The Premier League leaders are the favorites to win the title with the best online sportsbooks after a stunning start.
Mikel Arteta’s men did not even finish in the top four last term, and Champions League qualification was thought to be the height of their ambitions going into this season. Instead, Arsenal are dominating the division à la Pep Guardiola’s City or Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool: the Gunners are currently on course for 99 points.
They will almost certainly fall short of that tally, but such a statistic goes to show just how good Arsenal have been up to now. Their latest victory was one of the most impressive yet. At the home of their arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur, the Gunners strolled to a 2-0 win last Sunday.
No one denies Arsenal are in the title race, despite understandable doubts a few months back. A victory on Sunday would further demonstrate their credentials - although it should be noted that United are the only team to beat Arsenal this season, having ran out 3-1 winners at Old Trafford in September.
Win for Manchester United Would Shake Things up at the Top
Manchester United fans feared another disappointing campaign after watching their team lose to Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford in their first two matches of 2022/23. A few months on and Red Devils supporters are daring to dream of a title tilt.
Expectations were tempered in midweek, as United could only draw 1-1 with Crystal Palace in a rearranged fixture at Selhurst Park.
Bruno Fernandes gave the visitors the lead shortly before half-time, but Michael Olise’s magnificent late free-kick meant United were unable to extend their winning run to 10 consecutive matches.
Still, over the last six rounds of fixtures, United have collected 16 points, just like Arsenal. They look more defensively solid than earlier in the campaign, while it is surely not a coincidence that Fernandes and Marcus Rashford in particular are playing considerably better now that they are no longer in Cristiano Ronaldo’s shadow.
The title still looks like a long shot, however. United are eight points adrift of the top spot despite having played one match more than Arsenal. And there are many Premier League viewers who still expect Manchester City to finish on top of the pile.
A top-four finish would be a positive outcome for United this season. That is by no means guaranteed, with around half of the season still to play. But the Red Devils have momentum behind them, unlike other contenders such as Tottenham, Chelsea, and Liverpool.
Entertaining Encounter in Store With Arsenal the Favorites
Arsenal may have lost at Old Trafford earlier in the campaign, but they were the better team on the day. They played with confidence and maturity against United, although a failure to take their chances ultimately proved costly.
Questions were also asked of Arteta, who made some attack-minded substitutions late on which simply afforded United more space on the counter-attack. But the Spaniard has been near-flawless since then, both tactically and in terms of man-management.
United realistically need to win on Sunday to get themselves into the title race, so we should not expect a cautious display from the away team.
A point would not be too bad a result for Arsenal given their favorable position at the summit of the standings, but Arteta will be going all-out for the win. His side plays proactive soccer and that will be the case again here.
For all those reasons, this has the potential to be a thoroughly entertaining encounter. It is one that could go either way, but we fancy Arsenal to come out on top.
They have won seven of their eight home games this term and have had a whole week to prepare for this fixture, compared to three or so days for United. Back a home win and over 2.5 goals.
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