The Premier League is past the halfway point of the season, and teams are starting to ramp up. Arsenal vs Manchester United will pit two teams with similar goals but different routes to reaching them.
The Gunners find themselves in a surprising position to win the league after United gave them a favor in beating Manchester City. They will look to maximize the opportunity given to them by their rivals by cementing their eight-point advantage on the Premier League table.
Meanwhile, the Red Devils will want to keep their red-hot form running. Things are swimmingly well under Erik ten Hag as United rediscovers its dominant form. The team is playing fantastic football as players like Marcus Rashford rediscover their form.
This Premier League duel is poised to become an explosive contest with plenty of fouls, rough defense, and entertaining, attacking football. OKBET fans who want to bet on this match should keep on reading, as this piece will provide an honest look at how the two teams will play this match out.
Arsenal: The Gunners Pushing for the League Title
This is the first time in five years that Arsenal has a shot at establishing its dominance at the top. The fans want the team to keep the momentum going, but they understand that the first team has a tough task in stopping a prolific United side.
Arsenal sits comfortably at the top of the league table with 15 wins, two draws, and a loss. Mikel Arteta is paying back the club’s faith in him with the quality of play the club is showcasing in the league.
The more obvious beneficiaries of Arteta’s tactics are the players up front. Martin Odegaard is thriving as the team’s captain. The Arsenal captain already has eight goals and five assists in seventeen league appearances. His advanced stats (0.31 non-penalty goals per 90, 0.17 assists per 90, and 5.32 shot-creating actions per 90) also show how well he thrives under Arteta.
Bakayo Saka is another player who blossomed in Arsenal’s current system. The England international—who established his position in the Three Lions XI in Qatar—was hard to contain during the Gunners’ 2-0 win in the North London derby. He also has six goals and seven assists from the right wing.
The importance of this game for Arteta and Arsenal is more than just securing the three points. After this game, the Gunners will travel to the Etihad to face Pep Guardiola and Manchester City. Winning against the Red Devils allows them a shot to extend their points advantage to 11.
Manchester United: A Resurging Red Devils Under Ten Hag
While it may sound strange to some, the Red Devils share the same upwards trajectory as their upcoming opponents. This positive change is something that many United fans welcome as they haven’t felt this kind of exciting football ever since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club.
Ten Hag’s start at Old Trafford didn’t give him the best first impression. However, he quickly found a tactical solution to the team’s problems as he tried to get the team used to his ideal way of playing.
One of the biggest cogs for Ten Hag’s United has been Casemiro. The former holding midfielder for Real Madrid has been instrumental in limiting their losses to just four games. The 30-year-old still has elite defensive stats that allows him to shore up the backline alongside fellow new signing Lisandro Martinez.
On the attacking front, Bruno Fernandes continues to establish himself as the top midfield cog for the Red Devils. While he only has three goals and three assists to his name, his progressive passes (4.63 per 90), clearances (1.15 per 90), and xAG (0.32) are among the best in the midfield position.
Finally, Ten Hag has players who can step up on the attack. Rashford netted the all-important winner in the Manchester Derby and will be an important force in this match. Alejandro Garnacho is also becoming a reliable sub for Ten Hag. His energy down the wings will make him an important trump card for the Dutch tactician.
The Red Devils are still on a high after winning an important (albeit controversial) Manchester Derby and will want to keep their seven-game winning streak going. It will be up to United’s head coach to help his team focus their efforts against a strong Arsenal side.
Arsenal vs Manchester United Predictions
Both teams are playing great football right now, so it can be tough to figure out which side will come out on top. Both teams have creative outlets and fast finishers who can get to cutting passes. They also have standout defenders who can handle the defense.
If United can hold off Arsenal’s attack, they have a great chance of winning this fixture. Casemiro and the entire defensive unit playing their role to perfection will be the key to Ten Hag’s team getting the three points. United can win with a cutting free kick from Eriksen to a marauding Rashford or Garnacho to steal the three points.
However, Arsenal should be the overwhelming favorite to win this. Odegaard and the rest of the Gunners’ attacking corps are much better at creating and converting chances than their opponents. Moreover, Granit Xhaka, Gabriel, and company have mastered the art of defending against hyper-aggressive attacks.
A solo run from Saka and a poached goal from Gabriel Martinelli will see the league leaders finish as 2-1 winners.
Arsenal vs Manchester United Odds
The bookies at OKBET see this as a one-way game. The odds point to the fact that Arteta’s Arsenal mastered his tactics better than Ten Hag’s United, which should spell the difference between the two sides.
| 1X2 | Handicap | O/U Goals @ 2.5/3 | 1X2 Half | Handicap Half | O/U Goals Half @ 1 | |||||
| Arsenal | 1.96 | -0.5 | 1.96 | Over | 1.98 | 2.54 | -0.5/1 | 2.09 | Over | 1.79 |
| Man Utd | 3.80 | +0.5 | 1.96 | Under | 1.92 | 4.00 | +0.5/1 | 1.79 | Under | 2.09 |
| Draw | 3.80 | 2.29 | ||||||||
The bookies look at the Red Devils as massive underdogs against the Gunners. However, the handicap market suggests that the final score could be much closer than what Arsenal fans would want.
The Over-Under market believes that goals will be limited to under two goals. This means they see a 2-0 or 1-0 Arsenal win. However, the half-time O/U market thinks there will be at least two goals by the end of the first half.
The first-half handicap also gives the Gunners a slight edge. The half-time 1X2 market, meanwhile, thinks that a draw will be the likely result.
If you’re looking for a daring bet, go for the Draw in the 1X2 market. Manchester United have enough quality about them to equalize. Meanwhile, Arsenal has too many good players to lose against the Red Devils.
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