Home advantage can give United the edge
MANCHESTER UNITED vs ARSENAL
Monday, 8.00pm, Sky Sports
ARSENAL forced their way to the top of the Premier League table last weekend with a 2-1 win against Fulham. Samir Nasri was the hero with a brace against the Cottagers and he has now scored four goals in his last three league games.
Manchester United’s game at Blackpool was abandoned last weekend which meant they had to relinquish top spot. However, Sir Alex Ferguson will be confident that his team will be back at the summit after Monday night’s match. The Red Devils have won seven of their past 11 home games against top-six finishers and current top-six teams since 2008/09. They also did the double over Arsenal last season and have lost only one of the last eight league meetings between the sides at Old Trafford.
Arsene Wenger will be pleased with his team’s away performances this season – they have the best record in the league, taking 17 points from a possible 24. They’ve also won their last four on the road, but it’s worth pointing out that they’ve lost five of their last seven at top-six finishers and current top-six opponents since the start of last season.
Home advantage tends to count for a lot in Big Four contests and United should be able to make it eight wins from nine home games this campaign. It’s strange that a team that has only dropped two points at home all season is available at EVS, so the advice is to back the United victory at that price with Paddy Power.
Both teams have been involved in some high scoring encounters recently, so it would be a surprise if this ended goalless. There have also been three or more goals scored in six of the last seven league meetings between the sides and both teams have scored in all six of these games. There isn’t a great deal between these two, so the 2-1 United victory looks a decent bet at 8/1 on Betdaq.
Bettorlogic.com analysis points out that there have been more goals in the second half in 16 of United’s last 26 home games and in seven of their last nine matches against Arsenal. There have also been more goals in the second half in eight of the Gunners’ last 12 away games at top-six finishers and current top-six teams. I would therefore advise spread bettors to wait for the interval before stepping in to buy goals with Sporting Index if one or none have been scored in the first half.
POINTERS…
Manchester United at EVS with Paddy Power
Manchester United to win 2-1 at 8/1 on Betdaq
Buy match goals at half-time with Sporting Index if one or none scored in first half