Manchester United can nick narrow win over old nemesis Arsenal

 

Arsenal’s surprise defeat to Swansea on Monday night was only their second home league reverse of the season, but it won’t rankle with them as much as the other one – the 2-1 loss to Sunday’s rivals Manchester United back in November.

 

Arsene Wenger’s men dominated that fixture, yet somehow found themselves 2-0 down despite just two United shots on target. A late rally wasn’t enough and, although the Gunners knocked their enemy out of the FA Cup here at Old Trafford in March, that was just their second win in 16 meetings.

 

 United are almost certain to gain a top-four spot and, with Arsenal already guaranteed Champions League football next season, this match might be a damp squib from a neutral’s point of view.

 

 The north London club could still snatch second place but, with easy home games against Sunderland and West Brom to come, it’s quite possible they could finish runners-up even with an eighth defeat of the campaign here.

 

Louis van Gaal has already set in motion his summer rebuilding plan for the Red Devils, with the signing of Memphis Depay, while the likes of Radamel Falcao, Robin van Persie and even Angel Di Maria could be on their way out of Old Trafford.

 

This is the last chance saloon for them to make an impact, with van Gaal still having failed to settle on his best team. Wenger, on the other hand, played the same starting XI against Swansea for the fifth successive league game – the first time for the Gunners since January 1994. 

 

But despite United’s much-documented woes, they have the joint-best number of home wins with Chelsea this season and only City have scored more than their haul of 40 at the Theatre of Dreams.

 

The hosts have also drawn just one game at home – no other Premier League side has recorded less than three – and I just have the feeling United might be able to nick this.

 

Arsenal regularly come up short against the bigger sides, especially away from the Emirates. After returning from a tricky trip to Crystal Palace last Sunday with three points, take Betway’s 7/5 on United building on that, giving their fans something to cheer about in their last home game.

 

Alternatively, spread bettors can buy United’s supremacy at a very reasonable 0.3 with Sporting Index. Selling goals at 2.75 certainly looks worth a wager with the spread betting firm – with neither team likely to be going hell for leather.

 

Man United at 7/5 with Betway

Sell total goals at 2.75 with Sporting Index