EPL Odds: Battered Man U Face a Slumping Gunners Squad
Arsenal (-105) vs. Manchester United (+333), Draw (+280)
Here’s an interesting fact: Arsene Wenger has never beaten Jose Mourinho in a competitive game.
Arsenal (18-6-9, 60 points) will be looking to put an end to that when they host Manchester United (17-14-3, 65 points) this Sunday, May 7th for the 36th fixture of the Premier League.
Man United are doing reasonably well at the moment. They’re fifth in the league and only one point short of the top four; they’re the favorites to win the Europa League; and they’re currently unbeaten in 25 league games.
Meanwhile, Arsenal is having an atrocious season. They’re set to finish outside of the top four for the first time in over two decades; their current form is woeful; and their Champions League campaign was an embarrassment.
So why is Arsenal the favorite heading into the match?
Well, let’s start with Man United’s injury list. Defenders Luke Shaw and Marcos Rojo will both miss the Arsenal clash, and star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is out for at least the remainder of the season. That’s three key players missing.
On top of that, Marcus Rashford, who has done an amazing job replacing Ibrahimovic, is also unlikely to start. Rashford hobbled off the field during the Europa match against Celta Vigo, and Mourinho will be inclined to save him for their second leg clash.
A win for United would greatly improve their chances of a top-four finish, but their main priority this season is the Europa League. Both would ensure a spot in the Champions League next year, but only one results in a trophy.
Arsenal aren’t without injuries either. Santi Cazorla, Granit Xhaka, and Lucas Pérez are all expected to miss the game tomorrow. While Shkodran Mustafi’s chances are also pretty doubtful.
Without Rashford or Ibrahimovic, Manchester United are a greatly diminished side. Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial will have to lead the attack and both have been underwhelming this season.
Having said that, I still don’t think the current Arsenal side will break Manchester United’s unbeaten streak. Man U have had their fair share of draws this season, so why not another?
Pick: Draw (+280)
Don Aguero is a man of many talents, writing about nearly anything you can put odds to. Don has been writing for SportsBettingDime since 2015, covering sports, entertainment and politics. You name it, he's covered it! He is also a steadfast West Ham fan, and has learned to embrace that suffering.
