Man City V Arsenal
The reigning league champions go into this match level on points with Arsenal and looking for a restoration of confidence after suffering in Madrid during the week. City lost in the Champions League at Real Madrid, while Arsenal came away from Montpellier with a win. With clean sheets hard to come by for Manchester City, can the Gunners, who look to be gathering momentum all the time, snap City’s unbeaten run at home in the league?
Man City v Arsenal Betting Odds at Online Bookmaker Paddy Power
Man City 3/4, Draw 13/5, Arsenal 15/4
Verdict:
A great looking match but one which surprised a little last season. They met three times last season and all of the matches were won by a 1-0 scoreline. Two wins went to City and one to Arsenal. Both sides won their respective home matches in the Premier League and there has only been six goals in the last six meetings between these two. So it usually a match in which defences have largely come out on top. Only Arsenal have conceded fewer shots on target this season than Man City in the Premier League, but the difference between the two sides is that City have been leaking goals whereas Arsenal have the best defensive record so far. City are on a 31 match unbeaten streak at home and that has to seriously be looked at. They haven’t played particularly well this season, but they haven’t been punished for their lapses. Arsenal have the potential to do so at the moment and they will test the unsettled City back line. The flow of things could just be in Arsenal’s favour and something of an upset could be on the cards. An Arsenal Correct Score 1-0 bet for a price of 7/1 with online bookmaker Paddy Power who will refund lost stakes on the market with their Money Back Special promotion for the match (see below).
Stat Attack:
City are without a clean sheet in their last seven fixtures
Arsenal have allowed the fewest amount of shots on target in the EPL
The Gunners have lost one of their last ten league matches on the road
City have not lost in their last 31 Premier League home matches
Head to Head:
All three games ended in a 1-0 scoreline between these two last season. Three of the last four meetings in Manchester between these two have ended in wins for City. Overall in the head to head, Arsenal have racked up 93 wins against City’s 47 in all competitions. That is quite a wide gap there. A second half goal from David Silva was enough to settle things at the Etihad Stadium last season, but the Gunners dominated possession in the game. Another reason to suggest that Arsenal may nick this one.
Online bookmaker promotion:
There are great refunds on offer from online bookmaker Paddy Power who are running a great Money Back Special. If the game ends in a draw, then the popular bookie will refund any losing Correct Score, First Goalscorer, Correct Score or Scorecast single bets placed on the match. In the First Goalscorer market Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero are trading as 5/1 favourites, while in the Correct Score market a 1-0 Man City win is on offer at 7/1. Great value in the markets with the Money Back Special from online bookmaker Paddy Power who offer a free £50 bet for new customers registering an account with them.
Man City v Arsenal Betting Preview:
How much will the defeat against Real Madrid have taken out of the short term confidence of Manchester City. They blew a lead twice in the game and it showed a problem they have had this season. City have been going well enough getting forward, that is really never going to be an issue for them. But the solid defence hasn’t shown up properly this season and that could be down to Roberto Mancini not starting the same back line in any successive games yet this season. They need to settle down quickly back there as the lapses they have suffered have not really cost them so far, but if it continues, then they will get punished. Especially against confident teams like Arsenal. City are without a clean sheet in their last seven matches in all competitions now. That Spanish defeat will have been draining for them mentally, but they have that tremendously long home record to bank on. They have touches of superb quality in Tevez and Aguero, match winners which often get them out of trouble. This is a match where they could just be a little vulnerable, that or the Madrid defeat will have woken them up and they will switch on.
Arsenal have just grown in confidence and look a very good side. Lukas Podolski has stepped up nicely to get on the score sheet, aided by Gervinho who is looking like has a new lease of life. Olivier Giroud still looks as if he is a man under pressure as he waits for his first goal though. Arsenal’s defence has been very good, although there were mistakes against Montpellier which should have been punished. Arsenal have conceded just one goal and while they have burst into life going forward, they haven’t sacrificed the discipline at the back. That is what makes them a dangerous side. Arsene Wenger’s men are on a nine match unbeaten run in all competitions and Santi Cazorla could be the one to watch as he created the most chances from open play in the Premier League this season. If the Gunners defence stays tight, Cazorla could just be the one to open up City at the back.
