Manchester City v Arsenal Predictions & Betting Odds – 18th December 2016

Gunners to snatch important away win?

Manchester City
Manchester City © GEPA pictures

Manchester City v Arsenal Betting Preview – Premier League 18th December

A huge clash in the Premier League on Sunday. The game at the Etihad has huge importance in the title race. The Citizens go into the home fixture against the Gunners trailing the London outfit by a point. So City would be facing a big hole if they were to lose this one at home and their form at the Etihad in the league hasn’t been top notch. But Arsenal too have to prove themselves as they lost some momentum in midweek having had their fourteen match unbeaten streak snapped with a defeat at Everton. Will they be able to bounce back or at least hold out for a point in this huge game?

There is a price boost offer at 888Sport for Sunday’s big Premier League game. As a new customer registering an account with them, you can take either Man City at 7/1 to win the game or you can go with an price of 11/1 on Arsenal. This enhanced odds offer allows punters the chance to go and pick up some extra winnings from a selection (enhanced odds winnings will be free bets). There is a £10 maximum stake on this offer and it is a new customer exclusive so it has to be struck with your first wager on the new account.

Manchester City v Arsenal 2016 Infographic

Manchester City v Arsenal Betting Tips

Can Pep Guardiola’s men produce the special performance that they need in this one? They need a boost of confidence from somewhere. They may have taken some from their clean sheet home win over Watford in midweek but their overall home record this season is W4 D3 L1. In their last five home games though they have produced just the one win in a W1 D3 L1 record. With Chelsea winning on the weekend again, Manchester City fell ten points behind the leaders and already there is huge ground for them to make up. Man City’s clean sheet against Watford was only their second one at home this season. So a huge game for Pep Guardiola’s men and Manchester City have actually failed to land a win any of their last six games against Arsenal across all competitions. In last season’s meeting at the Etihad in the league, there was a 2-2 draw. The Citizens have shipped at least two goals in each of their last three home games against the Gunners.

There hasn’t been a clean sheet for Manchester City in any of their last seven games against Arsenal in all competitions. So at 888Sport there is a price of 8/15 on both teams to score in this fixture. Recent history would suggest that the game is going to go over 2.5 goals which is a price of 13/20 to happen, but it may be worth pushing out the margin to a 3.5 goal line which can be backed at a price of 6/4 with the bookmaker instead. Adding weight to that is the fact that the last six league games between these two have produced 24 goals in total, so that’s an average of four goals per game. The Citizens are missing key players, none more so than Sergio Aguero who is still serving his suspension. Kelechi Iheanacho is up at a price of 11/8 in the anytime goalscorer market with other options like Nolito and Kevin De Bruyne at 2/1 for the home side. This really isn’t a game which Guardiola can afford to lose in terms of the top four battle. With so many question marks over their defence, there is a huge price of 9/4 on them to keep a clean sheet.

Arsenal have produced a W5 D2 L1 record this season in the top flight away from the Emirates, which has been very solid. However, they lost their last away game which was at Everton in the week and that was a game in which they have taken the lead. Arsenal’s two defeats this season has both been after they had taken the lead in the match. Arsenal have managed just the one clean sheet in their last six away games in the Premier League so they will give up chances in games. Arsenal keeper Petr Cech actually hasn’t kept a clean sheet in any of his last seven Premier League games. It may be worth taking a punt of 7/5 on the half-time draw at 888Sport because Arsenal are the only side in the top flight not to have been behind at the break in any game this term. Alexis Sanchez has netted 19 goals in his last 27 league appearance for Arsenal and he is up at a price of 6/5 in the anytime goalscorer market. Olivier Giroud has netted in four successive games now (all competitions) all competitions. Arsenal could land a huge statement in this one if they can shake off that defeat at Goodison.

Manchester City v Arsenal Betting Odds

Manchester City 23/20, Arsenal 5/2, Draw 13/5

Manchester City v Arsenal Predictions

What a game this should be and there should be plenty of chances happening at both ends. The game should fly over the 2.5 goals for starters and neither defence can be trusted all that much. So tough to pick a winner out of this one, but given the weight of City’s poor home form and how well Arsenal have done, it could be worth looking at an away win.