Arsenal Vs Manchester City
Arsenal Vs Manchester City Tuesday 22nd December 2020 – 20:00 (kick-off)
EFL Cup
Pick: Man City to WIN
Odds: 4/6
Bookmaker: BetFred
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 20th December 2020)
Preview: After lifting their seventh EFL Cup in 2019/20, Man City can become the most successful club in competition history – alongside Liverpool – should they go on to lift the trophy for a fourth season in a row in February. Standing in the way of another semi-final, however, is last season’s FA Cup conquerors, Arsenal.
Table of Contents
Arsenal – Arteta coming under fire from disgruntled fans?
Patience is wearing thin among the Arsenal faithful, who on Saturday were forced to endure another abject display from their side in the 2-1 loss to Everton that made it seven consecutive league games without a win under Mikel Arteta. It was far from being ideal preparation ahead of their EFL Cup quarter-final clash with the winners of this competition in each of the past three seasons, Man City.
Since the appointment of Arteta twelve months ago, in December 2019, Arsenal have earned more wins in cup competitions (14 out of 17 games) than in the league (13 of 34). Among them a 2-0 victory against Man City, albeit on neutral ground inside Wembey, en route to securing a record-extending 14th FA Cup. So, despite a turbulent campaign until now, we should perhaps write them off at our peril.
There is no escaping cold hard facts, though. For example, this is now the club’s worst start to a season since 1974/75, after winning four of 14 Premier League games so far, losing eight, to reside five points clear of the bottom three. Scoring has also proven problematic: since their last domestic win – a 1-0 scoreline at Old Trafford against Man Utd – the Gunners have netted a miserly three times in 630 minutes.
Manchester City – Guardiola to continue cup affinity?
A sixth EFL Cup quarter-final appearance in nine seasons is what awaits Manchester City on Tuesday, going on to lift the trophy on each of the previous five including all three under manager Pep Guardiola. Remarkably, the Spaniard has never lost a fixture in this competition, even defeating Arsenal in the first of his three finals with the club back in 2018. A flawless record he will be keen to preserve at Emirates Stadium.
Guardiola has also enjoyed his visits to north London where, as Man City boss, he has three wins from four competitive matches. A 2-2 draw in April 2017, in what was his maiden Premier League campaign as manager, the one exception thus far. His team winning without conceding on all three subsequent meetings here against the Gunners, absolutely cruising to a 3-0 Premier League victory last season.
However, as impressive as all that is, their 2-0 defeat to Arsenal in July’s FA Cup semi-final at Wembley has dented Man City’s aura in this fixture. There is also the consensus that this team has regressed this season, namely in the league. The Citizens already eight points adrift of leaders Liverpool, after collecting only their sixth win in their thirteenth league fixture away at Southampton at the weekend.
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Arsenal Vs Man City Betting Advice
The EFL Cup, under its various guises, has been dominated by Man City who secured their fifth success in this competition across the previous seven campaigns when edging out Aston Villa in the final in 2019/20. Yet Arsenal have excelled in the cups under Mikel Arteta, Pep Guardiola’s former assistant, even managing to eliminate City from the FA Cup in July after an outstanding display in a 2-0 triumph at Wembley.
Arsenal Vs Man City – Key Facts:
- Struggling in the Premier League this season (15th – W4 D2 L8), Arsenal ousted Leicester (0-2) and Liverpool (0-0, 4-5 on pens) in the earlier rounds.
- Well off the current title pace in the league (6th – W6 D5 L2), Man City are into yet another quarter-final after eliminating Bournemouth (2-1) and Burnley (0-3).
- Pep Guardiola has never lost a competitive match as Man City manager at Emirates Stadium (W3 D1), winning on each of the last three visits all without conceding.
Here at the Emirates, though, Arsenal are yet to inflict defeat on Man City with Pep in charge, the Spaniard winning each of the last three such meetings. That, coupled with the Gunners’ current issues – no win in seven league games (D2 L5) – makes the visitors the obvious choice. It could be tight, though: 10 of Man City’s last 11 league games went Under 2.5 Goals, as have seven of Arsenal’s last 10.
Best Betting Odds – Arsenal Vs Manchester City
Arsenal – 4/1 (Betfair)
Draw – 7/2 (888Sport)
Manchester City – 4/6 (BetFred)
