Manchester City vs Arsenal
Manchester City vs Arsenal Saturday 17 October 2020 – 17:30 kick-off
English Premier League
Pick: Arsenal +1.5 Asian Handicap
Odds: 3/4
Bookmaker: Unibet
(All betting odds displayed were correct at time of writing: 15 October 2020)
Preview: Across the past three seasons, Arsenal have failed to register a single point against Manchester City in the Premier League, losing 3-0 home and away last term. This does appear as good a opportunity as any, though, to finally put an end to their barren streak in this fixture.
English Premier League Betting at Bet365
Table of Contents
Manchester City Preview – Porous defence still major concern?
Early efforts to reclaim the Premier League title back from Liverpool have not gone according to plan for Pep Guardiola and Manchester City. An impressive performance first time out at Wolves, winning 3-1 at Molineux, was then followed by their 5-2 dismantling by Leicester City at the Etihad before Leeds ran them close at Elland Road. All three games retained the same theme: bright, energetic starts before fading.
In theory, it should get easier this weekend. City have dominated recent league meetings with Arsenal, winning each of the last six and scoring exactly three goals on five occasions. They won 3-0 home and away last term. At the heart of both victories was Kevin de Bruyne, who is a major doubt this weekend, with the Belgian scoring three times one of which was a penalty when these sides met at the Etihad in June.
With Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero still sidelined, it potentially leaves Guardiola without either a natural striker or his most creative outlet. Hardly ideal for a side which has so far averaged 1.6 xG, well below their numbers posted in previous seasons. At the back, meanwhile, City have conceded seven times already. They have looked vulnerable in every game (2.2 xGA avg.) as well, and been readily exploited each time.
Arsenal Preview – Gunners should be good for a goal?
Aside from a rather tepid showing at Anfield against Premier League holders Liverpool, which was the only fixture they dropped points in, Arsenal supporters can be reasonably satisfied with what their team has produced up until now. Victories over Fulham (0-3), West Ham (2-1) and, more recently, Sheffield United (2-1) went some way to offsetting the loss on Merseyside, and sees Mikel Arteta’s men occupy a top-four berth.
It hasn’t always been convincing, though. In actual fact the Gunners rank in mid-table according to Infogol’s Expected Goals model, with a solid if unspectacular process: 1.4 xG & 1.3 xGA. So there remains plenty of work on the training field before this team can seriously mount a challenge at the top of the league. However theycontinue to ground out positive results despite looking as though they can go up another level.
The Gunners were surprisingly passive in their approach away to Liverpool, though, arguably showing the defending champions too much respect. Yet Alexandre Lacazette’s goal on Merseyside maintained his side’s excellent scoring run on the road, having netted on at least one occasion in all but one of their previous seven away league games (W3 L4). However, their record away to last season’s top-six was very poor: D2 L4.
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Manchester City vs Arsenal Betting Advice
While still too early to dub this as ‘must win’ for Man City, were they to lose a second league game of the season on Saturday, the alarm bells would certainly be ringing. For this reason, the greater pressure and onus is undoubtedly on the home side. This should favour Arsenal who will sit back in their compact shape in an effort to frustrate, before wreaking havoc in the transitions, similar to their recent FA Cup performance.
Man City vs Arsenal – Key Facts
- Prior to their heavy 5-2 defeat to Leicester City last time out at the Etihad Stadium, Man City had won seven successive games at home, with six coming to nil.
- Last season seen Arsenal fail to win at any team who finished inside the league’s top-six (D2 L4), despite failing to net in only two of these meetings.
- Man City have been utterly dominant against Arsenal across recent seasons. The Cityzens winning each of the past six league meetings by an aggregate of 17-2.
Man City haven’t looked as potent in their early encounters, but continue to look extremely vulnerable defensively. This could spell trouble against an Arsenal. A side that has grown in stature as a counter-attacking unit under Mikel Arteta. Meanwhile, the Gunners have scored in six of the last seven away league games. So with City possibly shorn of important attacking personnel, the annual rout of Arsenal may not be forthcoming.
Best Match Odds – Manchester City vs Arsenal
Man City – 2/5 (PaddyPower)
Draw – 17/4 (Unibet)
Arsenal – 13/2 (BetVictor)
