What is on the cards for Arsenal during their run of December Premier League matches? The Gunners are currently sitting third in the league behind Manchester United and Chelsea, and have a good chance to make some inroads towards the top of the league in scent. Three home matches out of five should serve them well during this busy month, but there are two major tough challenges ahead for them. Arsenal play the most attractive football in the Premier League, and to their credit, that will always put them in with a chance in matches. They do need a fit squad though all the same, and need the likes of Robin Van Persie and Cesc Fabregas to stay as healthy as they can throughout the campaign, especially during the battling cold winter months. That extra touch of world class quality will come in handy. Are Arsenal strong enough at the back? Do they have the goalkeeping quality to win the Premier League? Their home form has really been upset this season, and is not something you expect from an Arsene Wenger side. Will they grow in the role of genuine title contenders as the season rolls on, or will they fall down again against Manchester United and Chelsea? Here we take a look at what is to come for the Gunners in December, along with some football betting predictions, ante-post odds and some tips where available.
Arsenal Premier League Outright Betting Odds
Arsenal are still comfortably one of the best three, and they really need to end their barren run of no silverware this year. They have one of the deepest squads that they have had for some time now, and are incredibly talented going forward. There will always be questions about their defensive, and in particular goalkeeping frailties, and that has come to light again this season. However, they are a little stronger in the centre of defence, and they have shown good patches of grit, that they are willing to dig in and win ugly when necessary. This is a vital component in the Premier League, and you just wonder if Arsenal have enough of it. They have the passing, creative and goals coring talent needed to win the league, but do they have the mettle? Sitting just two points behind leaders Manchester United at the moment, they are certainly in with a better chance of winning the league than they have been for a few years. Worth a good outside bet.
9/2 at SkyBet
Arsenal v Fulham, Saturday, December 4th
A nice home start for Arsenal in December, and you would expect a home win to come against a Fulham side who are sitting just above the relegation zone. However, Fulham are the draw specialists in the Premier League season, having tied nine of their fifteen games so far. But that stat really shouldn’t come into play for the Gunners, and if they have Cesc Fabregas and Robin Van Persie back to full fitness for December, then they of course will be in much better standing to press on. There really shouldn’t be any problems here for Arsenal, and they will be positive that they can start December off with three points comfortably in the bag.
Prediction: Win 3/10 at Paddy Power
Other: Draw 9/2 at BetFred, Fulham 12/1 at Victor Chandler
Manchester United v Arsenal, Sunday, December 12th
This really will be Arsenal’s biggest test of December. They still have to play Chelsea, but at least they have some security there in being at home. Trips to Old Trafford are rarely very fruitful for teams, and this again will be a benchmark in the credentials of Arsenal. If they can topple United at Old Trafford, then they have to be looked at as serious contenders, and it will suggest the Premier League will not come down to a two horse race this season. Arsenal have struggled at Old Trafford in recent history, and unfortunately, their lack of true battling qualities against some of the most proficient battlers in the league, may see them come short. Arsene Wenger may be ruing a big missed chance to get one over on their old rivals at Old Trafford, but then points dropped at Old Trafford can be redeemed throughout the rest of December. It is hard to see Arsenal winning there because they have a pretty terrible record at Old Trafford. The Gunners have won just 17% of their matches at Old Trafford, and is why they keep missing out on the league title. They haven’t had enough to beat the top teams when it counts, failing to win at Old Trafford in their last four visits.
Prediction: Loss 18/19 at Bwin
Other: Draw 12/5 at Bwin, Arsenal 13/5 at Bwin
Arsenal v Stoke, Saturday, December 18th
This is just the type of match that Arsenal need to win, and should win with relative ease. Stoke are giving a very good account of themselves this season, and are to be commended for their efforts. They start December in eighth place and will continue to be a thorn in the side of teams in the Premier League. Opponents do not like playing Stoke because they are a direct and physical side, just the very opposite of what Arsenal are. This is the type of opposition which can bully Arsenal out of points in the league, but if Arsenal are seriously mounting a title charge this season, then they will pick up another three points here. The good thing about Arsenal, is that they have goals in them, and if they can get to grips with opposition like Stoke, then they have the creativity to play their way around teams like that.
Prediction: Win 3/10 at Bwin
Other: Draw 4/1 at Bwin, Stoke 8/1 at Bwin
Arsenal v Chelsea, Monday, December 27th
Arsenal will look to potentially destroy the chances of Chelsea defending their Premier League title, with a win at the Emirates. The Gunners were undone badly by Chelsea in this fixture last year, and again the Blues got the upper hand when the two sides met at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season. Chelsea really seem to have gotten Arsenal all sussed out, and therefore, this could be more points down the drain for the Gunners. These are always entertaining matches, but there is something of an inferiority complex about Arsenal when they come up against Chelsea recently, and this trend will be set to continue again this season, even if the Blues aren’t at their best. Chelsea know how to handle and deal with Arsenal, and the Blues dominance over the Gunners over the past few seasons is evident. The Gunners were swept aside 2-0 both home and away by Chelsea last season, and once again this year at Stamford Bridge. Even though Arsenal have a strong 49% win success against Chelsea at home, they still to be intimidated by the big opposition, and unless that changes, then there will be more dropped points for Arsenal.
Prediction: Loss
Wigan v Arsenal, Wednesday, December 29th
This could culminate in a up and down December for Arsenal. Wigan are really struggling in the Premier League this season, and the Gunners should be able to pick up a vital three points away from home. They will probably need it when it gets to this point to be honest, as it will just be enough to keep them in the title hunt, after losing ground against Chelsea and Manchester United again. Those are the teams that they really need to be beating. They expect to beat Wigan and pick up three points, they need to start expecting genuinely to match Chelsea and United if they are going to go all of the way this season to the title. They may be almost there, but do they still have a little way to go? It is hard to see Wigan posing much of a threat to Arsenal really, on paper you should give Arsenal the three points now. It should be the perfect tonic after having to face both Manchester United and Chelsea.
Prediction: Win
Start of December Premier League:
Manchester United: P15 W8 D7 L0 Pts 31 (1st)
Chelsea: P15 W9 D2 L4 Pts 29 (2nd)
Arsenal: P15 W9 D2 L4 Pts 29 (3rd)
End of December Premier League Predictions (Click links to see December Predictions)
Manchester United: P20 W12 D7 L1 Pts 43 (1st)
Chelsea: P20 W12 D4 L4 Pts 40 (2nd)
Arsenal: P20 W12 D2 L6 Pts 38 (3rd)
