Manchester United v Arsenal Betting Preview

Arsenal travel to Old Trafford this Monday evening to face Manchester United with the little matter of top spot in the Premier League up for grabs.

Arsenal’s Achilles heel last season was their results against the other clubs challenging for the Premier League title. Defeats to Chelsea and Tottenham already this season suggest that they have not combated that problem yet, making this game against an unbeaten Manchester United big in terms of the ensuing psychological implications as well as the points on offer.

Arsene Wenger will be without Kieran Gibbs who picked up an ankle injury against Partizan Belgrade in midweek. He joins Thomas Vermaelen on the sidelines with Cesc Fabregas, Manuel Almunia, Johan Djourou and Abou Diaby all rated doubtful.

Rio Ferdinand and Paul Scholes have been declared fit for United whilst Michael Owen is still a week or two away from a return despite resuming full training.

Seven wins and just one draw from their eight home Premier League games this season suggests that Old Trafford has been something of a fortress this season. But a near-to-full-strength side were held against Valencia in midweek and that result followed on from a 4-0 thrashing at bottom-of-the-table West Ham in the Carling Cup the week before. So Sir Alex Ferguson’s men aren’t exactly in scintillating form.

The bookmakers suggest that it is a 50/50 chance as to whether United pick up maximum points here with Evens available on the home win. Arsenal are quoted at 11/4 to get their first win against United in six attempts and a share of the spoils is priced at 12/5.

Despite not scoring a goal from open play in over nine months now Wayne Rooney is surprisingly made the 4/1 favourite to break the deadlock at Old Trafford, although the England striker is likely to be on penalty duty.

The neutrals will be hoping that both teams are focussed on the positives that winning this game could bring, rather than the negatives that defeat would ensue.