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Arsenal FC – Manchester United
German football fans are completely relieved as the Bundesliga returns from its winter break this weekend. In the Premier League, however, there is no such thing as a winter break. Since Boxing Day, England has been back in full swing. This weekend, the Premier League enters its 21st matchday. On Sunday evening, an absolute top match will be played in North London. Third-placed Manchester United travel to the Emirates Stadium for a clash with league leaders Arsenal.
Arsenal seem to be simply unstoppable this season. Coach Mikel Arteta’s team is on an incredible run and has only lost once in the league. This came, excitingly, in the first leg against Man United. However, the Gunners are unbeaten in the league for twelve games. Last weekend, Arsenal won the North London derby against arch-rivals Tottenham 2-0.
But Man United are also on an extremely good run at the moment. The Red Devils won seven of their eight competitive matches after the World Cup break. At the weekend, United beat city rivals Man City 2-1 at home in Old Trafford and even climbed to third place in the league. During the week, however, they only managed a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace. Find out who will win the clash between the best teams in the Premier League in our Arsenal vs Man United betting tips.
Arsenal – Man United Info:
– Date & Time: 22.01.2023, 17:30 hrs.
– Venue: Emirates Stadium, London
– Competition: Premier League, Matchday 21
– TV coverage: Sky
Arsenal Form & Balance Check
The 2003/2004 season was the last time Arsenal won the English championship. Arsène Wenger’s team became the only team in the history of the Premier League to remain unbeaten for an entire season. After 18 games, the Gunners had twelve wins and 42 points to their name.
This season, Arsenal’s tally is even more impressive. The Gunners have won 15 of their 18 Premier League games and currently have 47 points. With this record, coach Mikel Arteta’s team leads the Premier League by a commanding margin. With one game less, Arsenal are already five points ahead of second-placed Manchester City. Last Sunday, the Gunners beat Tottenham 2-0 in the North London derby, and a win over third-placed Man United would take Arsenal one step closer to the much-awaited league title.
The Young Wild Ones
The team that has been on the pitch for Arsenal in the league this year has averaged just 24.1 years old. Arsenal thus have the youngest team in the entire Premier League. Key players William Saliba, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are all just 21 years old. Over the last few years, the Gunners have formed a young team that is now able to perform consistently.
Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale is also only 24 years old. Only three regular goalkeepers in the Premier League are younger than Ramsdale, none of them playing for a club in the top half of the table. Also 24 years old is captain Martin Ødegaard. The Norwegian is also the Gunners’ top scorer in the league with eight goals. Ødegaard is now fulfilling the potential that many football fans hoped for after his move to Real Madrid eight years ago.
Arsenal facts & analysis
– Top of the Premier League table.
– 11 games without defeat in the league
– No home defeat yet in the league this season
Man United form & balance check
From 1986 to 2013, Sir Alex Ferguson was manager at Manchester United. During his tenure, the Scot won the Premier League 13 times and also won the Champions League twice. For a whopping 22 seasons in a row, United finished among the top four teams in the league at the end of the season under Ferguson. In recent years, however, this has not always been the case. Last season, Man United only finished sixth and missed out on a place in the Champions League.
At the beginning of this season, it also looked as if the Champions League places were once again out of reach for United. The Red Devils lost the first two games of the season against Brighton and Brentford. After that, however, the team of coach Erik ten Hag found its rhythm better and better. Especially since the World Cup break, United seem unbeatable. Man United won their first seven competitive matches after the break, including the city derby against Manchester City. During the week, the Red Devils played out a 1-1 draw in a make-up game against Crystal Palace.
With effectiveness to success
This season, Manchester United are not always playing furious attacking football. The Red Devils scored only 30 goals in their first 19 games of the season. Eight teams in the Premier League scored more often than United. In addition, the Red Devils have only won four games by more than a one-goal margin this Premier League season.
However, the Red Devils are often a step too quick. Man United have been offside 43 times in the league. Only Newcastle have been in the forbidden zone more often. In the derby against Manchester City, Marcus Rashford was also involved in a controversial offside situation. The referees deemed his intervention inactive, to everyone’s incomprehension. Rashford seems to have the luck of the draw at the moment, as the Englishman has scored in seven of the last eight competitive games for Man United.
Man United facts & analysis
– 3rd on the table with 39 points.
– Six games in a row in the Premier League without defeat
– Already three defeats away from home in the league
Predicted line-up – last update on 20 January 2023
Coach Mikel Arteta will send his team into the match with a 4-3-3. Xhaka, Partey and Ødegaard will dominate the midfield. Eddie Nketiah will start up front for the injured Gabriel Jesus. Apart from Reiss Nelson, who is also injured, Arsenal will have all their players available for the top match.
Manchester United have often played in a 4-2-3-1 and coach Erik ten Hag will have to make changes in a number of positions. Casemiro will be missing as a six in front of the defence, as he received his fifth yellow card against Crystal Palace. Axel Tuanzebe, Diogo Dalot and Donny van de Beek are injured and will not play. Martial is also unlikely to be able to play. In his place, Wout Weghorst could once again play in the centre of attack.
Arsenal – Man United direct comparison & Statistics
167 competitive matches have been played between these two clubs so far. Manchester United easily lead the direct comparison with 71 victories. Arsenal have won 57 encounters with the Red Devils. Manchester United won the first meeting this year with two goals from Rashford and one from Antony. It was Arsenal’s only defeat in the league so far.
– Both teams are separated by eight points in the league.
– Arsenal’s last home defeat in the league was on matchday 32 last season.
– When Arsenal lead 1-0 in home games, they win 94% of matches
– Man United have failed to score in 1 of their 10 away games in the Premier League this season
