It’s been an interesting first year for Unai Emery at Arsenal. The Gunners are out of both domestic cups, but they are in position to qualify for the Champions League, and that would be a win for Emery in his first season. Arsenal are currently fourth in the Premier League standings with a 14-5-5 record, but they are dead level with fifth-place Chelsea in terms of points and goal differential. With Manchester United just two points behind, they know a loss would leave them playing catch-up again, but it will be tough to get a result against Manchester City.
Don't miss the English Premier League action from the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England at 11:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, February 3, 2019. Catch every moment of the match live on NBCSN.
EPL Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Manchester City -316
Arsenal +801
Draw +529
Over/Under 3.5
Odds Analysis
City have been a curious team to try and figure out. The Citizens were hefty favorites to repeat as Premier League champions, but they have had multiple slip-ups after a rock solid first three months. They lost to Crystal Palace and Leicester City in December, and Tuesday’s defeat at the hands of Newcastle United really stung. City went up 1-0 inside of a minute thanks to a Sergio Aguero goal, but they gave up two second half goals to fall 2-1 and move even further behind Liverpool.
Arsenal have won their last two matches coming into this weekend, and that has led to them catching Chelsea in the table. The Gunners secured a 2-0 win over the Blues two weeks ago to start their ascent, and they kept it going with a 2-1 victory over lowly Cardiff City on Tuesday. They are one of the highest scoring teams in the league, but the defense has been an issue at times.
Key Injuries
Claudio Bravo will miss the entire season for Manchester City, but the Citizens haven’t missed him too much with Ederson dominating in net. Fullback Vincent Kompany’s presence has been missed though as City have had some issues in the back. Kompany will miss this match too, and Benjamin Mendy is unlikely to play either due to swelling in his knee.
Once again, there are a number of injuries to report for Arsenal. Three players are now long-term injuries for the club and unlikely to play again this season. Danny Welbeck and Rob Holding had both already missed a significant amount of time, and now Hector Bellerin will miss the foreseeable future too. Laurent Koscielny and Sokratis will both be on the sidelines for this match, and Ainsley Mitland-Niles and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are both listed as doubtful.
Player to Watch
David Silva has been great in the midfield for City this season. Even though he is 33, he hasn’t lost much of the talent that made him a World Cup champion, and he is excellent at picking out holes in the defense with deft passing. That’s a big key for City as the club is constantly facing opponents that park the bus in hopes of getting a point.
Previous Meetings
City have gotten the best of Arsenal quite often recently. The Gunners have not scored in three straight matches against the Citizens, losing all three games by multiple goals. City have jumped on Arsenal early with five first-half goals in those three matches, and Arsenal will need to buck that trend this time around.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
This is going to be a rout. Arsenal’s injury problems are significant, and City can pick apart a back line that has conceded often this campaign. The Citizens will make this one a laugher early on as they won’t have the same letdown we have seen against smaller clubs. Arsenal will be fortunate to score.
English Premier League Odds: Manchester City 3, Arsenal 0
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
