Two rivals will square off in Premier League action on Sunday when Manchester United hosts Arsenal. Unfortunately, this match will not have the luster it usually does as there isn’t too much on the line this time around.
The Gunners are very unlikely to catch Chelsea for the fifth spot and a berth in the Europa League next season, while the Red Devils are seemingly locked into a top four finish and a slot in the Champions League. Pride will still be on the line though when these teams meet.
Don't miss the English Premier League action from Old Trafford in Manchester at 11:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, April 29, 2018. Catch every moment of the match live on NBCSN.
EPL Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Arsenal +640
Manchester United -232
Draw +369
Over/Under 2.5 and 3
Odds Analysis
Manchester United is a massive favorite in this match. The club has looked fantastic aside from a stunning 1-0 home loss to West Brom a few weeks ago. They have knocked off both Liverpool and Manchester City in their last five Premier League matches and are currently in second place in the league. Additionally, the club is sky high after a very impressive win over Tottenham in the semifinals of the FA Cup.
Arsenal has won four of its last five as well, but those victories have come against much softer competition. The Gunners lost on the road to Newcastle and the wins came against Watford, Stoke City, Southampton, and West Ham. Two of those clubs are likely to get relegated, so their recent form has not come against the best foes.
Additionally, the Gunners no doubt have their attention turned elsewhere. Their only chance to qualify for the Champions League is to win the Europa League, and they just finished their first leg with Atletico Madrid on Thursday and will play the return leg in the Spanish capital next Thursday. Arsene Wenger’s primary focus will be on how to get past Atletico after a disappointing 1-1 draw at home.
Key Injuries
Arsenal is unlikely to have Santi Cazorla for the rest of the season, but there is a chance that Mohamed Elneny returns at some point. Neither player will be available for this match though.
The club is hopeful that Henrikh Mkhitaryan will be healthy soon, but they are unlikely to test his health against Manchester United. Wenger needs Mkhitaryan’s playmaking for the second tie against Madrid and will not risk a setback at Old Trafford.
This is the healthiest that Manchester United has been in quite some time. The only player that is definitely out is reserve goalkeeper Sergio Romero. Aside from that, Jose Mourinho has said that both Jesse Lingard and Luis Antonio Valencia are probable to play. That would be a big boost to have both players back in the lineup.
Player to Watch
Alexis Sanchez is going to want to prove something to his former club. He did not depart Arsenal on good terms, and Mourinho will put him in the lineup for this reason. Sanchez made a splash in his first few games with his new club, but the results have been mixed since that point. He clashed a little bit with Paul Pogba and had to adapt to a different style of play.
Sanchez scored Manchester United’s first goal in the FA Cup semifinal against Tottenham and was sharp in that match. He knows Arsenal’s defensive intricacies and will grab a goal in this one.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
This will be one last chance for Mourinho to stick it to Wenger. Arsenal’s offense has struggled to score against good foes all year, and you can be sure that Mourinho is coming up with a gameplan to take advantage of the Gunners. I don’t think Arsenal will keep this one close.
English Premier League Odds: Manchester United 3, Arsenal 1
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