Premier League Preview – Arsenal v Man City
Featured articles
Gameweek 22 – Premier League Preview - Arsenal v Man City
Winning Football Betting Tips from FootballBettingGuide.net
Arsenal v Man City - Premier League Preview and Betting Tips
With the threat of their neighbours and rivals disappearing over the horizon at the top of the Premier League, Manchester City travel to Arsenal knowing that what would usually be a creditable point will probably be unsatisfactory. Although, by the time the scale of City’s task will be known, as United’s lunchtime kick-off against Liverpool will already be over.
New Year, New Look, New Balotelli? Don’t bet on it…
Arsenal, meanwhile, have also fallen a little behind their particular aims for this season, with the Gunners trailing behind Tottenham at the time of writing. Again, by the time this match is played, Arsenal will know how Tottenham have fared in their fixture at Queen’s Park Rangers. However, regardless of their two rivals’ results, this fixture is a mouth-watering prospect, as it promises two passing teams of the highest quality both playing for a win from the first whistle.
It is a weakened City that will take to the field at the Emirates, though. Already shorn of the services of Yaya Toure due to the African Nations Cup, the defending Premier League champions will also be without Sergio Aguero who has picked up a hamstring injury. With Mario Balotelli having been marginalised in recent weeks due to his rather immature attitude, and the likes of Micah Richards, Aleksandar Kolarov and Jack Rodwell all missing due to long-term injury, City are rather short of options for this fixture. This won’t help a team that has rarely reached its best form in any competition so far this season.
The Gunners have showed signs of improvement in their last few games, and have been on a decent run in the Premier League. Theo Walcott has been particularly prominent in this spell, and it now seems likely that the England forward will sign a new contract during this transfer window to keep him at the Emirates for a few more years at least.
Carzorla – Firm Fans Favourite Already…
While Walcott’s future being sorted out will please the Gunners, and the willingness of Arsene Wenger to play Walcott at centre-forward has played its part in this, against a strong Manchester City central defence, Wenger may be tempted to opt for the more physical attributes of Olivier Giroud. Should this be the case then Walcott will start on the right, and Lukas Podolski is likely to get the nod ahead of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Podolski has scored ten goals for Arsenal this season, and has been a moderately successful signing for Wenger, though less so than the much loved Santi Cazorla.
With few other options, City are likely to go with Tevez and Dzeko up front, and recall Javi Garcia to the midfield. Joleon Lescott is likely to continue to be preferred to Nastasic at centre-back.
Arsenal (possible 4-2-3-1): Szczęsny; Sagna, Vermaelen, Mertesacker, Gibbs; Arteta, Wilshere; Podolski, Cazorla, Walcott; Giroud
Manchester City (possible 4-4-1-1): Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy; Barry, Garcia, Nasri, Silva; Tevez; Dzeko
Betting Prediction: I think this will be a pretty tight game with a very clogged-up midfield, as City are sure to try to combat the potentially destructive midfield trio of Arteta, Wilshere and Cazorla by matching them one-for-one. With Arsenal’s ability to perform at the very highest level in some doubt, and City somewhat short of full strength, I can see this one being a draw, so my tip is for a 1-1 scoreline.
Looking for more football previews? Click here to read our full preview of the weekends action in the Premier League
Want to ensure you are getting the best odds on this weekends football? Then check out Bet Butler today…
