Primetime Premier League: Back both teams to score in hotly anticipated clash

Manchester United and Arsenal renew their old rivalry on Sunday in what promises to be a thrilling encounter. Who will come out on top? Robin Bairner has the lowdown.

An intriguing match in prospect

With four successive victories, Arsenal come into this weekend in an unfamiliar but deserved position at the top of the Premier Leagues. But their perfect record will come under threat on Sunday from an improving Manchester United.

It might be stretching things a little to say that Erik ten Hag’s side is rejuvenated, but back-to-back away wins at Southampton and Leicester after a home success against Liverpool definitely marks an improvement in their fortunes. 

With momentum on their side Man Utd are 2.72 to deny their guests another victory, while Arsenal are slightly bigger at 2.76. Very little splits the two sides in our market, which makes for an interesting encounter.

Manchester United on the up at last

It’s not been easy to be a United fan in recent years, but there are signs that the club has started to turn a corner. Ten Hag appears to have gained a grip on the first team by dropping Harry Maguire and Cristiano Ronaldo to the bench, crucial decisions that have marked an upturn in form.

Meanwhile, the squad has been supplemented by big-named signings - Casemiro from Real Madrid and Antony from Ajax - who are expected to help them to challenge for a top four spot after a 2021/22 campaign that grew increasingly embarrassing.

Erik ten Hag: made crucial changes to the starting line-up in recent weeks

The focus, of course, is on the Premier League and another home win against a historic rival would give further fuel to the belief that the Red Devils are finally on the up.

Five-star start?

With 12 points from a possible 12, it’s been a dream start to the season for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal. It may not have been a particularly testing fixture calendar for the Gunners but, given that only four clubs have previously won their first five games of the Premier League campaign, they have still shown remarkable consistency. If they win at Old Trafford they can join that elite group - strangely Man Utd do not feature.

This has not been a happy hunting ground for the Gunners. They have lost more away games in the Premier League to Man Utd than to any other side, and their sole victory in their last 15 visits was a 1-0 success in November 2020.

This Arsenal side is cut from a different cloth than others in recent years and shows far greater mental fortitude. This has been evident in their last two games as they have come through late to beat both Fulham and Aston Villa.

Too close to call

This game is extremely difficult to call, which is reflected in the market. A safer play is to back both teams to score.

Arsenal have found the net at least twice in each of their Premier League matches this season, and, although Man Utd have kept clean sheets in their last two, they have hardly been convincing at the back. For example, a stronger side than Leicester would have taken advantage in the second half on Thursday.

This is a game that could conceivably go either way, but I’m expecting both sets of fans to be cheering at some point.

Recommended bet

Back both teams to score @ 1.67