Welcome to the first weekend of September, and the Premier League schedule gives football fans plenty to discuss. The top division of English football provides one game on Friday, six on Saturday, and another three on Sunday. The highlight of the programme is on Sunday when Arsenal host Man Utd from 16:30 GMT in a game you can follow live on television. The Gunners enjoy home advantage and aim to shoot down their big-name opponents to bolster their title challenge.
Man United have lacked consistency in the opening three weeks and are already playing catch up. The Red Devils know they must improve on recent efforts to bring back the glory days, but much work must be done. A win at the Emirates would move United back into contention, while a defeat would cause unrest in a following that’s already low on confidence. Keep reading as our team analyses the big game and offers our predictions.
Gunners find the target
It’s an important season for Arsenal after their near-miss last time. They pushed Man City hard for the title, leading for much of the campaign before surrendering to Man City in the closing weeks. Fans are intrigued to see how Mikel Arteta’s men perform this season. Can they go one better than last term and win the league, or was that close call little more than another flash in the pan from an underperforming club?
Arsenal enter this home game against Man United with seven points from a possible nine. They won their first two games but were held to a draw last time, dropping off the pace set by Man City, the only remaining team with a 100% win record. Their points tally is shared by four other teams, meaning a win on Sunday would drive Arsenal back into contention. They beat Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace before ending 2-2 with Fulham last time.
Man Utd under pressure
Manchester United is the away team on Sunday, but they finished lower in the pecking order than their opponents last season and are already three places lower in the league. United has also suffered its first defeat, with their stats showing two wins and a loss. It’s early in the season, and there’s plenty of football to play, but defeat in London would knock United down the list and seriously damage their chances of challenging for the title.
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Man Utd played three games in August, starting with a 1-0 win at Old Trafford against Wolverhampton Wanderers, a team they were favourites to beat. It was a little closer than most expected, but a goal from Varane on 76 minutes was enough to secure the points. United then suffered a 2-0 defeat to Tottenham in North London before bouncing back to defeat Nottingham Forest 3-2 last time, battling back from two goals behind inside four minutes. It was a real test of character for United.
Arsenal v Man Utd prediction
The highlight of Sunday’s Premier League schedule will live up to the hype, and fans hope we’re treated to a few more goals. Which team will end on top, securing all three points and the bragging rights for fans? Fans in London will back the Gunners, and if they start better than last weekend, the crowd will get right behind the players in such an important fixture.
If Man Utd are to get anything from this tussle, they can’t play like they did last Saturday, going two goals behind early in the contest. They fought back from 2-0 down to Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford, but if they handed Arsenal a two-goal lead on Sunday, things could get messy fast.
Premier League odds
The pre-match betting odds available at 22bet make for interesting reading with traders struggling to separate the big guns. Arsenal using their home advantage to claim victory is priced at 1.79, or you can back an away win for Man Utd in London at 4.08. The draw will net backers 3.98 if you can’t pick sides.
22Bet members benefit from over 100 pre-match and in-play betting odds and markets on this game. Predict the winner of the three points or play one of the specials, including Saka to score first, both teams to score or over 3.5 goals. Keep digging until you find the right bet.
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