Prediction and odds for the game: Arsenal (9/2) vs Manchester City (1/2)

We are backing the away win

When: Saturday 1 January 2022, Kick-off 12:30

Where: The Emirates Stadium

In the Premier League’s early kick-off on Saturday, Arsenal host Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium in what could be a fascinating clash between two in-form teams.

Arsenal

The Gunners head into this clash without head coach Mikel Arteta, who has recently tested positive for Covid-19. However, despite their boss’ absence, the team from north London will go into this clash with a huge belief that they can pick up a result after five straight victories in all competitions.

Last time out, Arteta’s team recorded a 5-0 win at the league’s whipping boys Norwich City. The win illustrated Arsenal’s attacking prowess, as they have scored at least two goals in all five of those recent victories. They have also conceded just once in their last four league matches.

The good run of form has taken the Gunners into fourth-place in the table, four points clear of fifth-place West Ham in the battle for the final Champions League spot.

Arsenal have been strong on home soil of late in the Premier League, as they are unbeaten in eight league games at the Emirates Stadium, having won their last five matches. The Gunners have also kept four straight home clean sheets in the English top-flight. That record faces a stern test against the prolific City attack.

Manchester City

The visitors look to be breaking away from their rivals at the top of the Premier League table after the last round of league matches. A hard-fought 1-0 win at Brentford coupled with results elsewhere mean that Pep Guardiola’s team are eight points clear of second-place Chelsea and nine clear of third-place Liverpool, although Jurgen Klopp’s team does have a game in hand on the men from Manchester.

The win over Brentford was City’s tenth straight victory in the English top-flight. The game also saw Pep Guardiola’s team keep their fourth clean sheet in five matches in the Premier League. The game did see an end to City’s extraordinary goalscoring run though, as the visitors had scored at least four goals in their previous three league matches.

The reigning English champions have been difficult to beat on their travels, as they are unbeaten in nine away games in the Premier League, having recorded eight victories in the process.

Guardiola decided to rest the likes of Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling last time out. The pair could return to the starting line-up for this potentially tricky encounter.

Conclusion

This could be a fascinating watch, as Mikel Arteta’s talented young team have looked impressive of late. However, City are elite opponents and will offer a bigger challenge than their previous opponents in recent months.

We are backing Manchester City to record a victory in this clash, as they will up their game from last time out, as Guardiola was clearly not happy with his team’s display last time out. This should be a high-scoring game, so we are also backing over 2.5 goals scored.

Our Tips: We are backing the away win at odds of 1/2 and/or over 3.5 goals scored at odds of 13/10. (All odds are taken from Bet365).

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