Premier League New Year’s Day preview: including Arsenal vs Man City
Arsenal vs Man City
Arsenal! Mighty Arsenal! Arsenal, who have scored 14 goals in their last 3 games! Arsenal, back where they belong in the top four! Arsenal, beautiful bloody Arsenal! Arsenal, who are destined to start 2022 getting turned over at the Emirates by Man City!
With Liverpool dropping points and City looking capable of running away with the Premier League, how Jurgen Klopp could do with a gobsmacking performance from the Gunners, Arteta’s Luke Skywalker triumphing over Darth Guardiola. Alas, it’s not going to happen, not least because Mikel won’t even be in the stadium, having come down with a bout of COVID.
City are on a ten-game winning streak, swatting aside the opposition as their closest rivals falter. Pep’s side have also won their last six away games in the Prem, and if that wasn’t ominous enough, it’s also ten consecutive league wins for City over Arsenal.
At the Etihad earlier this season, the Manchester side won 5-0 over the Gunners. This probably won’t be so emphatic, but the story of Arsenal’s season has generally been reliable wins against the less good teams – and deserved defeats at the hands of the better sides. It’s tough to see this one being any different.
Still, with the outright bet on City not offering much value, you could try backing a goal to be scored between the 0:00 and 14:59 minute of the match. It’s a 17/10 shot that has come in during four of City’s last six matches – and just missed in their last game too, Phil Foden scoring in the 16th minute against Brentford.
Watford vs Tottenham
Spurs’ draw against 10-man Southampton earlier this week might have been a missed opportunity, as Conte admitted, but it was also harsh on Spurs, who had two seemingly legit goals ruled out against the Saints.
The result might not be what Tottenham wanted or deserved but the side look mightily improved under the Italian coach. Conte faces his countryman Ranieri on Saturday, whose arrival has had a less discernible effect on his own team thus far; Watford are on a run of five straight defeats.
Expect it to be six after Saturday. Spurs haven’t won on the road yet under Antonio, but this is surely too good an opportunity to pass up for the visitors. Spurs to win and BTTS combined in a double gets you 5/2; Watford have scored in each of their last six matches.
Crystal Palace vs West Ham
After an iffy performance or two, David Moyes’ side swept Watford aside earlier this week. Can the Irons build on that win with a strong showing at Selhurst Park on Saturday?
Palace have won their last couple of games at Selhurst Park against struggling opposition, but West Ham might be a different story. Moyes’ side have been excellent for much of the season – though an element of sloppiness seems to have crept in, with an unexpected home loss to Southampton on Boxing Day.
With both sides showing a willingness to fight, but also a tendency to concede, it wouldn’t be a shock if this match ends all square. The draw is a 47/20 shot.
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