Rob Eddy’s selections for Wednesday night’s clash at the Emirates Stadium include a win for the hosts with plenty of goals.
Manchester United are getting used to life under new manager Ruben Amorim and while there have not been many problems so far, the former sporting boss will face his greatest test to date when he takes his team to Arsenal on Wednesday.
United beat Everton 4-0 on Sunday so should at least head to north London in high spirits, but they will be mindful that they face one of the most feared teams in the Premier League who will have the bit between their teeth as they look to chase down runaway leaders Liverpool.
Mikel Arteta’s side are fresh from a commanding 5-2 win at West Ham last week and have lost just once at home in their last 15 league games at the Emirates, so Amorim’s side could easily be brought back down to earth.
Arsenal v Man Utd tips
Arsenal to win & over 2.5 goals @ 1/1
Martin Odegaard to score or assist @ 7/5
Kai Havertz to be shown a card @ 100/30
Rude awakening could greet new United boss
There has been a soft launch for Ruben Amorim as he gets used to life at Old Trafford after his side failed to capitalise on an early goal by drawing at new boys Ipswich in his first Premier League game, with the Tractor Boys now in 19th.
Things were hardly any tougher at home to 15th-placed Everton on Sunday as the Red Devils posted a 4-0 success, but that is now the fourth successive game in which Sean Dyche’s Toffees have failed to score, so it would be easy to get carried away.
Amorim will surely not be under any illusions about the scale of the task his team faces when they head to Arsenal, who have scored 13 goals in their last three matches, including three without reply in their last home league game against Nottingham Forest.
The Gunners are on a roll and have scored at least twice in eight of their last nine league games on their own patch, so they can claim the three points in a match that looks set to feature at least three successful strikes.
Odegaard can pull the strings
Martin Odegaard’s return to fitness is a big plus for the home side and the Norwegian looks likely to take a central role in Wednesday’s big game.
He netted his first goal of the campaign at West Ham on Saturday when he coolly converted a first-half penalty, but he has demonstrated time and again that he is capable of delivering the killer pass to create clear opportunities for others.
Odegaard has had two assists since his return to action four games ago and there looks a strong chance he will continue to be hugely influential given Arsenal’s uplift in form since his return. Take him to either score or make an assist against United.
Havertz could go in the book
Kai Havertz looks set to lead the line again for the Gunners and while he has been booked just twice this season, his fouls stats suggest he could add another yellow card to that tally.
The German forward has committed an average of almost two fouls a game this season, with 11 indiscretions in his last five appearances, in which he has been cautioned against Newcastle and Chelsea. This could be another big game in which he attracts the referee’s attention.
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