All articles by: Elliott Jackson

Arsenal vs Manchester City – Match Preview

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Arsenal vs Manchester City
Thursday 1st March 2018
FA Premier League, Emirates Stadium

Live on Sky Sport – Kick-Off: 19:45pm.

Arsenal vs Manchester City: Arsenal face Manchester City at the Emirates, looking to avenge their Carabao Cup defeat last weekend.

Defeat at Wembley cast further doubt over Arsene Wenger’s future. Arsenal were well beaten in the final and failed to test City at any point. The lack of fight and character shown by the gunners was symptomatic of their recent failures. The Europa League is now Wenger’s only hope of silverware and therefore this seems their only viable route into the Champions League. Therefore, if I was him, I’d be throwing all my eggs in that basket. Whilst their next round tie against AC Milan is far from straightforward, it is a winnable tie. The top four is gone for them and without any silverware or European football, Wenger could find himself out of a job this summer.

Arsenal’s display at Wembley was gutless. Defensively, they were awful; they lacked organisation, resilience and concentration. Pierre Emerick Aubameyang was ineffective, although he did play for large portions of the game without any service. Thus, if Arsenal are to get the best out of their new signing, they’ve got to play to his strengths. In theory, Aubameyang’s pace should have been a great outlet, especially on a big pitch like Wembley. Unfortunately, Arsenal never tried to use that to their advantage. They didn’t play the ball in behind the City rearguard, which would have allowed him to run at Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi.

Without the services of Raheem Sterling, Manchester City blew away their counterparts on Sunday. The win ensured Pep Guardiola’s first trophy as City manager, with reports emerging he is set to sign a new contract at the club. This could be the start of a dynasty for Pep. With the money and power that City hold, they could dominate English football for some time. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves though, nobody has retained the Premier League since Manchester United in 2009. As a result, that is Guardiola’s biggest challenge next season, as well as targeting a first Champions League trophy for the club if they don’t win it this time around.

Andre Marriner has been appointed as the man in the middle for Thursday’s match. The Englishman has an average booking points total of 28.9. This is one of the lowest in the league, consequently booking points could be at a premium for this clash.

It will be interesting to see how Arsenal react in the game, after being so comprehensively beaten at the weekend. City will have to rotate their squad ahead of a clash with Chelsea at the weekend, yet I still think they’ll record another victory.

Arsenal vs Manchester City will be televised live on Sky Sports from 19:45 GMT in the UK.

Prediction: Arsenal 0-2 Manchester City.

Suggested tips – Arsenal vs Manchester City – (BET365):

  • Correct score, Manchester City to win 2-0 – (link no longer available)
  • City to win to nil – (link no longer available)

Suggested tips – Arsenal vs Manchester City – (SKYBET):

  • City to win and BTTS – 7/4.
  • Jesus to score and win – 2/1.
  • Aubameyang and Aguero to both score – 4/1.

Suggested RequestABets – Arsenal vs Manchester City – (SKYBET):

  • Popular RequestABets – Arsenal vs Manchester City – Aguero & Aubameyang to score, 4+ corners each team and 20+ booking points – 18/1.
  • @FootyAccums RequestABets  – Arsenal vs Manchester City – Aguero to score, BTTS, 4+ corners each team and 20+ booking points – 9/1.
  • Popular RequestABets – Arsenal vs Manchester City – Manchester City to win to nil, Manchester City to score 2+ goals and 20 Arsenal booking points – 15/2.
  • RequestABetsABet Specials 80/1 and above – Arsenal vs Manchester City – Aubameyang & Aguero each to score 2+ Goals and Draw 2-2 – 500/1. 
  • Price Boost – Arsenal vs Manchester City – Arsenal to win 2-1 – 16/1.

Odds and markets last updated on February 1 March 2018 @18:25 GMT.

More markets will be added prior to the game kicking off on Thursday night. Keep visiting the tips and preview area for further updates and betting previews for this weeks upcoming premier league fixtures.

Manchester United vs Chelsea – Match Preview

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Manchester United vs Chelsea
Sunday 25th February, 2018
FA Premier League, Old Trafford

Sky Sports – Kick-Off 14:05 GMT

Manchester United vs Chelsea – Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte go toe to toe as they face off at Old Trafford, with both teams looking to move clear in the race for the top four.

Manchester United will be hoping to close the gap at the top of the Premier League to 13 points with victory at Old Trafford. After losing their last top four contest to Tottenham a few weeks ago, this game provides the perfect opportunity to bounce back. United are four points clear of fifth-placed Spurs and need another win to avoid being dragged into a top-four battle.

United’s progression into the FA Cup quarter-finals will have pleased supporters. Having collected the Carabao Cup in his first season in charge, Mourinho will be desperate add more silverware to his collection. With the Premier League gone, the FA Cup and Champions League will be vital for them. At home, United are unbeaten in five games. They have lost just once at home this campaign, to Manchester City. United have conceded just five goals at home this season, whilst they’ve scored 29. Alexis Sanchez scored just once against Chelsea in his days at Arsenal and the Chilean will be hoping to equal that tally in Sunday’s crunch clash

Chelsea come into this game off the back of an impressive performance against Barcelona. Despite the result, Antonio Conte’s side looked back to their best, with Willian and Kante particularly impressing. The Champions looked like their old selves as they made things tough for one of Europe’s most deadly attacks. Both Alvaro Morata and Oliver Giroud were left on the bench for that game, which leads me to believe one of the two will start on Sunday. The former Arsenal striker scored a late equaliser for the Gunners on his last trip to Old Trafford.

United have won just one of their last 14 meetings with Chelsea. Chelsea’s last victory at Old Trafford came in May 2013 but they’ve only lost on one of their last six visits. Martin Atkinson has been appointed as the referee for this crucial match. Atkinson has an average booking points total of 39.5, which is amongst the highest in the league. He has also brandished four red cards this season, the fourth highest in the division. As a result, booking points may be something to look into for this fixture.

Whilst I think this will be a very right game, I do think we will have a winner. I’m tipping United to take the points. With Chelsea just coming off the back of a really mentally and physically draining match against Barcelona I think the hosts will capitalise.

Manchester United vs Chelsea will be televised live on Sky Sports Football HD with kick-off at 14:05 GMT.

Prediction: Manchester United 2-1 Chelsea

Suggested tips – Manchester United vs Chelsea – (BET365):

  • Correct score, United to win 2-1 – (link no longer available)

Suggested tips – Manchester United vs Chelsea – (SKYBET):

  • BTTS and United to win – 7/2.
  • Sanchez and Giroud to both score – 8/1.
  • Hazard to score and win – 5/1.
  • Lukaku to score first and draw 1-1 – 22/1.
  • BTTS, 4+ Corners Each Team, 20+ Booking Points Each Team – 7/4.

Odds and markets last updated on February 23 February 2018 @17:00 GMT.

More markets will be added over the weekend prior to the game kicking off on Sunday. Keep visiting the tips and preview area for further updates and betting previews for this weekend’s fixtures.

 

Leicester City vs Stoke City – Match Preview

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Leicester City vs Stoke City
Saturday 24th February, 2018
FA Premier League, King Power Stadium

Sky Sports – Kick-Off 12:30 GMT

Leicester City vs Stoke City – Leicester host Stoke at the King Power Stadium looking for their first league win in three matches.

The Foxes have won only one of their last five games but did progress into the FA Cup quarter-finals last weekend. Jamie Vardy’s header secured their place in the last eight as they saw off Sheffield United. Riyad Mahrez also made his first start since his failed deadline day move to Manchester City. The Algerian winger provided the cross for Vardy’s winner and looked in fine form with the rest of the season to follow.

Leicester haven’t lost at home since last year, a run stretching seven games. Claude Puel has turned the King Power into a fortress, which, as a result, has seen Leicester move to eight in the league. With Mahrez back on side, there is a real belief the club can secure a Europa League place. They currently sit one point and place behind Burnley, meaning their hopes of European football are firmly alive.

Stoke have collected just one win in Paul Lambert’s first four matches. The Potters are winless in three games and haven’t won away from home since October last year. No win in nine games on the road has seen them drop to 19th, two points adrift of safety. Huddersfield’s win last week has further increased the pressure on Lambert as he hopes to steer the club clear of the drop zone. Conceding goals has been their major problem; they have the league’s leakiest defence. 53 goals in 27 games averages at just under two a game, which is an alarming statistic.

Michael Oliver has been chosen to officiate this match. Oliver has refereed the most Premier League this season, averaging 38.6 booking points per game. This is the league’s fifth-highest total, although he is one of only two refs to officiate over 20 games. Stoke haven’t won against Leicester since 2015. The Foxes have won two of the last five meetings, with the other three ending in draws.

Whilst Stoke appear to have improved under Lambert, their form away from the Bet 365 Stadium has been woeful. Given the host’s impressive home form, I think they’ll take all three points on Saturday which will therefore plunge Stoke into deeper trouble.

Leicester City vs Stoke City will be televised live in the UK on Sky Sports with kick-off at 12:30PM GMT.

Prediction: Leicester 2-0 Stoke

Suggested tips– Leicester City vs Stoke City –(BET365):

  • Correct score, Leicester to win 2-0 – (link no longer available)

Suggested tips – Leicester City vs Stoke City – (SKYBET):

  • Vardy to score and win – 13/8.
  • Price Boost: Shaqiri and Mahrez to both score in 90 mins – 12/1.
  • BTTS and FT draw – 7/2.
  • Leicester to win and over 3.5 goals – 7/2.
  • Popular Request A Bets – Shaqiri and Mahrez to both score outside the area – 250/1.

Odds and markets last updated on February 24 February 2018 @11:45 GMT.

More markets will be added over the weekend prior to the game kicking off tomorrow. Keep visiting the tips and preview area for further updates and betting previews for this weekend’s fixtures.