Arsenal vs Manchester City
Sunday 15th December 2019
FA Premier League, Emirates Stadium
Live on Sky Sports Premier League HD – Kick Off: 16:30 GMT
Arsenal look to record back-to-back wins in the Premier League this Sunday when they welcome Manchester City to the Emirates.
The Gunners claimed their first Premier League win in nine matches last time round, when they defeated West Ham 3-1 at the London Stadium. They were however held in midweek to Belgian side Standard Liege in the Europa League. Arsenal trailed for large parts but two late strikes from Alexandre Lacazette and Bukayo Saka ensured a share of the spoils.
A win for Arsenal on Sunday would be only the second time this season they have registered back-to-back wins. The Gunners haven’t done so since the middle of August.
Manchester City on the other hand will be looking to bounce back from their Manchester Derby defeat to neighbours Manchester United. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side inflicted City’s fourth defeat of the season already after only sixteen matches. Pep Guardiola’s side lost four matches throughout the whole campaign last season. City have lost twice at home and twice on the road this season.
City did however enjoy a midweek win in the Champions league. Gabriel Jesus’ hat-trick along with Phil Foden’s second half strike sealed a 4-1 away win to Dinamo Zagreb.
Before Sunday’s clash City could find themselves an enormous seventeen points behind league leaders Liverpool. The reds face bottom of the league Watford on Saturday lunchtime, and will be expected to come away with all three points.
Last season Manchester City completed a league double over Arsenal, winning 3-1 at home, and 2-0 at the Emirates. City have won the last five matches between the pair and are unbeaten in the Premier League against Arsenal for almost four years. Arsenal’s most recent win came in the FA Cup in 2017, where they were 2-1 winners at Wembley. Pep Guardiola has never lost to Arsenal in the Premier League.
The referee for this match is Paul Tierney. The 38-year old has taken charge of twelve Premier League matches so far this season, accumulating a total of thirty-six yellow cards and zero red cards. This considered, I would suggest a minimum of 20+ yellow cards for this fixture. Tierney is yet to officiate a match concerning Manchester City this season but did take charge of Arsenal’s recent 2-2 draw with Norwich, where he awarded three yellow cards, and an Arsenal penalty.
This match will be shown live on Sky Sports Premier League, with kick-off scheduled for 16:30 on Sunday afternoon.
Prediction: Arsenal 1-3 Manchester City
Suggested Tips – Arsenal vs Manchester City – (BET 365)
- Correct Score – Manchester City to win 3-1 – (link no longer available).
- First Goalscorer – Gabriel Jesus – (link no longer available).
- Player to be Booked – Jose Angelino – (link no longer available).
Suggested Tips – Arsenal vs Manchester City – (SKYBET)
- Correct Score Group Betting – Manchester City 3-0, 3-1, 3-2 – 7/2.
- Scorecast – Raheem Sterling to score first and Manchester City to win 2-1 – 50/1.
- Popular RequestABets – Manchester City to win, BTTS, 4+ corners each team ad 10+ booking points each team – 9/1.
- Popular RequestABets – Aubameyang and Jesus to score, and Sokratis and Fernandinho to be carded – 33/1.
-
Popular Player Stats RequestABets – Aubameyang to score a header and De Bruyne to score from outside the area – 200/1.
Markets last updated at 12:20 PM on Sunday 15th December 2019.
Southampton vs West Ham – Match Preview
Southampton vs West Ham United
Saturday 14th December 2019
FA Premier League, St Mary’s StadiumLive on Sky Sports Premier League HD – Kick Off: 17:30 GMT
Southampton return to St Mary’s this weekend as they welcome West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday evening.
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side will be keen to get points on the board following their disappointing defeat to Newcastle last weekend. The Saints led that game, but were undone by goals from Jonjo Shelley, and Federico Fernandez late on.
West Ham will too be looking for a more positive result this week, as they were defeated 3-1 at home by Arsenal on Monday evening. The Hammers’ were themselves guilty of squandering a lead. Their nine-minute capitulation which saw them concede three goals was a disappointment for all concerned.
We may not be at Christmas yet, but this affair could have a meaningful say in the race to stay in the Premier League. Both sides find themselves anxiously looking over their shoulder. Southampton are 18th, meanwhile West Ham are two places better off in 16th. A win for either will be a welcomed boost.
Despite Southampton’s position, their form in the last few weeks has been a positive. The Saints have picked up seven points out of a possible twelve in their last four matches, which include the draw away to Arsenal, and back to back wins against Watford and Norwich.
West Ham on the other hand have lost five of their last six, which has piled the pressure on boss Mauricio Pellegrini. They have won once in the league since September, and that came at the end of November against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The last time these two sides met produced a convincing 3-0 win for West Ham at the London Stadium. In fact, its West Ham who have the better recent form between the two and have won the last three meetings. Southampton’s last win against West Ham came in August of 2017, where they ran out 3-2 winners at St Marys.
The referee for this fixture is Martin Atkinson. The 48-year old has taken charge of fifteen matches this season and has awarded forty-one yellow cards and two red cards. Saturdays encounter will be the first time this season Atkinson has overseen a match involving these two sides this season.
This match will be shown live on Sky Sports Premier League, with kick-off scheduled for 17:30 GMT on Saturday evening.
Prediction: Southampton 1-2 West Ham United
Suggested Tips – Southampton vs West Ham United – (BET 365)
- Correct Score – West Ham United to win 2-1 – (link no longer available).
- First Goalscorer – Danny Ings – (link no longer available).
- Half-time/full-time – Draw/West Ham – (link no longer available).
- Player to be Booked – Oriol Romeu – (link no longer available).
Suggested Tips – Southampton vs West Ham United – (SKYBET)
- Correct Score Group Betting – West Ham United to win 1-0, 2-0, or 2-1 – 5/2.
- Popular RequestABets – Jutkiewicz & Hugill to score and Dean & Manning to be carded – 100/1.
- Match Specials – West Ham to win from behind – 14/1.
- Price Boost – James Ward-Prowse to score from outside the penalty area – 11/1.
-
Popular Player Stats RequestABets – Ward-Prowse to score from outside the area and West Ham to score a penalty – 66/1.
Birmingham City vs West Bromwich Albion – Match Preview
Birmingham City vs West Bromwich Albion
Saturday 14th December 2019
The Championship, St Andrew’sLive on Sky Sports Football HD – Kick Off: 12:30 GMT
Birmingham City look to return to winning ways in the Championship when they host West Bromwich Albion at St Andrews on Saturday.
The Blues’ midweek defeat at home to QPR was their first loss since early November, a five-match unbeaten run. Pep Clotet’s side currently occupy 15th place in the Championship.
Their opponents West Brom on the other hand are unbeaten in their last eleven and haven’t lost since October 1st. Their defeat to league leaders Leeds is their only defeat of the season to date. Since the defeat, Slaven Bilic has seen his side win eight and draw three, and it’s no coincidence that Albion are joint favourites to return back to the top-flight.
West Brom are currently second in the division, level on points with Leeds and one less in goal difference. It’s tight at the top.
A win for the Baggies on Saturday lunchtime will see them go top. Leeds kick-off at 3:00, so its an opportunity for the Baggies to sit top of the pile, albeit for potentially a small period of time.
The Baggies have failed to score in only one of their twenty-one Championship matches this season. (1-0 defeat to Leeds in October).
The last time these two sides locked horns was in March, which saw West Brom run out 3-2 winners on the day. The Baggies haven’t lost to Birmingham in thirteen years, a six-game unbeaten run.
In the last six fixtures between these two, BTTS has landed every time. That coincided with West Brom’s free-scoring ability this season, is surely a market worth exploring ahead of this fixture.
The referee for this clash is Darren England. England has taken charge of ten Championship affairs this season, accumulating a total of twenty-nine yellow cards. This considered I would recommend a minimum of 30+ yellow cards. England has overseen matches concerning these two teams already this season he took charge of West Brom’s opening day win over Nottingham Forest where he awarded one yellow card, and Birmingham’s 1-0 win over Blackburn in October, where four yellow cards were issued.
This game will be shown live on Sky Sports Football, with kick-off scheduled for 12:30 GMT on Saturday lunchtime.
Prediction: Birmingham 1-2 West Bromwich Albion
Suggested Tips – Birmingham City vs West Bromwich Albion – (BET 365)
- Correct Score – West Bromwich Albion to win 2-1 – (link no longer available).
- First Goalscorer – Grady Diangana – (link no longer available).
- Half-time/full-time – Draw/West Brom – (link no longer available).
Suggested Tips – Birmingham City vs West Bromwich Albion – (SKYBET)
- Correct Score Group Betting – West Bromwich Albion to win 1-0, 2-0, or 2-1 – 15/8.
- West Brom Price Boost – West Brom to win and BTTS – 3/1.
- Popular RequestABets – Jutkiewicz & Robson-Kanu to score and Pedersen & Livermore to be carded – 100/1.
Markets last updated at 10:52 GMT on Saturday 14th December 2019.