Arsenal take on Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium on Monday, 21 December with the victor keeping in touch with league leaders Leicester City who are now five points clear of their nearest challengers. Manchester United failed to make the grade.
Advertisement
A 1-1 scoreline tempts at 6/1 while backing Olivier Giroud to score anytime attracts at11/10 given that he scored in eight of his last 12 league appearances for Arsenal and has 11 goals in his last 13 outings for the club in all competitions. Matches tend to stack up in the early part of the new year and City have two extra commitments in the Capital One Cup against Everton to deal with that Arsenal do not, as well as the prospect of further European engagements.
Silva recently returned to action for City after two months out with an ankle injury and Aguero could make his comeback at the Emirates Stadium after missing four matches with a heel problem.
“We’ll assess him to see if he’s 100 percent to start the game but I think he’ll be in the squad on Monday”, Pellegrini told a news conference. We’ll asses him to see if he’s 100% to start the game but I think he’ll be in the squad on Monday.
Despite an injury crisis, Arsenal have won two league matches in a row.
My colleague David John confidently advised a large bet on the Gunners at 9/2 back in August and, if they win on Monday, Arsene Wenger’s side could well be a shade of odds-on and with just one serious rival to beat.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has insisted that his side have shown the type of character this season that suggests they can win the Premier League title.
‘We won the FA Cup in the last two seasons and you need character to win the FA Cup.
The old adage from pessimistic supporters is that their team never wins when they are on the television – but just how would the Barclays Premier League table look if only games screened live counted?
However, perhaps not so typically for the side, is the fact they have a very good chance of actually winning the Premier League.
City only have five injuries, but they are to important players in their team.
Manchester City’s previous encounter with Arsenal ended in a surprising 2-0 win for the Gunners at the Etihad last January.
Toffees boss Roberto Martinez has no doubt in his mind that Leicester are genuine title contenders and said that it was not a good time to face Claudio Ranieri’s Foxes as they have the wind in their sails.
“City are a team I definitely think can go far in that tournament”.
This isn’t to say I’m keen to oppose Arsenal because they’re going to be even harder for the City defence to stop.
Advertisement
The summer signing for City has proved that it is not that hard to adjust to the more physical Premier League. Alexis is back in training, but probably shouldn’t play yet, and Ozil needs a rest (as does basically everyone), but three points against City would be pretty good too.
