A few days after dropping points to Southampton at the Emirates, Arsenal would be heading to the Etihad on Wednesday in what is a crucial game in the title race. Manchester City has gotten the better of the Gunners twice already this season. Could it be the third time lucky for Mikel Arteta and Co?
Pep Guardiola led Manchester City to yet another resounding win in the FA Cup at Wembley against Sheffield United as they booked their spot in the finals. The Citizens are bidding for a treble this season, and with Arsenal beginning to crumble, Manchester City’s title defense is looking inevitable.
Arsenal has been a victim of surrendering good leads in the last few weeks, but they fell to an early two-goal deficit against Southampton in the English Premier League. The Gunners were able to salvage a point as the tie ended 3-3 with late goals from Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka.
| ℹ️ Tournament: | English Premier League, season 2022-23, Matchday 33 |
| 🏟️ Venue: | Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England |
| 🗓️ Date: | 26 April 2023 |
| ⏰ Time: | 7:00 p.m. GMT on Wednesday |
With seven consecutive wins against Arsenal, Manchester City is the rightful favorite to win at 1.57 (4/7). They are one of the best teams in Europe, and playing at home tips this tie in their favor. Arsenal is a huge underdog according to the UK football bookies, and a victory for the Gunners is worth 5.50 (9/2), while a draw is priced at 4.33(10/3).
Many sportsIn-play modeLive streaming25+ sportsSuperb bonusesEasy to useVIP programLive gamesMany bonusesMany bonuses24/7 supportMobile appsLive bettingMany sportsFast payoutsManchester City has trailed Arsenal in the Premier League for a long time, but their fortunes are likely to change in the next few weeks. They are only five points behind the Gunners despite playing two games less, and they arrive in good shape. Pep Guardiola’s Man City are the highest scorers in the English Premier League, and Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United only betters their defense. Overall, it has been a good campaign for Man City, and they can go all the way to win a third consecutive PL title.
Arsenal looked like they might prove their early-season doubters wrong, but they have dropped points in their last three Premier League games. They are still top of the league and have qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2016. Arsenal’s frontline has been consistent in recent weeks, but their defense has been subpar, especially after William Saliba’s injury. Mikel Arteta’s side does not only need a win at this point, but they also need to show great mental strength with six games left.
This is a fixture every Arsenal fan dreads at this point due to City’s fantastic record against the Gunners. Manchester City has won ten consecutive Premier League games against Arsenal, and they have already beaten them twice this season, one of which was in the English FA Cup.
Manchester City FC: WDWWW
Arsenal FC: DDDWW
Arsenal had much easier games this month where they should have taken all three points, and they failed to do so, picking up just one win in four Premier League games in April. They are now winless in three consecutive games with consecutive draws against poor teams like West Ham and Southampton.
Asking Arsenal for a win at the Etihad is almost impossible, and the players’ body language isn’t convincing either. The last time Arsenal defeated Manchester City in the league was as far back as 2015, and this City team is one of the best in the world. It is very unlikely that Arsenal will break their seven-game losing streak against the Citizens.
Manchester City has turned up the goals lately, and they have scored a total of 14 goals in their last five games in all competitions. Their home form is even better, scoring at least three goals in each of their last six games at home. Just a few weeks ago, Bayern Munich shipped in three goals at the Etihad with a stronger defense.
Arsenal looks disjointed at the back and has conceded at least two goals in each of their last three games, failing to keep a clean sheet in their last six matches. A bet on MC to score at least twice in this game has good offers from the bookmakers.
Erling Haaland’s brace against Leicester City saw him equal Mohammed Salah’s record of 32 Premier League goals in a season. Wednesday’s game is special for the Norwegian striker as he looks to break yet another record in the English Premier League. He is a regular name on the score sheet for Manchester City, with six goals in his last five games. Backing Erling Haaland to find the back of the net anytime is a very valuable option in this fixture.
Pep Guardiola would be delighted with his team’s fitness as Nathan Ake is the only player absent from this clash. Aymeric Laporte replaced the Dutchman in the starting XI, and he is expected to start against Arsenal.
Arsenal welcomed Gabriel Jesus back from a long-term injury, but they lost William Saliba, contributing to the high Arsenal odds in this game. Takehiro Tomiyasu and Granit Xhaka are also absent, while Rob Holding is set to partner with Gabriel Magalhães at center back.
This season, the biggest match in the title race sees Arsenal square off against Manchester City in midweek, and there is a wide range of exciting offers from the bookmakers. You can get the best out of this game by using our expert betting tips and predictions.
