Arsenal – Manchester City (Betting tips)
Four days after winning the French League Cup title by beating Arsenal 3-0, Manchester City are back in action on Thursday 1 March. This time, the classic complements the twenty-eighth of the English Premier League season 2017/2018. It will be held at Emirates Stadium, London, starting at 17h (BrasÃlia time).
Arsenal’s recent performance
The Gunners are not doing well in the Premier League. With 45 points (13 wins, six draws and eight losses), they occupy the sixth place, far from the classification zone for the Champions League of Europe. The disadvantage in the comparison with Tottenham, fourth placed, which closes this block is ten points.
In addition to being for the second season followed in the classification of its greater rival London, Arsenal also was eliminated of Glass of England. So, have to focus on the Europa League in their attempt to avoid another failed season. Neither in this sense was very lucky. He will face the traditional Milan in the round of 16.
All this scenario has rained criticism about Arsene Wenger, who has not been able to find a tactic capable of accommodating players with great investment or solutions to the weaknesses of the defensive system.
For the rematch of Thursday, there are two doubts involving titular players. Defender Nacho Monreal (23 games in the 2017/2018 English Premier League, four goals) and striker Alexandre Lacazette (26 matches, nine goals) are in the process of injury treatment.
The current form of Manchester City
The ambience in the City is very different. The title achievement drowned out their regrets over their previous defeat against Wigan, which eliminated the Manchester United club from the English Cup, preventing them from having the opportunity to be the first English team to win all four trophies in a single season.
It still gives, however, to achieve the ‘triple crown’. Of the two legs that are lacking for the conquest, the English Championship is certainly the most viable goal. With 72 points (23 wins, three draws and a loss), City have 13 points more than Manchester United and still have the classic of Thursday to increase the advantage.
The table still sets another classic for Sunday, March 4. Pepe Guardiola’s team will welcome Chelsea. Despite this intense schedule, the coach should not promote a very large number of changes. After all, you will have the opportunity to do so on Wednesday, March 7, when you receive Basel in the return leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League. As he thrashed 4-0 in Switzerland, he can preserve his athletes without taking a big risk.
For Thursday’s game, he will not be able to count on midfielder Delph Fabian (16 games in English Premier League 2017/2018, one goal). He was sent off in the defeat against Wigan and punished with suspension of three games. This will be his second outside match.
Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho (27 games, three goals) should also be left out. He suffered a thigh injury that forced him to leave the match against Arsenal on Sunday at the start of the second half.
Gabriel Jesus (18 games, eight goals), who returned to the team on Sunday after injury that took him off the pitch for almost two months is expected to be linked back to the reserve bench again.
History of the matches Arsenal vs Manchester City
City won their two matches against Arsenal in 2017/2018. Beyond the 3-0 in the League Cup decision, he scored 3-1 in the first round of the English Championship.
Owning a consistent style of play, the City once again should be considered the best betting option. It has a price of 1.72 in Bet365. Success of the gunners yields 4.50 and tie paid 4.00 per 1. Quotes were in effect at 4pm on 2/26/2018.