MY ACCOUNT
Recommended bets:
– Back Manchester City to score a penalty
– Back Rob Holding to receive a card
– Back Gabriel Martinelli to have two or more shots
– Back Erling Haaland to have two or more shots on target
– Back a goal between the 76th minute and full-time
Wednesday’s top-of-the-table clash between league leaders Arsenal and defending champions Manchester City looks set to be a season-defining encounter and we have picked out five bets from the side markets.
Back Manchester City to score a penalty at 14/5
This clash could be an action-packed thriller as Manchester City will look to dominate the ball and press Arsenal back while the Gunners offer exceptional threat on the break.
But the fact that Pep Guardiola’s side will aim to pinch the ball high up the pitch and constantly probe in search of openings means that the play will centre around the Arsenal area, increasing the chances of the visitors conceding a penalty.
City’s front-footed approach has seen them win a division-high eight penalties this season, scoring three in their last four league games.
Only Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest have conceded more penalties this season than Arsenal, who have given away six — including in two of their last three matches.
Back Rob Holding to receive a card at 7/2
The injury to William Saliba has been a massive blow to Arsenal. In the centre-back’s absence, Arsenal have conceded 10 goals in six games, crashed out of Europe and seen their title challenge falter.
Replacement Rob Holding is not at Saliba’s level and has a habit of picking up cards in high-stakes encounters.
Last season, his rash display in a fourth-place clash with rivals Tottenham saw him sent off after 33 minutes, he was booked after replacing Saliba against Sporting last month and was hooked at half-time in Arsenal’s FA Cup trip to City having received a booking.
He will be tasked with somehow keeping goalscoring machine Erling Haaland and twinkle-toed Jack Grealish quiet and it would be some feat if he managed to do so without a booking.
Back Gabriel Martinelli to have two or more shots at 1/1
Arsenal will have to play on the break at the Etihad Stadium but that will suit wingers Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, whose pace will be a massive threat on the counter.
Manchester City’s attacking approach rewards them with goals aplenty but also leaves them vulnerable in transition, with Guardiola’s men conceding in four of their last six games.
The space afforded to Martinelli means he should enjoy the encounter more than his defensive colleagues and the Brazilian has unleashed at least two shots in nine of his last 11 appearances.
Back Erling Haaland to have two or more shots on target at 8/11
Haaland is the Premier League’s leading scorer and has managed an impressive 48 shots on target from 96 attempts in total — a shooting accuracy of 50%.
He is the obvious focal point for a polished City attack and will face an Arsenal defence shorn of Saliba and possibly denied the shielding presence of Granit Xhaka, who faces a late fitness test.
Mikel Arteta’s men conceded eight shots at home to rock-bottom Southampton last week, 15 against West Ham and 20 against Liverpool before that.
City will expect to match the attacking output of West Ham and Haaland will be front, centre and as accurate as ever amid the assault.
Back a goal between 76th minute and full-time at 5/6
No side this season has scored as many Premier League goals from the 76th minute onwards than Arsenal, with Arteta’s men netting 13 times in the final 15 minutes of matches.
Perhaps surprisingly, City are actually relatively light scorers late on and are at their most vulnerable in the dying stages, shipping eight in the final 15 minutes — that is more than at any other 15-minute section of their games.
Add the fact that this is effectively a title-decider in which both must throw caution to the wind if trailing late on and there is huge potential for late drama.
