Manchester United look to get back in form as they take on Arsenal on September 30, 2019 at Old Trafford.
Manchester United
Manchester United was founded in 1902 and is the winningest football club in English football with a record 20 Premier League titles and a record 21 FA Shields. Nicknamed the Red Devils, they were also the first English team to accomplish the continental European treble.
Manchester United won 14 out of their first 19 games under former United player and Molde boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after he took over from Jose Mourinho who was fired in December 2018. However, the success was short-lived and they ended the previous season in disappointment. Manchester United finished way far behind Manchester City and Liverpool. This time around Solskjaer hopes that a fast start to the 2019-20 season is going to push his team to a higher level.
The Red Devils are tied for fifth place in the league in Goal Difference at +2. They also hold a share of the 8th spot in Goals Scored with a total of eight in six matches played. Likewise, they are 8th in Assists with a total of six for the season. On the other side of the field, Manchester United has conceded just a total of six goals this term which is good for 3rd in the EPL.
Marcus Rashford continues to improve and he has three goals and one assist this season. Midfielder Daniel James also has three goals for the Red Devils. Paul Pogba leads Manchester United with two assists while Anthony Martial has two goals and one assist in just three matches played so far. Goalkeeper David de Gea has 17 saves and has conceded six goals in six matches for the Red Devils.
Arsenal
Arsenal was founded in 1886 as Dial Square. Known as the Gunners, Arsenal is the first club from South of England to join the Football League. They hold the current longest streak in top flight football as they have only been relegated once in 1913 since reaching the First Division in 1904.
Arsenal finished 5th in the 2019 Premier League final table and lost to Chelsea in the Europa League final. From late August to mid-December last season, they went 22 games without losing a match. Overall, they have won a total of 13 League titles, 15 Community Shields, 13 FA Cups, 1 League Centenary Trophy 1 UEFA Cup Winners Cup and 1 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.
They are tied for 6th in the EPL in Goal Difference at +1 goal. They rank 5th in the league with a total of 11 goals scored and have conceded 10 goals this term, good for 15th in the Premier League. The Gunners have a total of seven assists on the season, good for 5th overall.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang continues to sizzle with a total of six goals scored in six matches. Alexandre Lacazette has two goals while Nicolas Pepe has one goal for his squad. Dani Ceballos and Ainsley Maitland-Niles have two assists each for Arsenal. Goalkeeper Bernd Leno has conceded 10 goals with 29 saves on the season.
Who Wins?
Manchester United has played poorly in recent weeks and they only have 8 points from 6 games played. In their last EPL match, Manchester United were beaten by West Ham United 0-2 at London Stadium. It was a disappointing loss for the Red Devils who were defeated by a much weaker side. They failed to create significant scoring opportunities as they only had three shots on target during the entire match. This side has given up points to the Wolves, Crystal Palace, and Southampton. They enter this match as the soccer betting favorites but considering their recent form, this won’t be an easy task for them.
Meanwhile, Arsenal was impressive during their most recent outing, a 3-2 win at home over Aston Villa. The Gunners were reduced to 10 men in that match but they showed grit and determination to secure the three points. Pepe scored the opening goal and that should give him confidence heading to this match. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang continues his hot start as he scored the winning goal against Aston Villa. The Gunners are currently 4th in the EPL standings right now and although this is a big match for them, their recent form will give them confidence facing the Red Devils.
These teams last played in March 2019 and the Gunners won that match 2-0 at Emirates Stadium. Manchester United is in the middle of a struggling season and Arsenal has looked impressive so far this term. The Gunners’ defense is questionable but against a Manchester United squad that lacks attacking quality, that weakness should be offset and Arsenal should pick up this road win. Prediction: Arsenal