King of Stats: Key numbers on Man United’s clash with Arsenal

Man United and Arsenal will renew hostilities this weekend when the sides meet at Old Trafford with both in need of a win to keep pace with their rivals.

After ending Chelsea’s unbeaten start last time out, United need three points to kick on in the title race, which they’re priced at 11/8 to win. Arsenal are probably already out of contention, but can’t afford to slip further behind Tottenham in the scrap for the final Champions League spot.

Both sides can’t go home happy so we’ve slung a King of Stats package together to help you decide where to put your money.

7 – Arsenal have not enjoyed trips to Old Trafford of late, despite the many happy memories they made on this ground. They’ve been beaten on seven of their last eight visits in all competitions, four of them have been losses to-nil; back Man United to collect three points as well as keeping a clean sheet at 9/4.

1 – The number of draws played out between these sides in the past 11 contests, which bodes well for the neutral. Spectators can expect to witness the jubilations of one team at the final whistle and explaining the 11/4 on offer for the spoils to be shared.

30 – This is the number of goals scored in Man United’s last six – yes, six – games, though three of them were scored during extra-time of their Capital One Cup loss at Chelsea. However, with Arsenal having failed to keep a clean sheet in five away trips, expect goals by the bucket-load here, as is reflected in the 4/1 available for there to be over 4.5 to be scored at Old Trafford.

12 – Wayne Rooney has thrived against Arsenal throughout his career, since he announced himself to the world with a spectacular strike against them in Everton colours aged just 16. He’s scored 12 times in 25 appearances versus the Gunners in total, including a hat-trick in last season’s 8-2 mauling. Back him at 33/1 to take home the match ball again here.

9 – Goals going in at both ends has become a staple of this fixture, with nine of the last 11 Premier League meetings yielding this result. The 4/6 Ladbrokes are offering for it to happen again is a price with exceptionally good value.

7 – However, a bet that the same cannot be said of is 1/2 that United open the scoring in this clash. They’ve done so in seven of the last 10 with Arsenal, but have gone behind in six of the nine league matches they’ve played so far this term.

37 – Robin van Persie will play his first game against Arsenal since leaving in the summer and after being on the scoresheet 37 times for them last season the scene is set for him to put his old club to the sword. He’s bagged 11 per cent of his Premier League goals from outside the box and is 6/1 to notch from distance against the Gunners It’s also a very tempting 13/8 he scores in a home win.

2 – The Dutchman’s chances of beating the Arsenal keeper are heightened by the fact that the north-Londoners have kept a miserly two clean sheets in 15 renewals with their old enemy. This serves to undermine the lofty-looking 9/2 that says they’ll do it again here.

All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date