Man United v Arsenal: Welbeck to haunt United again
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Manchester United may have run out 5-1 winners over FC Midtjylland in the Europa League on Thursday but any confidence gained from that result will quickly evaporate when Arsenal arrive at Old Trafford.
The victory earned United a last 16 clash with Liverpool and made it back-to-back wins for Louis van Gaal’s men but with both of those wins coming against minor opposition neither will serve as adequate preparation for the Gunners’ arrival.
The Red Devils have won just two of their last six Premier League games at Old Trafford, with West Ham, Norwich, Chelsea and Southampton all leaving with at least a point.
Arsene Wenger’s men will represent a step up in quality from all of those sides and having lost just one of their last six on the road the Emirates outfit will be confident of boosting their title chances with a famous win at Old Trafford.
The Gunners go into the game as 7/5 favourites, with the home win available at 9/4 and the draw priced at 11/5.
However, after netting the winner against his old side in their last FA Cup meeting and returning from injury to hit a vital winner against Leicester recently, Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck could be the man to reward punters with a bit of value.
The England man is the 6/1 third favourite to open the scoring and while some may fancy Anthony Martial (11/2) or Olivier Giroud (5/1) to pip Welbeck to the post the 23/10 on an anytime goal for the man affectionately known as Welbz could prove a shrewd selection.
United have won just one of the last five meetings with the north Londoners and while three of those games were settled by a single goal, the 3-0 scoreline Arsenal won by last time the sides met is arguably a more accurate reflection of where both clubs are at present.
With that in mind the 4/1 on Arsenal (-1) could tempt some, while the 22/1 on a repeat 3-0 win is surely worth a small stake.
And, bearing all that in mind, it would be remiss of us not to point out the odds of 80/1 on Welbeck netting first in any 3-0 win for the Gunners.
All odds and markets correct as of the date of publishing.
