Arsenal vs. Manchester United doesn’t quite have the same ring to it in 2022 that it did in the era of Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson, but these are two blue-chip Premier League clubs and when they meet on Saturday, everyone will be watching.
With both clubs chasing Top 4, will either take a step forward on Saturday or will they allow Tottenham to continue their march towards Champions League qualification next season? Don’t miss our Arsenal vs. Manchester Utd picks and predictions.
Arsenal vs Manchester United match odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
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Arsenal vs Manchester United betting tips
Predictions made on 4/22/2022 at 11:15 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Arsenal vs Manchester United game info
• Location: Emirates Stadium, London, England
• Date: Saturday, April 23, 2022
• Time: 7:30 a.m. ET
• TV: USA Network
Arsenal vs Manchester United betting preview
Weather
The game kicks off at 12:30 p.m. local time and lunchtime temperatures in London should be just over 60 degrees with cloudy skies and strong wind, although the pitch at the Emirates should avoid that.
Injuries
Arsenal: Thomas Partey DM (Out), Kieran Tierney LB (Out), Takehiro Tomiyasu RB (Out).
Manchester United: Fred CM (Out), Paul Pogba CM (Out), Edinson Cavani ST (Out), Luke Shaw LB (Out), Raphael Varane CB (Questionable).
Arsenal vs Manchester United predictions
Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.
Side analysis
In recent weeks, there’s been a lot of discussion about whether Liverpool vs. Manchester City is the best rivalry in Premier League history. While both clubs are at the pinnacle of the game, both in England and Europe, that certainly isn’t true. No fixture in Premier League history has had the hatred and gravitas that Arsenal vs. Man Utd has had through the years.
Saturday’s game has added spice, with both clubs competing hard for the fourth and final Premier League spot which would guarantee a Champions League campaign next season. Arsenal sit fifth in the table on 57 points, tied with their North London rivals Tottenham, who hold the fourth spot by virtue of a better goal difference. Just three points behind are Manchester United, although they have played an extra game. With only a handful of games remaining, a win on Saturday would hugely boost either team’s chances of earning that final spot.
Picking a winner on Saturday is incredibly difficult. The reason that these teams are fifth and sixth in the Premier League is that they’re wildly inconsistent. Arsenal come into this game after a thrilling 4-2 victory over Chelsea on Wednesday but the game before that they lost 1-0 to Southampton, which was their third defeat in a row. In the past month, Man United have beaten the likes of Tottenham and then lost against relegation-threatened Everton, not to mention a 4-0 hammering from Liverpool midweek. There really are reasons to be worried about backing either team which is why you need to look into more than just their last games.
Mikel Arteta will send hosts Arsenal out in their usual 4-2-3-1, with Eddie Nketiah set to lead the line again after his heroics against Chelsea. The bulk of Arsenal’s creative work will flow through whichever two of Gabriel Martinelli, Emile Smith-Rowe, and Bukayo Saka start either side of Martin Odegaard, who’ll play in the hole behind Nketiah. Injuries to Thomas Partey, Kieran Tierney, and Takehiro Tomiyasu continue to deprive the Gunners of some of their better defensive players, which will be good news for Man Utd.
For United, it’s been an interesting week. They’ve been embarrassed by their hated rivals Liverpool but then they’d have been boosted by the announcement that Erik ten Hag will be leaving Ajax to take over managerial duties at the club in the summer. Now the players know exactly who will be in charge next season and they’ll be well aware that they need to impress or they’ll be part of the large exodus that it expected at Old Trafford.
For now, it’ll be Ralf Rangnick picking the team and he’ll continue with 4-3-3. Ronaldo should return to the starting XI after missing the last game for tragic personal reasons. The most important and decisive battle will be that in midfield where a Thomas Partey-less Arsenal will face a United midfield missing Fred and Paul Pogba. Mohamed Eleny vs. Nemanja Matic doesn’t sound like box office viewing but whichever of these teams comes out on top of that battle should win the game.
If you look at both teams’ results midweek, it would tell you that Arsenal are the bet here but both teams are so wildly inconsistent that it would be foolish. You can’t forget that Man Utd won the reverse of this fixture earlier in the season and the announcement of Erik ten Hag could have changed the dynamic around the club. I simply can’t recommend backing Arsenal at odds of +105, so instead I’d consider taking Man Utd at +255 to win a game that could blow the race for Top 4 wide open.
Prediction: Manchester United (+255 at DraftKings)
Over/Under analysis
The last time these two met, it finished 3-2 to Man Utd and both teams come into this having featured in a lot of high-scoring games recently. Three of Arsenal’s past four games have seen three or more goals, as have United’s past two games.
In fact, five of Man Utd’s past seven games on the road have seen Over 2.5 goals land with four of Arsenal’s seven games at the Emirates in that timeframe hitting Over 2.5 goals too. The sportsbooks have a variety of different odds on Over 2.5 goals but DraftKings is offering a very good price in comparison to most, with odds of -115. Well worth backing.
Prediction: Over 2.5 (-115 DraftKings)
Best bet
One thing ten Hag is going to have to do when he takes over Manchester United is get rid of a lot of the deadwood and there is set to be an exodus of players who are on big wages, are too old, aren’t good enough or won’t fit his playing style. Nemanja Matic has already announced that this is his last season with the club. The 33-year-old isn’t a great stylistic fit and has his best days behind him.
He’s not been used that much by Rangnick but with Pogba and Fred both missing, he’ll continue to start. His lack of pace in midfield is often an issue and although he’s largely been far better at not picking up bookings this season, he might find himself overrun against the youthful exuberance of Arsenal’s Odegaard, Saka and Smith-Rowe. At +300 he presents a very good opportunity to get a booking especially given that Saturday’s referee Craig Pawson gives an average of 4.27 yellow cards per game.
Pick: Nemanja Matic to get booked (+300 at bet365)
