SAKA THE ONE TO BUK TREND
■ Gunners ace can crack the Etihad
MIKEL ARTETA looks like he’s learned a lesson from last year’s title race as Arsenal’s challenge gathers momentum going into the home straight.
With 10 games left in a three-horse race for the Premier League crown, the Gunners boss takes his side to the Etihad tomorrow intent on proving a point.
Just under a year ago Manchester City won this fixture 4-1 to crush Arsenal’s title hopes – and here they are again, with City odds-on favourites to repeat the trick.
Pep Guardiola’s men are 22-25 with BetMGM for the home win but I reckon Arsenal could reward brave punters at a big price of 3-1 with Betfred. The draw is around 14-5.
Although City boast a formidable 38-game unbeaten run in all competitions at the Etihad, all good things must come to an end at some point and tomorrow may be that day.
Arteta has his side in a good place at the moment – they wobbled around the Christmas period but since then have won their last eight Premier League matches.
More to the point, away from home they have just set a record by winning their last three games by five goals or more. To be more accurate, they scored 17 goals and conceded none.
That may give them the boost they need to end their woeful record at the Etihad – they’ve lost eight of the last nine, drawing the other.
Don’t forget they’ve already beaten City in the Community Shield and then 1-0 in the Prem at the Emirates.
They’re not top of the league by chance – they’ve won more games, scored more goals and conceded fewer than both Liverpool and City. Their goal difference is 11 better than City’s.
Players like Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz have been scoring for fun and confidence must be sky high.
Saka has netted seven in his last seven Prem games, while Havertz has hit four in four league games.
I think Arsenal might just edge this one 2-1 at massive odds of 14-1. I certainly believe both sides will score at Sky Bet’s 8-13, while it’s worth backing Arsenal to win with both sides netting, which will pay 11-2.
Taking the Gunners to win or draw on the Double Chance market will return odds of 5-6.
Saka, who has 16 goals and 13 assists for the Gunners this term, is a key figure for Arteta and if he shakes off a muscle complaint, he’s worth taking to net any time at 10-3.
Havertz is also worth following at better odds of 7-2 to find the net but I’d fancy the 10-1 on offer that he gets the opening goal here.
I’d also be tempted by Sky Bet’s enhanced 10-1, from 15-2, that both Saka and City’s Erling Haaland score.
For some added interest, I’d take Sky Bet’s Requestabet odds of 15-2 that Arsenal score twice and win five or more corners, and City collect at least 20 booking points.
City remain 6-5 title favourites, with Liverpool 2-1 and Arteta’s men 5-2. I tipped Jurgen Klopp’s Anfield men at 11-4 to land the title back in December and I still believe they will come up trumps – but I’d also consider Sky Bet’s 5-2 dual forecast odds that both Arsenal and Liverpool finish in the top two.