Arsenal vs. Manchester City prediction, odds: Soccer insider reveals English Premier League picks for Jan. 1
Fourth-place Arsenal looks to upset English Premier League frontrunners Manchester City in a New Year's Day matchup on Saturday. Man City has won the last four meetings between the two sides, with Arsenal's last win coming in the semifinals of the 2020 FA Cup. The Gunners' last match against Wolverhampton was postponed due to a COVID outbreak with the Wolves, but Arsenal will be without manager Mikel Arteta, who tested positive for the virus earlier in the week.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 a.m. ET from Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal hasn't won against Man City since the 2015-16 Premier League season. Caesars Sportsbook lists Manchester City as the -185 favorite (risk $185 to win $100) on the 90-minute money line in its latest Arsenal vs. Manchester City odds, with Arsenal the +480 underdog. A draw is priced at +340 and the over-under for total goals scored is set at 3.5. Before you lock in your Arsenal vs. Manchester City picks or make any English Premier League predictions, you need to see what proven soccer insider Brandt Sutton has to say.
Sutton, a former collegiate soccer player, has been SportsLine's top soccer editor for nearly five years. He has followed soccer closely for much longer and factors in managerial tactics, projected lineups and past performances to make the most-informed decisions possible, keeping his finger on the pulse of the game all over the globe.
Sutton has also been on a roll with his best bets in recent weeks, going 12-6 and returning almost $500 for $100 bettors who have followed his soccer picks.
Now, Sutton has broken down the Arsenal vs. Manchester City matchup from every angle and locked in his Premier League picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are the betting lines and trends for Manchester City vs. Arsenal:
- Arsenal vs. Manchester City spread: Man City -1.5 (+140)
- Arsenal vs. Manchester City: over-under: 3.5 goals
- Arsenal vs. Manchester City money line: Man City -185, Arsenal +480, Draw +340
- Man City: Six clean sheet victories in last 10 EPL matches
- Arsenal: Nine consecutive EPL losses to Manchester City
Featured Game| Arsenal vs. Manchester City
Why you should back Arsenal
Prior to Arsenal's postponed match against Wolves, the Gunners had won five consecutive matches across all competitions in convincing fashion. During that run of fixtures, Arsenal scored 19 goals and allowed just two. The trio of Emile Smith Rowe, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli in attack has been particularly impressive over the club's last three league matches.
Rowe has come in off the bench in all of the team's last three league fixtures and scored a goal in each. He had another when he started at left wing four matches ago against Manchester United in a 3-2 loss on December 2. Saka has scored three goals in his last two starts and Martinelli put in three total goals in recent matches against West Ham and Leeds United. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has allowed just one goal and made 10 saves over his last four starts.
Why you should back Manchester City
Most will see Manchester City's commanding lead in the EPL standings and historical success against Arsenal and that will be enough to make the case for the Sky Blues. However, following Saturday's match, Arsenal begins its Carabao Cup semifinal series against Liverpool on January 6. Arsenal lost 4-0 to Liverpool when the two sides met in November, and the Gunners may be looking ahead to exact revenge in the English Football League tournament.
City's Raheem Sterling has been on a sharp run of play over his last three matches, in which he has scored four total goals. Riyad Mahrez has also been dynamic in the attack, with a goal and assist in each of his last three starts. Mahrez wasn't in the lineup in City's 1-0 win over Brentford on Wednesday. Brazilian keeper Ederson allowed three goals in City's win against Leicester City last Sunday, but otherwise hadn't let in a goal in four other matches since December 4.
How to make Manchester City vs. Arsenal picks
Sutton has analyzed Arsenal vs. Manchester City from every possible angle, and has identified a plus-money pick to lead his best bets. He's also has a confident wager on the match winner and has a full breakdown of this English Premier League showdown. He's only sharing his EPL picks at SportsLine.
