Manchester United vs. Arsenal: 5 Stats You Didn't Know
by Tyler Doty
Four in a Row
Arsenal has been in a much better period than Manchester United in recent years, even if it hasn’t translated into trophies. Manchester United has struggled for over 10 years, ever since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure, while Arsenal is in the title race for the third consecutive season.
One important statistic reinforces this fact: Arsenal has won the last four Premier League meetings against Manchester United—something that has never happened before in the history of both clubs. This is a key reason why the Gunners are favorites in our Manchester United vs. Arsenal prediction. Mikel Arteta’s men seem to have started a dominant spell in the Premier League against their opponents today and will be eager to leave Manchester with all three points.
Our Manchester United vs. Arsenal Prediction
United Often Concedes First
A striking statistic helps explain Manchester United’s struggles in the Premier League. Heading into Matchweek 28, they sit 14th in the table, and one major issue stands out: Manchester United concedes the first goal far too often.
In 27 Premier League matches, Ruben Amorim’s men have conceded first 17 times—meaning they’ve fallen behind in 63% of their games. And when they do, their record is poor: just four wins, one draw, and a worrying 12 losses.
This lack of comeback ability could present some interesting betting opportunities for today’s clash. For example, the bet "Arsenal to score first" is currently offered at -195 odds at FanDuel, while the combined bet "Arsenal to score first and win" is available at -120. Based on the numbers, both bets seem worth considering!
Arsenal Looking to End a 45-Year Drought
The Gunners have a chance to make history this Sunday. They haven’t beaten United twice in a row away from home in 45 years—an incredibly long drought that could finally be erased by the end of the match.
Our Manchester United vs. Arsenal Prediction
The Gunners Know How to Score
Manchester United’s defense has been far from solid this season. With 39 goals conceded, they rank just 13th in the Premier League in terms of defensive strength. Despite investing £70 million to sign former Lille defender Leny Yoro, that hasn’t been enough to fix their issues.
Meanwhile, Arsenal has had no trouble breaking down United’s defense. In fact, Martin Ødegaard and his teammates have scored at least once in each of their last 10 meetings across all competitions. That’s an important statistic to consider when placing bets on this highly anticipated showdown.
A Flurry of Shots Incoming?
A type of bet that has made its appearance at sportsbooks in recent months, total shots in the match or by team can also be interesting to try. The sportsbooks often offer interesting odds.
Arsenal, who have taken 373 shots in the league this season, offer an average of 13.8 shots per match. Manchester United, for their part, have 354 attempts, an average of 13.1 shots per game in the Premier League. And FanDuel is currently offering some interesting odds.
For the Gunners, for example, the “10 or more shots” is quoted at -350 at FanDuel, the “13 or more shots” at -105 and the “15 or more shots” at +210! For the locals, the “8 or more shots” is offered at -340, the “10 or more shots” at -140 and the “13 or more shots” at 250! FanDuel offers odds of -260 for the “20 or more shots in the match” bet, -115 for the “23 or more shots in the match” and +210 for the “26 or more shots” in the match total (aggregate of both teams). Interested in these odds? Then don't hesitate to try your luck!
