With Liverpool topping Bournemouth the day prior, Arsenal look to keep pace at the top of the Premier League table as they welcome Manchester City to Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
The Gunners are nine points back of the leaders and cannot afford to fall further back in the race. With Liverpool seemingly catching every break possible, there’s zero room for error during the chase.
Facing Man City is always a test, but in their current form, Arsenal have a chance to make a real statement of intent. Pep Guardiola has faced real challenges this season, with the thin midfield and the struggles of certain attacking players amid an injury crisis.
City, on the other hand, have a chance to show they have truly put their struggles behind them. They sit fourth in the table, level on points with fifth-place Newcastle United, and will look to use the midweek Champions League escape to push them on in domestic action.
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Arsenal vs. Man City prediction, odds
Sporting News football betting expert Kyle Bonn shares his best bets, props, and longshot fliers for some of the biggest matches in the sport each week. Since the start of 2024, he has correctly predicted 54.6% of 386 match outcomes via his 3-way moneyline leans for a total profit of 68.7 units.
Arsenal are a perfect matchup for what Manchester City currently struggle with. The Gunners are very good counter-attacking through the middle of the field, and without Rodri, City are extremely poor at stopping those exact movements.
With Arsenal at home, they should run riot in this match.
| DraftKings (USA) |
|
| Arsenal win | -105 |
| Draw | +265 |
| Man City win | +285 |
| Both teams to score |
Y: -165 N: +130 |
| Over / Under 2.5 goals |
O: -145 U: +105 |
| Arsenal -0.5 goals |
-115 |
| Man City +0.5 goals |
-120 |
Arsenal vs. Man City match facts
- Date: Sunday, February 2, 2025
- Kickoff Time: 4:30 p.m. local (11:30 a.m. ET / 8:30 a.m. PT)
- Location: Emirates Stadium (London, England)
- Referee: Peter Bankes, VAR: Anthony Taylor
- Last meeting: Man City 2-2 Arsenal (Sep. 22, 2024 | Premier League)
MORE: Latest team news and injury updates ahead of Arsenal vs. Man City
Arsenal vs. Man City best bet
- Pick: Arsenal to win 1st half
- Odds: +150 (DraftKings)
Arsenal will hope to jump on Man City’s weaknesses early. While the champions are the best first-half attacking team in the Premier League this season, Arsenal are the best defensive team through the first 45 minutes, conceding just 7.78 xG before the break in league play.
The last time these two teams played, Arsenal held a 2-1 lead at the interval but also had gone down a man controversially. While City have scored 26 first-half goals this season, the most in the English top flight, they have also conceded 13 first-half goals on 15.31 xG, indicating there will be plenty of chances for Arsenal to put themselves in front early and cause City to have to chase.
Arsenal vs. Man City prop bet
- Pick: Kai Havertz anytime goal-scorer
- Odds: +205 (DraftKings)
In the absence of other main goal-scorers, Kai Havertz has recently risen to become the main option for Arsenal in front of goal, foregoing his other creative duties to be a key finisher.
Havertz has three goals in his past five Premier League matches, with 13 shots worth 3.64 xG in that span. Meanwhile, he has no assists on just three key passes worth 0.15 xA, indicating he has skewed heavily towards a finishing role instead of a creative one.
With a big 90th-minute effort saved well by Ederson in their last meeting, Havertz will be itching to help Arsenal secure a massive three points in this game.
