Arsenal Have Won Just 1 Of Their Last 9…

Arsenal’s slim hopes of winning this season’s Premier League title evaporated on Sunday when Tamir Cohen headed home a late winner for Bolton Wanderers, leaving Arsenal 9 points behind leaders Manchester United with just 4 games remaining.

Before Arsenal look towards next season, this is the biggest game on their calendar. Victory for Arsenal would at least give them something to go into next season with, and would also help Chelsea get back into the title race, should they have beaten Tottenham on Saturday evening.

Confidence must be at an all-time low for Arsenal, who have won just 1 of their last 9 matches in all competitions, and 1 in their last 7 Premier League games. That was a trip to Bloomfield Road in which Jens Lehmann made his second debut for the Gunners.

With Darren Fletcher out through illness, Arsenal’s midfield may think they have a chance against their opponents on Sunday. The clever Scotsman in previous meetings has broken up attacks, often with cheap fouls, much to Wenger’s annoyance. Instead, I would look out for Sir Alex Ferguson to play Anderson in midfield has he has kept the Arsenal captain quiet on more than one occasion in the past.

Since the return of Rio Ferdinand, Manchester United’s defence has looked a lot more solid, with the former England captain alongside Nemanja Vidic. They’ll come up against Robin van Persie, whom has scored in 4 consecutive Premier League games.

Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has made some key saves in recent weeks also and was a big factor in Manchester United’s 2-0 FA Cup victory over Arsenal with the save count in double figures. Ferguson played his Brazilian twins on the wing that day and they caused Arsenal a lot of problems; Fabio scoring the game’s opening goal before Wayne Rooney added a second.

Manchester United have won both previous meetings this season, in the FA Cup and Premier League. Both of those came at Old Trafford. Manchester United did the double over Arsenal last season, including a 3-1 victory at the Emirates. A repeat of that season and the title would be all but wrapped up.

Manchester United go into this game full of confidence, with some potential fatigue after their 2-0 victory in Gelsenkirchen on Tuesday. Nani didn’t get much time on the pitch, while Rooney was subbed off towards the end.

Both Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez are capable of finding the holes in this Arsenal defence. There’s the creativity of Nani and Antonio Valencia down the wings. Arsenal have conceded 7 goals in their last 4 league games and with Hernandez’s movement, I expect to see the young Mexican to find himself open inside the penalty area waiting for one of his team mates to set him up for a tap in.

With 4 Premier League games on Sunday, let’s hope this one can live up to the hype and prove to be an exciting affair.

I’m on a roll with my football betting tips of late. You can currently back Manchester United at 2.92 with Betfair, while the safer bet may be to lay Arsenal, currently at 2.66.

Written by Premiership Tips.