AFTER he produced a healthy profit for us on the QPR v Man City game two weeks ago, we invited Mark Stinchcombe (@markstinchcombe) to preview the Arsenal v Manchester United game for WeLoveBetting.
Arsenal v Man Utd | Saturday 17:30 | Sky Sports 1
According to Sky Sports News, Manchester United have an injury list that reads like this (deep breath)…David De Gea, Jesse Lingard, Rafael, Marcos Rojo, Jonny Evans, Phil Jones, Daley Blind, Michael Carrick, Ashley Young and Radamel Falcao. Wow!
Arsenal themselves are struggling in that department. Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott, Laurent Koscielny and Mathieu Debuchy are all out, while Danny Welbeck limped off for England on Tuesday night, although is likely to be fit. None of these Arsenal injuries are new however, whereas Louis Van Gaal's side seemingly pick up problems on a daily basis.
One player who should be available is Alexis Sanchez. Following his £35M move from Barcelona he has arguably been the only positive for Arsene Wenger's side this season. In 15 starts*, Alexis has scored 12 goals, registering in ten matches (67%), including scoring in his last six (of seven) at the Emirates.
He averages three shots per-game hitting the target with 73% of his efforts. Coming off the back of scoring in both of Chile's friendlies during the international break it's fair to say he's in fantastic form and Betfair's 8/5 on scoring anytime looks great value.
Heading into this game, van Gaal had used ten different defensive partnerships in just 11 matches. With new defensive signings in Rojo, Blind and Luke Shaw and the introduction of youngsters Tyler Blackett and Paddy McNair, it's been very difficult for understandings to have been built up, especially for De Gea in goal. They've registered only three clean sheets, conceding 14 in the other eight matches. Eight of those have been conceded at Leicester, Sunderland and West Brom.
With Sanchez opening the scoring in seven of his 15 starts (47%), as well as both his games with Chile, the readily available 5/1 on him scoring first looks a good bet also. However, if you take the 9/2 with Boylesports, that'll become 9/1 if he scores in the first 20 minutes. Take it with William Hill, and they'll refund you in the form of a free bet if he scores second instead.
Best Bets
Arsenal v Man Utd – Alexis Sanchez to score anytime (8/5 Betfair)
Arsenal v Man Utd – Alexis Sanchez to score first (5/1 Ladbrokes)
*Starts defined by playing 60+ minutes. In this instance Everton away (off 45 mins) and Man City Community Shield (off 45 mins) aren't considered.
