Man United v Arsenal: Three bets for Wenger’s Old Trafford au revoir

Alexis Sanchez to Score – 13/8

Sanchez left London for Manchester in January – for a reputed £500k per week – so you’d think he’s getting enough without wanting to make Arsenal pay as well. But this is personal. His relationship with Arsene Wenger, his former team mates, and the club itself had soured a long time before he forced his move.

If ever there was a game he’ll want to score in, it is this one. Earlier in the season there were times he had to encourage his fellow Gunners to celebrate with him after he’d scored. He looked about as popular as Piers Morgan in… well, anywhere really.

The Chilean hasn’t exactly been in red-hot form since the move, netting just three times and often playing as though the treadmill of club and international football had begun to take its toll.

But he has every reason to show up his old team today, and at 13/8, we think he’s worth a shot in the Anytime market.

Both Teams to Score: Yes – 4/5

The only doubts you’d have about this is how motivated the Arsenal player are, and how much Thursday’s Europa League first leg took out of them.

Seeing your centre-half kick the ball into his own face to concede a goal won’t help many team’s morale, and, with the Wenger era petering out, maybe they won’t have the drive to force the issue here today.

They do, generally, score though, only failing to net once in their last eight in all competitions on their travels, and they have the pace and trickery to trouble United’s sometimes flat-footed central defence.

Both teams to score should be a good thing here at 4/5.

Correct Score: 2-1 – 13/2

United have beaten Chelsea, Liverpool and Spurs 2-1 at Old Trafford in the last few months. Whether Arsenal deserve to be included in that bracket is open to question, but even against weaker teams, United generally haven’t managed more than two goals on many occassions at home this year.

Arsenal are on a dreadful run away from the Emirates, losing their last five league games on the road. Swansea and Brighton will have appreciated the Gunners concern for their Premier League status during that run.

With a price like 13/2 you should get a decent run for your money on 2-1 the Correct Score market.