Before the best soccer leagues take a short break due to the international matchups, the English Premier League will wrap up Matchday 4 with six games on Sunday’s schedule.
Arsenal will host Sheffield United at Emirates Stadium in what I expect to be one of the most exciting showdowns of this weekend. The visitors will look for their first points this term, so here are the best betting tips and notes along with my top betting pick for Arsenal vs. Sheffield Utd matchup.
Arsenal vs. Sheffield Utd Tip
Three-way: 1: Arsenal -180; X: +320 Draw; 2: Sheffield Utd +570
Spread -1: Arsenal +100; Sheffield Utd -110
Total 2.5 Goals: Over -110; Under -105
Both Teams to Score: Yes -105; No -125
ARSENAL
The Gunners opened the 2020-21 Premier League season with a couple of wins over Fulham 3-0 on the road and West Ham 2-1 at home. Week 3 brought a tough awakening, as Arsenal lost at Liverpool 3-1, but the Gunners managed to get revenge, outlasting the Reds in a penalty shootout this past Thursday and eliminating them from the EFL Cup.
After the first three rounds, the Gunners sit at the fifth spot of the Premier League standings with six points and a 6:4 goal difference. So far so good for Mikel Arteta’s boys led by Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who combined for five goals this season.
The Gunners will miss Gabriel Martinelli (knee) and Mesut Ozil (back) on Sunday, while Matteo Guendouzi (unfit) is doubtful to play.
Betting Trends:
- Arsenal won five straight home games
- The Gunners scored two or more goals in six of their last seven home contests
- Five of Arsenal’s last eight games produced three or more goals in total
SHEFFIELD UTD
The Blades were one of the most pleasant surprises of the previous Premier League edition, finishing at the ninth spot of the table with 54 points, a 14-12-12 record, and 39:39 goal difference. Despite some poor offensive displays, the Blades played terrific defense and fully deserved to end up in the top half.
However, they started the 2020-21 EPL season on the wrong foot. Sheffield Utd lost all three games this term while failing to score in the process and conceding four goals. Furthermore, the Blades haven’t met any heavyweights, losing to Wolves 2-0, Aston Villa 1-0, and Leeds 1-0.
The head coach Chris Wilder prefers a defensive and cautious approach, but he’ll have to change something, as his team has been struggling mightily in the final third. At least, he doesn’t have any injury worries ahead of Sunday’s game against Arsenal.
Betting Trends:
- Sheffield Utd lost six straight Premier League games
- Seven of the Blades’ last nine Premier League games produced fewer than three goals in total
- Just one of Sheffield Utd’s previous eight PL games saw both teams scoring
Match Prediction
Despite the Blades’ awful form, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if they score against Arsenal on Sunday. The Gunners have improved defensively under Mikel Arteta, but I don’t trust them due to a lack of top-notch defenders in their lineup.
Arsenal conceded in four straight Premier League games at Emirates Stadium. Furthermore, they often struggle defending the set pieces, and the Blades are very dangerous from the corner kicks and direct free kicks.
On the other side of the ball, the Gunners’ possess one of the best frontlines in the league, so they shouldn’t have too many problems to score against a stout Sheffield Utd’s defense.
Last season, these two foes met each other three times, and Sheffield Utd scored on each occasion. They lost to Arsenal 2-1 at home in the English FA Cup, but the Blades went unbeaten in the Premier League, beating the Gunners 1-0 at home and earning a 1-1 draw at Emirates Stadium.
The Pick: Both Teams to Score YES at -105