EPL Matchday 24 Odds: Slumping Arsenal Fall to Manchester City
Manchester City Take League Lead
Slumping Arsenal Fall to Manchester City
A massive midweek matchup between Arsenal and Manchester City ended in a 3-1 victory for visiting City. Now, Man City are in first place on goal difference, while Arsenal have a game in hand. The Gunners will look to bounce back on Saturday at Aston Villa while City head to Nottingham Forest.
Other big matches on Premier League Matchday 24 include Brighton vs. Fulham and Newcastle vs. Liverpool. We’ll cover these important matches and more in our EPL Matchday 24 preview.
Matches of the Week:
Aston Villa vs Arsenal
Date & Time: Saturday, February 18th, 7:30 a.m. EST
Location: Villa Park (Birmingham, England)
Unai Emery’s Aston Villa have conceded seven goals in their last two games. Villa will try to avoid a third straight loss when they host a slumping Arsenal on Saturday. Arsenal started off the season brilliantly but are now winless in their last four matches in all competitions.
They were competitive with Manchester City on Wednesday but mistakes sunk their chances. Still, Mikel Arteta’s Gunners enter the match as ½-goal favorites and sit at -135 ATS and moneyline Premier League betting odds.
What’s perhaps most concerning for Arsenal is that the goals have dried up in recent weeks. They’ve scored just twice in their last three Premier League matches and are sorely missing Gabriel Jesus. Meanwhile, Aston Villa are one a nine-game scoring streak in the league.
Over 2½ goals show -115 odds for Saturday’s match. Arteta has stuck with the front three of Gabriel Martinelli, Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka while Jesus has been out. However, Leandro Trossard has looked bright in his limited minutes and it wouldn’t be too surprising if he replaces Martinelli.
Thomas Partey also missed the match vs. Manchester City with a strain and he’s listed as day-to-day. Jorginho could get another start in his place if he misses this match. Arsenal have won the last three meetings vs. Aston Villa regardless. Villa show +115 odds to win or draw the match and are +370 moneyline underdogs. Meanwhile, a draw comes in at +285 odds but that’d be another frustrating result for the Gunners in their title pursuit.
Brighton vs Fulham
Date & Time: Saturday, February 18th, 10:00 a.m.
Location: Falmer Stadium (Brighton, England)
Surprise European contenders Brighton & Hove Albion and Fulham face off on Saturday. The winner will occupy sixth place, which will presumably be a Europa League spot at the end of the season. Roberto de Zerbi’s Brighton are unbeaten in their last seven matches, in all competitions, heading into this match. They drew 1-1 at Crystal Palace last weekend and have conceded just four goals in their last five EPL games.
Meanwhile, Fulham shutout Nottingham Forest last Saturday to break a three-match EPL winless streak. Our EPL Matchday 24 preview notes that Brighton are ½-goal home favorites and show -145 ATS and moneyline odds to win.
Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma, Evan Ferguson and Solly March have stepped up since Leandro Trossard’s departure to Arsenal. Mitoma, in particular, has been a standout on the left wing and can cause Fulham’s right side some problems. Meanwhile, Fulham’s Willian has been a revelation since signing last year as a free agent.
The 34-year old’s EPL career looked to be finished a couple years ago during a horrific spell for Arsenal. However, he’s been a key player for the Cottagers and scored in the 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest. He’s listed as day-to-day for this match, though, and the winger could miss his first match since October.
Manor Solomon and Harry Wilson are contenders to replace him in the starting lineup. In any case, Fulham +½ displays +125 odds but this has been a favorable fixture for them in recent seasons. They won the reverse fixture, 2-1, and are unbeaten in the last five meetings. The Cottagers sit at a +380 price to win and a draw is listed at +305 odds. Fulham’s Aleksandr Mitrovic is also among the EPL’s leading scorers, with 11 goals, and over 2½ goals come in at -130 odds.
Newcastle vs Liverpool
Date & Time: Saturday, February 18th, 12:30 p.m.
Location: St James’ Park (Newcastle, England)
Another excellent match on the EPL schedule this weekend is Newcastle vs. Liverpool. Liverpool are the only team to defeat fourth-placed Newcastle this season and Eddie Howe’s Magpies should be motivated in this reverse fixture. They’ve been excellent at St James’ Park this season, with an unbeaten 6-5-0 record.
Liverpool finally broke a four-match Premier League winless streak by defeating Everton 2-0 in the Merseyside Derby on Monday. Cody Gakpo scored his first Liverpool goal in the match and the Reds got some key players back. Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino made substitute appearances following long-term injuries and will bolster the Liverpool attack.
This is expected to be an incredibly competitive match, as it’s listed as a pick’em. Newcastle are the more likely team to cover, at -125 odds, while Liverpool pk displays +105 odds. The Magpies will be without midfield lynchpin Bruno Guimaraes in this match as he serves the third and final match of a suspension. Without him, Newcastle have drawn their last two matches by a 1-1 scoreline.
Previously, they had kept six straight league shutouts and Newcastle keeper Nick Pope leads the league with 12 clean sheets. Newcastle hope midfielder Joe Willock and forward Callum Wilson are back from hamstring injuries in time for this one. Regardless, they’re +145 favorites to win the match.
Liverpool, who have won just one of their last five EPL matches, are +185 underdogs. Jurgen Klopp’s Reds are unbeaten in their last 13 Premier League matches vs. Newcastle, though. A draw, which has occurred in two of the last five meetings, displays +250 odds.
Despite their great record vs. Newcastle, Liverpool have completely underachieved this season and currently sit in ninth place. They’ll have their hands full dealing with Newcastle’s right-sided players Kieran Trippier and Miguel Almiron. Neither team has scored much recently but punters will find over 2½ goals at -130 odds.
Top Four Teams in Action
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City
Date & Time: Saturday, February 18th, 10:00 a.m.
Location: City Ground (Nottingham, England)
Earlier in the season, Manchester City smashed Nottingham Forest at the Etihad, 6-0. The new league leaders have been scoring with ease recently as well. City have scored at least three goals in four of their last five matches, including Wednesday’s 3-1 win over Arsenal.
It was an excellent display from the two-time defending champions as they handed Arsenal a first home loss of the season. Erling Haaland scored in Wednesday’s match and he also registered a hat trick vs. Nottingham Forest in August. City are 1½-goal favorites vs. Steve Cooper’s Nottingham Forest on Saturday and come in at -115 ATS odds.
Forest splashed the cash in the Summer and were also active in the January transfer window. It appears things are finally clicking for them as they were unbeaten in five matches before losing to Fulham last weekend. Former star Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas should continue to start for Forest while Dean Henderson is out.
Forward Brennan Johnson has been a key player for Forest this season as their main scoring outlet. In just the second meeting of the last 28 years, Forest +1½ sits at -105 odds. Nottingham Forest are also massive +825 home underdogs. They have been reasonably solid at home this season, though, with a 5-3-3 record.
City’s Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne have been among the best players in the league this season. Haaland has a ridiculous 26 goals this season but under three goals for the match comes in at -115 odds. Meanwhile, De Bruyne leads the league with 12 assists. City are -315 road favorites, while a draw shows +450 odds. It’s matches like this where City certainly need to grab all three points in their pursuit of the title.
Manchester United vs Leicester City
Date & Time: Sunday, February 19th, 9:00 a.m.
Location: Old Trafford (Manchester, England)
EPL Matchday 24 previews should note that Manchester United have just two days of rest heading into this match. United headed to the Camp Nou on Thursday to take on Barcelona in the Europa League playoff. Man United managed to get an important 2-2 draw at Barcelona.
They head into the next week’s second leg in a good position. In Sunday’s match, Manchester United are one-goal favorites at Old Trafford. The Red Devils display -105 odds to cover the spread and -180 odds to win the match. Marcus Rashford scored on Thursday vs. Barcelona and he’s been in incredible form for the last few months.
Leicester City’s offense has been humming in recent weeks. They’ve scored four goals in consecutive matches and destroyed Tottenham 4-1 last weekend. James Maddison and Kelechi Iheanacho have both scored in Leicester’s last two matches. Leicester’s matches this season have been among the highest scoring in the league. Foxes’ games have averaged 3.36 goals per game but under three goals come in at -115 odds for this match.
Midfielders Youri Tielemans and Boubakary Soumare missed Leicester’s last match but they are in contention to return for Sunday. Leicester City +1 comes in at a -115 price while the Foxes also sit at +455 odds to win at Old Trafford for a second time in three seasons.
Manchester United won the reverse fixture, 1-0, but have just one win in their last six matches vs. Leicester. Two of those six meetings, in all competitions, have finished in draws and another is priced at +345 odds.
Leicester’s chances are boosted by the fact that United are short in midfield for this match. Casemiro is suspended, Christian Eriksen is out with a long term injury and Scott McTominay is day-to-day. Meanwhile, attackers Antony and Anthony Martial are doubtful.
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