Matchweek 15 of the 2023/24 EPL season saw Man City drop points yet again as Arsenal took advantage, while Man United were saved again by an unlikely source.
City outplayed as serious questions emerge
Six games into the 2023/34 EPL season, when Manchester City had won their first six games, the prospect of Pep Guardiola’s side winning a record fourth consecutive title not only seemed possible, but inevitable. At that stage City were $1.36 to win the title yet again with Palmerbet. But since that time, they’ve released their foot off the gas. In the nine league games that have followed, they’ve won just three. And the latest result may well be the most damning.
City traveled to Aston Villa as $1.65 favourites in Matchweek 15, however were roundly outplayed by Unai Emery’s ever impressive side ($4.40), who prevailed 1-0 courtesy of a deflected Leon Bailey strike ($11 first goalscorer). But however lucky the strike might’ve been, the win was far from it. Villa completely outplayed the Sky Blues, in a performance that now asks questions of Guardiola’s ability to maintain motivation in a side that’s won everything in recent years. Opta revealed that City’s two shots on goal was the fewest ever recorded by a team managed by the Spaniard. From Villa’s perspective, however, their 22 shots was the joint-most he has received by an opposition side in his career.
Four EPL games in a row without a win sees City out to $2.00 for the title with Palmerbet.
Unai Emery FINALLY gets his first win over Pep Guardiola 👊 pic.twitter.com/LVExnCEimf
— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 6, 2023
Gunners extend buffer with late Rice winner
The result at Villa Park sees Arsenal extend their buffer against City, their main adversary in last season’s title race, to six points after the Gunners’ pulsating 4-3 win over Luton Town. The buffer would’ve been just four points if main man Declan Rice hadn’t for a second time this season won a game for Arsenal off his own boot. Or in this case, his head. The £105m summer signing left it until 23 seconds after the allocated six minutes of extra time, nodding home in the 97th minute to cue jubilant scenes in the away end at Kenilworth Road, and despair everywhere else at the boutique stadium.
Luton ($16) were brilliant all game, and came within a whisker of getting a point against the Gunner (the draw was paying $7.15 pre-game), which they had done against fellow EPL giant Liverpool a month prior. The match saw an unexpected goal frenzy too; Over 6.5 goals was paying $19 pre-match. Mikel Arteta’s men have shortened from $6.00 title chances (prior to the EPL season kicking off), now into $3.50. And in what’s set to be the most anticipated clash of Matchweek 16 — in what is first versus third — the Gunners travel to Villa. They start that one as $2.05 favourites with Emery’s men, at home no less, at $3.25 in a price some punters may well fancy.
Rice rises highest in the last-minute 😍
🔊 @_DeclanRice pic.twitter.com/riknsG06gL
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 6, 2023
Unlikely source again delivers priceless win for ten Hag
Erik ten Hag should be sending something extra special Scott McTominay’s way this festive season, because for a second time in two months, the Scottish midfielder has given the Dutch manager a crucial three points. Early this season it was at home to Brentford, when McTominay came on to score twice in extra time for victory — which at the time lifted what would’ve been huge pressure on ten Hag had he lost. This time, with United $2.60 outsiders at home to Chelsea ($2.40), he again stood up, bagging a brace ($26 pre-match to score 2+) to drive United to a 2-1 victory ($10 correct score).
Chelsea were poor yet again, and the pressure is about to be ramped up on manager Mauricio Pochettino, especially given the West London club’s propensity to ditch managers swiftly. But for United, this was a rare bit of happiness at Old Trafford this season. Not just because of the victory, but the performance. Ten Hag’s men were far sharper and noticeably more physical in pressing higher up on Chelsea.
Bet Now ON ALL EPL MARKETS🚨🚨| 13 goals for Scott McTominay (club & country) this season. 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/6IiiUIBOo9
— centredevils. (@centredevils) December 6, 2023