William Hill Sites

Sports Vegas Live Casino Bingo Poker Promotions

Media And Support

Podcasts Betting & Casino Apps Help Centre
Premier League

Premier League weekend preview: Arsenal and City face newly inspired rivals

1 year ago
| BY News Team

After a few surprise results last weekend, the race to get points on the board before the World Cup break is on and this round of matches looks set to serve up more enthralling ties, including Arsenal welcoming a Nottingham Forest side sure to be high on confidence after recently defeating Liverpool.

We preview three fixtures from Matchday 14 below.

Manchester City v Leicester

For all that Manchester City probably boast the best squad in world football and have looked to be gathering a head of steam in the Premier League this season, recent fixtures have proved that they aren’t invincible.

City have failed to win their last two Champions League games – drawing 0-0 with FC Copenhagen and then with Dortmund in midweek – while they also fell to their first league defeat at the hands of Liverpool two weeks ago. Of course, Pep Guardiola’s all-stars are always dangerous as they showed when readily disposing of Brighton last weekend.

Unsurprisingly, City are overwhelming 2/7 favourites to return to winning ways against visitors Leicester in Saturday’s early kick-off. Leicester have endured a torrid beginning to the season, but Brendan Rodgers has kept his job and judging by their last few performances – unbeaten in three, including wins over Leeds and Wolves last time – he is beginning to turn things around. At their best The Foxes can be a threat to anyone and could offer a touch of value at 17/2 to win and 24/5 to come away with a point.

Recent head-to-heads in the league also indicate that, with the record standing at two wins each from their last four meetings.

Amazingly Jamie Vardy’s strike against Wolves was his first of the season but it also marked his 100th Premier League goal. He’s 3/1 to add another at the Etihad, but will be doing well to outscore Erling Haaland, who is once again odds-on at 4/11 to add to his haul of 17 league goals this season.

Check out all the latest betting offers at William Hill

Newcastle v Aston Villa

Newcastle are beginning to look a growing force in the Premier League and with the level of financial support behind them, it’s surely only going to get better for The Magpies.

Unbeaten in their last seven games, including an impressive win over Tottenham last time, Eddie Howe’s side lie fourth in the table, only seven points off top spot. A push for the top four might be beyond them this campaign, but such are the growing expectation levels around St James’ Park, fans will be anticipating three points when Aston Villa come visiting. At 5/6 the odds suggest they should get their wish.

Much of Newcastle’s success this season has been built on a solid back line – they have kept three clean sheets in their last seven – and are 29/20 to record another here. With plenty of attacking prowess in the side too, goals aren’t a problem either and the impressive duo of Callum Wilson and Miguel Almiron, who were both on the scoresheet against Tottenham, are 6/5 and 13/5 respectively to find the net here.

Things are far from rosy for Villa, with the side lying in 15th position after a terrible recent run of form that ended in Steven Gerrard losing his job. Judging by the players’ rection to his sacking in their 4-0 win over Brentford last week, it was the right decision, and now the challenge remains to keep the forward momentum under new manager Unai Emery.

Winning away at Newcastle would certainly lay down a marker and they are 16/5 to do just that.

Arsenal v Nottingham Forest

Last weekend’s draw against Southampton ended a fine run of eight straight wins in all competitions for Arsenal. They had 60% of possession and 12 attempts on goal during the match at St Mary’s but failed to close out the game, after taking control with Granit Xhaka’s strike on 11 minutes.

Their inability to find a way through a deep-lying Southampton defence might be reason for concern when Nottingham Forest visit the Emirates. However, Arsenal are yet to drop points at the home this season and will be more hopeful of taking their chances against a side that have conceded an average of nearly two goals per game since their return to the top flight. That could mean The Gunners find their scoring form, and they are 2/1 to net four or more on Sunday, while being just 1/5 to return to winning ways.

Forest though will be buoyed by last week’s surprise win over Liverpool. They only had 25% possession against Jurgen Klopp’s side, but through some luck and inspired defending they managed to grind out a shock result. Taiwo Awoniyi was the hero after his second half strike and the forward is 5/1 to score anytime in this match.

Their win last week ended a run of eight games without a win and Forest will be desperately trying to keep the momentum going and propel themselves off the foot of the table. That will take a bit of doing against the league leaders though, and their price of 12/1 to take all three points reflects that, while they are 11/2 to take a point back to the midlands.

Check out all the latest football betting odds at William Hill

More Premier League articles you may like

View all Premier League
WHN promotion banner image
1 week ago

Premier League run-in preview

With around 10 matches left to play, the Premier League is starting to heat up as the infamous run-in begins to take shape We are going to...