There are three Premier League matches to start the new year in England with Arsenal facing Manchester City the highlight in the opening round of fixtures in 2022, while Tottenham and West Ham will be aiming to maintain their push for Champions League qualification away to Watford and Crystal Palace respectively.
City Could Be Made to Work Hard by Arsenal
Runaway Premier League leaders City are looking in unstoppable form, with ten straight victories in the top flight to move eight points clear of the floundering chasing pack. Therefore it is easy to see why City are 8/15 to win at the Emirates, although Arsenal are feeling positive themselves after four consecutive wins and are capable of working the champions hard in north London.
Landing a 9/2 upset could prove a step too far for an Arsenal side missing manager Mikel Arteta due to a positive Covid test, but taking under 2.5 goals at 7/5 appeals, particularly as this match will be a lunchtime kick-off on New Year’s Day.
It may be difficult for the supporters to summon much of an atmosphere and both defences are in good working order.
City have kept four clean sheets in their last five Premier League matches and most of their big away games this season have been low-scoring with 1-0 wins at Chelsea and Leicester, a 2-0 success at Manchester United and 1-0 reverse at the hands of Tottenham.
Only the 2-2 draw with Liverpool went over 2.5 goals and that burst into life when all four goals came in the last 30 minutes.
Arsenal used to be seen as flaky but they have not conceded in their last four home league games and summer signing Aaron Ramsdale has been excellent for the improving Gunners.
The key question is whether Arsenal have the firepower to hurt City and they have lost to nil in seven of the last eight league meetings against the Manchester men.
Arteta’s fourth-placed side have also failed to score in their three games against the teams currently above them this term.
Slick Spurs to Whack Watford
Watford were thumped 4-1 by West Ham in their last game and could be on the wrong end of more serious capital punishment when Tottenham make the short trip to Vicarage Road.
The Hornets are decimated by injury and Covid concerns which means full-backs Danny Rose and Kiko Femenia are sidelined along with goalkeeper Ben Foster and centre-back Christian Kabasele.
Peter Etebo, Nicolas Nkoulou and Ismaila Sarr remain on the sidelines too, while some unnamed players are continuing to isolate due to Covid protocols.
Watford haven’t kept a Premier League clean sheet this season but have scored in their last six matches, five of which ended in defeat.
Eight of their last ten have gone over 2.5 goals and the best bet could be to take Tottenham to win and three or more goals at 5/4.
Spurs are clearly heading in the right direction under Antonio Conte and the fact Harry Kane has scored in each of his last three league outings is a sure sign of the England skipper returning to something like his best form.
Derby Draw Looks Value
There may not be much to separate Palace and West Ham at Selhurst Park and the draw could be the value call at 12/5.
Aston Villa are the only side to have won at Selhurst this season but five home draws have held the Eagles back slightly from moving up into a top-half position.
West Ham are having a better season but two wins in their last eight league games suggests they have just hit a flat spot, exacerbated by defensive injury problems.
*All odds correct at time of writing.
