The Scout: EPL Week 33 Preview

Posted on April 26, 2023April 26, 2023 | Posted by The Scout

Manchester City v Arsenal – Thursday, 27 April (3am kick-off)

Arsenal are desperate to snap their three-game winless run against a Manchester City side closing in on a third successive English Premier League title success.

It might seem odd to be talking about City as if they are already ahead of Arsenal, but the depth and experience of Pep Guardiola’s squad gives them an aura of champions-in-waiting.

The Gunners are five points clear of second-placed City whose two games in hand feels like six points without a ball being kicked.

Arsenal can put a stop to the talk that they’re really just keeping top spot warm for City by returning to top form in the early hours of Thursday morning (Perth time).

Before blowing leads against Liverpool and West Ham to draw and then fighting back to draw against lowly Southampton, Arsenal had won seven games in succession. This had been the response to losing 3-1 to City at the Emirates Stadium in February.

Granit Xhaka was absent against Southampton through illness but should return to bolster Arsenal’s midfield.

But City are in top form and are unbeaten in their past 16 matches in all competitions. They breezed into the semi-finals of the Champions League with an away draw against Bayern Munich last week, and warmed up for this week’s blockbuster with a 3-0 FA Cup semi-final win over Sheffield United.

Erling Haaland drew a rare blank against the Blades, instead allowing Riyad Mahrez’s hat-trick to see City through. It probably means Haaland, who has scored 48 goals in all competitions this season, is due a goal against Arsenal.

Despite being second on the table, City score at a slightly higher rate than Arsenal and, on average, concede fewer goals.

Given City have also won the last seven games between the teams, including FA Cup and League Cup matches, it will take an almighty effort from Arsenal to win this one at the Eithad Stadium.

Suggested Bet: City to win + Over 2.5 total goals + Both teams to score (Same Game Multi) @ $3.10*

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Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United – Friday, 28 April (3.15am kick-off)

Tottenham Hotspur have had some low moments this season but none quite like the first 21 minutes against Newcastle United at the weekend.

After going 5-0 behind in the opening exchanges, Spurs eventually fell to a 6-1 defeat that turned out to be interim manager Cristian Stellini’s last match in charge. The manager’s job, which until March 26 belonged to Antonio Conte, has now been passed to another assistant, Ryan Mason.

Even though it’s not unusual for a new manager to spark an immediate response from a playing group, it won’t be easy for the familiar face of Mason to fire up Spurs for the Friday morning (Perth time) clash with Manchester United.

Having been in the top four places for most of the season, Tottenham’s UEFA Champions League qualification hopes now look grim. It will take more than the goals of Harry Kane, who unsurprisingly scored the consolation against Newcastle, to revitalise Spurs’ top-four push.

Fourth-placed Manchester United, who reached the FA Cup final by beating Brighton on penalties last weekend, are now six points clear of sixth-placed Spurs, who have played two games more.

Despite their own erratic form this season, which included a 3-0 loss to Sevilla last week to end their Europa League quest, United won’t fear the trip to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

They have won their past three Premier League games, beating Nottingham Forest, Everton and Brentford, while their progress into the FA Cup final, where they will face Manchester City, is another positive sign.

Fred and Bruno Fernandes scored the goals that secured a 2-0 United win the last time these teams met, and a similar scoreline this time wouldn’t be a surprise.

Suggested Bet: Manchester United to win + Over 2.5 total goals (Same Game Multi) @ $3.40*

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Bournemouth v Leeds United – Sunday, 30 April (9pm kick-off)

The fight for Premier League survival will continue at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday as Bournemouth and Leeds United look for a victory to edge them closer to safety.

Leeds earned a vital point with a draw against fellow strugglers Leicester City last night to stay a point above the fourth-from-bottom Foxes.

Leeds are on 30 points, two above the third bottom Everton, with Nottingham Forest (27 points) and last-placed Southampton (24), also below them.

By the time Javi Gracia’s side travel to the south coast on Sunday, Bournemouth may have extended the distance between them and the drop zone as they take on Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium in the early hours of Friday morning (Perth time) first.

Whatever happens against the Saints, Bournemouth will be desperate for a victory as one of at least eight teams that find themselves in the fight to stay in the Premier League.

The Cherries have shown plenty of grit under Gary O’Neil, although the erratic nature of their season was summed up recently when a thrilling 3-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur was followed by a miserable 4-0 defeat to West Ham.

Leeds had lost their previous three games – heavy losses to Crystal Palace (5-1) and Liverpool (6-1) followed by a 2-1 defeat to Fulham – before last night’s draw against Leicester at Elland Road when Luis Sinisterra’s goal was cancelled out by Jamie Vardy’s late equaliser for the Foxes.

The last time these teams met, Leeds edged a seven-goal thriller at Elland Road in a November clash that featured seven scorers. Rodrigo, Sam Greenwood, Liam Cooper and Crysencio Summerville were on target for Leeds, while Marcus Tavernier, Philip Billing and Dominic Solanke scored for Bournemouth.

Suggested Bet: Draw @ $3.60*

*Odds correct as at 9am, 26th April 2023.

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