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As Robin van Persie prepares to face his former club, Adam Bate can only see another goal glut between two teams that have been providing ample entertainment of late

Surely this could not be a repeat of the sensational 8-2 scoreline that saw Manchester United plunge Arsenal into crisis in the corresponding fixture last autumn?

Usually you would say there is no chance. But with Arsenal coming into this game on the back of a 7-5 win and United losing 5-4 in midweek then it would seem anything is possible.

What matters to Sir Alex Ferguson and his players are the points. United can go top of the Premier League with a win over the Gunners on Saturday and they are 8/13 (1.62) with Bet365 to get it.

Arsenal’s record at Old Trafford would suggest that is the likely outcome as Arsene Wenger’s side have lost seven and won none of their previous eight trips there.

That record must come to an end eventually and the industry-best price on it happening at the weekend comes courtesy of Bet365 at 9/2 (5.50). The draw is available at 3/1 (4.00).

Given the recent form of both of these two sides, most of the fun here is to be had in the goals markets.

Robin van Persie is facing his former club for the first time and scored for Arsenal in this fixture last year.

This time he is the 4/1 (5.00) favourite with Bet365 to notch the opener for United.

Theo Walcott may be a better bet to be the last scorer – six of his seven goals this season have come after the 73-minute mark and he is priced at a healthy 11/1 (12.00).

Of course, Arsenal will be hoping their breakthrough comes earlier than that. United have conceded first in eight of their 14 games this season and the Gunners can be backed to net the opener at 7/4 (2.75).

Over 2.5 goals looks a given at 13/20 (1.65) but it is worth taking the slightly better price of 4/6 (1.67) with Bet365 for both teams to score here.

United have scored in 53 consecutive Premier League home games and their defence is looking leaky.

This market paid out on seven consecutive Arsenal games earlier this season, as well as eight of the last nine United matches. It is the pick of the bets in this one.

As for the value bet, the markets are still struggling to adapt to the astonishing goal tallies being recorded recently.

Despite paying out in seven of United’s last 13 matches, over 4.5 goals is still available at 4/1 (5.00) with Bet365 and that is great value here.

BET

OF THE

DAY

BEST BET

VALUE BET

Both teams to score at 4/6 (1.67) with Bet365

Over 4.5 goals at 4/1 (5.00) with Bet365

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Adam Bate is a professional freelance journalist who specialises in football and betting. He is editor of GhostGoal which can be found here - you can also follow Adam on

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