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Man Utd v Arsenal Betting: Arsenal, your season ends here

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A bad week is about to get worse for Wenger and co. Andrew French previews Arsenal's visit to Old Trafford

If there were such a place as the Premiership's Last Chance Saloon, then Arsenal would currently be careering headlong towards the exit - and who would be happier to apply the decisive boot to their backsides than Manchester United?

Defeat for Arsenal at Old Trafford in front of the Sky cameras on Sunday and they will be nine points behind United with four games left. Not mathematically over for the Gunners, but Arsene Wenger would probably need the services of Carol Vorderman to find a way back into the title race.

Even a draw leaves the London club with a mountain to climb: victory really is the only option and, let's be honest, who really wants to go to Old Trafford at the moment needing a win to stay in the battle for the Premiership crown?

Indeed, the morale within the two camps could hardly be more contrasting: United top of the pile and comfortably through to the last four of the Champions League; Arsenal clinging on to their last hope of silverware having suffered European exit agony at Anfield (with the obligatory dodgy penalty just to make Arsene fume that little bit more).

Since losing at home to Portsmouth in the FA Cup, United have won their last four games at Old Trafford, scoring 10 times without reply. Arsenal have won only two of their last seven away trips, going back to their 4-0 drubbing at the hands of United in the FA Cup.

Just those headline stats make it impossible for me to suggest anything other than a United victory, which can be backed at [1.87] - not an overly mean price in my view.

The draw is available at [3.2] while an Arsenal victory is priced at [5.2] - although laying them at [5.4] and having the ever-possible big-game stalemate on your side would be my other option on the Match Odds market.

Admittedly Arsenal did win this corresponding fixture last season when they were even less involved in the title race than they are right now. However, you have to factor in the Gunners' recent form and a series of results that must have left them a little shattered. It's at times like these you look to your most experienced players and rely on the depth of your squad to pull you through. However Wenger just doesn't have that many old heads to call upon, and although he has some great young talents, the Arsenal bench just doesn't look as attractive as those possessed by their two main title rivals.

Look at United in their Champions League game: Rooney, Ronaldo and Scholes all given a breather, and the likes of Tevez and Park come in and give key performances.

There was always a suggestion Arsenal's youthfulness may tell in the end, and perhaps that is what we are seeing now.

However, they have to attack at Old Trafford on Sunday, and that will surely lead to an open game with chances at both ends. Interestingly, the last nine times these sides have met at Old Trafford, only one of the teams has scored. You have to go back to February 2002 for the last time both sides netted - although that day United won 6-1.

Because of Arsenal's need to score, coupled with the ease with which United seem able to do so, I'm interested in both Over 2.5 goals at [2.26] and Over 3.5 goals at [4.3].

In line with that, a price of [4.1] for a two-goal winning margin appeals greatly, although the fact I am looking at backing United to win 3-0 and 3-1 (at [22.0] and [20.0] respectively) indicates which club I think that margin will favour!