Can Arsene Wenger banish his Old Trafford/Mourinho/November curse (take your pick) when Arsenal travel to Manchester United on Saturday, at 12.30pm on Sky Sports 1?

Despite the fact both sides have been title-less for (more than) a few seasons, there is still the sense that when Manchester United play Arsenal it is a Big Deal. That feeling has arguably only increased since the arrival of Mourinho given his antagonistic comments about Wenger in the past. Saturday afternoon will be the first time the 2 men have met since the Special One’s departure from Chelsea, with Arsenal chasing the top spot and United languishing 8 points behind league leaders Liverpool.



Wenger has a fairly dreadful record not only against Mourinho (he has won just 1 out of their 15 encounters), but at Old Trafford – add onto that Arsenal’s usual November capitulation and the Gunners may be a bit worried heading into the weekend. Luckily for Wenger and co. United aren’t in the best shape at the moment, and are really struggling in the goals department. Interestingly, Ibrahimovic is suspended and Rooney is set to start on the bench, meaning Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, at Super Mega PGMs of 22-27 and 17-21 respectively, will get a chance to argue that their appearances in the starting line-up should be a bit more regular. For Arsenal, meanwhile, Olivier Giroud, at 22-27, is playing catch up with Theo Walcott, at 14-18, and Alexis Sanchez, at 19-23, who both sit on 8 goals all competitions to the Frenchman’s 3.

Though they are in the in-form side, the spectre of past failures seems to be weighing on the Gunners’ chances, with Spreadex offering a Manchester United/Arsenal Goal Supremacy spread of 0-0.2 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.45-2.65.

Saturday’s other televised game is also a biggie, as Tottenham host West Ham at 5.30pm on BT Sport 1. Spurs remain the sole side yet to lose in the Premier League this season; that run is undermined, however, by the fact that they haven’t actually won domestically since the start of October, drawing their last 4 games in a row. Just as troubling is the fact that those games saw just 3 goals scored leaving Tottenham with a total tally that is 10 to 15 goals behind the 4 sides above them. Overturning that form may be made more difficult if Pochettino decides to keep a potentially unfit Dele Alli, who sits at a Super Mega PGM of 25-30, fresh for Tuesday’s trip to Monaco.



If Spurs are slightly stagnant at the moment, then West Ham are wandering lost in the woods. All the promise suggested during Slaven Bilic’s first season in charge seems to have disappeared, with the Hammers now sitting a single point above the relegation zone after losing 6 of their opening 12 games. Even with Spurs’ troubles up front it appears that the Hammers just doesn’t have it in them to deter their north London rivals, with Spreadex offering a Tottenham/West Ham Goal Supremacy spread of 1.1-1.3 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.8-3.

Finally, Sunday sees a fairly soft fixture for Chelsea, who travel to Middlesbrough at 4pm on Sky Sports 1. September excluded Chelsea have looked fantastic under Antonio Conte and, results permitting, could find themselves at the top of the table by the end of the weekend. The Blues have looked just as good up front as they have with their 3-man defence; in their past 5 league games they have scored 16 times without conceding a single goal. Conte will be hoping that Diego Costa, who sits at a Super Mega PGM of 39-45 and is the top scorer in the Premier League with 9 goals, will be fit enough to make an appearance against Boro after the bullish forward pulled out of the Spanish squad during the international bread.



Though Middlesbrough sit just one point above the bottom 3, their form against bigger sides this season has been impressive; their trip to Arsenal finished 0-0, while most recently they snatched a 91st minute draw against Man City at the Etihad. It is hard to see them holding out, or breaking down, this rock solid Chelsea squad, however, with Spreadex offering a Chelsea/Middlesbrough (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 0.95-1.15 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.55-2.75.