Our soccer expert shares betting tips and previews some huge games in matchday 15 with London derbies and Manchester United hosting Chelsea the headline games.

 

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Luton Town vs Arsenal (Tuesday 20:15 UTC)

Arsenal will travel away to Kenilworth Road on Tuesday to play against The Hatters. This will be their first face-off in thirty-two years, and the Reds lost that game 1-0 away on the 26th of December 1991, in what was then called the Football League First Division. Times have changed since then, with the clubs having markedly different trials and tribulations.

Luton fell afoul to Brentford last Saturday with the final score of 3-1, they currently have nine points to show for their efforts thus far and their season will no doubt be one of survival to stay in England's topflight division. In contrast, The Gunners enjoyed a 2-1 victory over Wolves to place them in the top spot with thirty-three.

The Whites cannot be entirely depressed with their form at home so far this season, Tottenham Hotspur only snagged a slim win by a one-goal margin and Liverpool just managed a draw. However, stern tests await them before the new year as they still have to welcome the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Newcastle United. With away fixtures scheduled against Bournemouth and Sheffield, there is a cry for hope that they may finish outside of the relegation zone as they enter 2024, having garnered some much-needed points. First Team to Score - Luton Town at 5.49.

At the weekend they established a dogged defence against the Bees away at the Gtech Community Stadium, going into the second half with a goalless stalemate. However, when captain Tom Lockyer stayed on the sidelines following a knock earlier in the game it may have rattled the travelling side as they conceded three goals total in the remaining time. Off the bench, Jacob Brown managed to pull one back for the visitors in the 76th minute, making it two for him in as many weeks, though no other boons can be found on the day. On loan from the Gunners, Albert Sambi Lokonga will not be available to play as he still recovering from a thigh injury.

Arsenal will be elated going into the new week by keeping the momentum going in domestic proceedings with a win over Wolverhampton, and by having crushed RC Lens 6-0 in their midweek Champions League bout. The portents looked good for another outlandish scoreline as Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard swept the Gunners into an early 2-0 lead with just a meagre 13 minutes on the clock. However, the hosts seemed to rally well in the second half with a late consolation goal from Matheus Cunha to show for their efforts. Another win for Arsenal 2-1 is at 10.24.

Dominating with 57% possession on the weekend, with nineteen shots, six of which were on target - Mikel Arteta's men seem to have found their form with 12 points in the last five games, with the latest win meaning they are on a five-run winning streak across all tournaments. They'll have to keep it up in the new year in what is already proving to be a close-run title race. Key to their efforts will be English international Saka, who has eight goals and an impressive eleven assists across all competitions this season. England manager Gareth Southgate will welcome his form to be linked with Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham in EURO 2024 for sure, as together they will muster a potent attacking partnership. Total - Match Over 3.5 at 2.62.

A stoic run of home results for Luton may not be enough to deter the relentless Arsenal goal machine here. Though having already proven to be a tough nut to crack in fixtures against other big clubs perhaps they could provide an upset, which to the Gunners will be anything but a win.

1x2 14.03 6.59 1.21

 

Manchester United vs Chelsea (Wednesday 20:15 UTC)

Two old rivals clash at Old Trafford midweek as they both seek to find the glories of years past and after the weekend's proceedings, it should be a tumultuous affair. The Red Devils succumbed to a resurgent Newcastle United in a 1-0 loss, while in contrast, The Blues staved off Brighton 3-2 in a prolific encounter.

Eddie Howe's men triumphed over Erik ten Hag's injury-stricken team in the Northeast with a slim win. Anthony Gordon welcomed a sublime Kieran Trippier cross to hit the back of the net in the 55th minute to conclude a dreich evening at St. James' Park. The result put an end to a solid run of form, as the side had prevailed in five of their prior six top-flight clashes and poignantly kept clean sheets in three of them before their last match. The mire seems to have returned after only managing a draw versus Galatasaray in the Champions League 3-3. This last result puts them in a precarious situation at the bottom of Group A now, especially as they will have to entertain Bayern Munich in Manchester which will be a mammoth task. Though it's looking dubious that they may not even parachute down to the Europa League now.

United will go into the week five points below fourth-placed Aston Villa with Tottenham and Newcastle between them. The situation becomes clear to see as they have only sixteen league goals for the season thus far and on a minus-one-goal difference. It looks like it's going to be an effort to turn things around, though with a new year comes a fresh opportunity. The club's star summer signing Rasmus Højlund has still yet to score in an English competition despite having goals abound in the continent and for Denmark, though it's well expected the floodgates will open in due course. Total - Match Over 3.5 at 2.66.

Finding himself in a similar situation for the Blues was Argentinian World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez, who went goalless for twelve games straight in the Premier this season until last weekend where he enjoyed a brace over the Seagulls. Chelsea is proving to be an entertaining team to watch as they rise like a phoenix ever upward in the league. They have now procured a resounding twelve goals from their last four domestic league bouts, though questions remain as they have conceded eleven in comparison during the same period.

Though they seem set to put the humiliating 4-1 defeat last month to the Magpies behind them and press onward. Manchester can well empathise with the Londoners in this regard as they too befell a similar fate up North on Tyneside, though the Blues will be keen for revenge against fellow sleeping giants United after they lost 4-1 up at Old Trafford in May last season. The same scoreline of 4-1 though this time in Chelsea's favour is at 37.90.

Ticket holders for this Theatre of Dreams battle will be on for a sumptuous clash here, as both teams fight to break into the top six. With key players finding good form and both teams on the cusp of returning to the glories of old, it's all to play for and we can well expect goals galore at either end of the pitch.

1x2 2.80 3.65 2.44

 

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Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham (Thursday 20:15 UTC)

The Hammers travel across London to clash swords with the Lily Whites. Both sides have showcased a mixed bag of form over the last five games and come off the back of last weekend with a draw each. Tottenham stood their ground well against the Citizens 3-3 at the Etihad, while the scoreline for West Ham was 1-1 with Crystal Palace.

Ange Postecoglou's faltering side acquired their first point in a tough clash against City, and there were goals abound. The draw will end a run of three consecutive losses in the domestic league and fans will be hoping this will cease the freefall from the top spot which they crashed out of last month. They currently stand in fifth place with 27 points, six behind bitter rivals Arsenal. There is cause for optimism as they have scored in each of their last six games for eight goals total, though they will have to tighten up the back line as they have conceded nine in that timeframe also, albeit four of those were against Chelsea.

On the scoreline in recent affairs in both goal boxes was Son Heung-min, who now has nine to his name meaning he is the league's third-place top scorer currently. He hammered one home after a stunning counterattack in the ninth minute, only for tragedy to strike when he put one past Vicario only minutes later. Another key player in the side's campaign has been James Maddison, the English midfielder contributing five assists in eleven games currently. They will be critical in breaking the clouds over White Hart Lane, as the wavering side has not won at home in their last two matches, though a light shines through in the fact that the Hammers haven't beaten them in their last three league encounters. West Ham Handicap - Match +1.5 at 1.41.

West Ham managed 55% possession and nine shots at goal with three on target against Palace and could have well expected more reward for their efforts at the final whistle. Mohammed Kudus was the solitary scorer for the home side with an early 13th-minute goal. The Ghanaian international midfielder has been clinical for the club since moving from Dutch outfit Ajax in August and has five goals to his name now. The feather in the club's cap this season has to be Jarrod Bowen though, with nine goals and three assists in all competitions this season, there doesn't seem to be anything that can slow him down. First Team to Score - West Ham at 2.60.

David Moyes's Claret and Sky Blues have helped themselves to a total of 10 goals throughout their last six matches and pivotally have managed to score on all those occasions too. Conceding only seven means a welcome positive goal difference for that duration, which is now zero for the season entire. Almost apt for their mid-table position of ninth where they lie with 21 points. 

A close encounter between these all too familiar top-flight London clubs here, though the edge will lie with the hosts. Though with proven attacking potential on both sides available, both managers will be especially keen to bump up the ladder by putting their city rivals in check.

1x2 1.78 4.27 4.00

 

Full list of Premier League fixtures - Matchday 15

Tuesday 5th December

Wolves vs Burnley (19:30)

Luton Town vs Arsenal (20:15)

 

Wednesday 6th December

Sheffield United vs Liverpool (19:30)

Fulham vs Nottingham Forest (19:30)

Crystal Palace vs Bournemouth (19:30)

Brighton vs Brentford (19:30)

Manchester United vs Chelsea (20:15)

Aston Villa vs Manchester City (20:15)

 

Thursday 7th December

Everton vs Newcastle United (19:30)

Tottenham vs West Ham (20:15)

 

**Odds are subject to change. Odds accurate as of 10:00 UTC Tuesday 5th December**

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