Premier League Betting Odds, Soccer Picks & Predictions for Matchday 2: Eyeing a Pair of Saturday’s Big Matchups

The 2022-23 English Premier League season is here! After a 2-1 start in Matchday 1, OddsJam’s soccer expert @NorthSideCapper breaks down his top picks for the second matchday of the season.

EPL Matchday 2 Picks & Predictions

Arsenal vs. Leicester City Pick: Arsenal -1 | -124 at BetRivers

Saturday, August 13 | 10 a.m. ET

Arsenal look to build on an impressive 2-0 win over Crystal Palace on Matchday 1 as they prepare to host Jamie Vardy and Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners entered the season with a level of uncertainty given the inconsistencies this young side showed throughout last season, however we may be witnessing Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal taking the next step in their development.

An impressive exhibition schedule in which they couldn’t stop scoring has carried over into official matches. Home form and scoring on the Emirates turf was not an issue last season as they ended the year with three straight victories (Everton, Leeds, Manchester United) and put the ball in the goal 11 times over their last five fixtures at home.

This year’s version of Arsenal seem to be a much more mature Gunners side and that trend should continue vs. a squad who struggles to keep the ball out of their own net.

Leicester are sorely disappointed heading into this fixture having blown a two-goal lead to Brentford in front of their fans, settling for a point in what should have been three.

The defensive issues that plagued the Foxes last season have not seemed to be erased from this squad’s DNA. Leicester have now conceded at least one goal in eight of their last nine matches in all competitions and at least a goal in their last 10 fixtures when playing on the road.

Considering coach Brendan Rodgers was unable to bring in any recruitments this transfer window, the solution to their problem will have to be an internal one, but with speculation about the departure of some key pieces within the squad before the transfer window closes will only make it that much more difficult for Rodgers and his staff.

This Arsenal squad is giving all indications they are on the upswing if their results and signings suggest anything.

Their home form from last year, while somewhat inconsistent, was positive overall; taking points from seven of their last 10 and scoring at least one goal in eight of those 10 should create issues for a Leicester side who only picked up four wins on the road last season with a single clean sheet to show for it.

To make matters worse, this is a squad who has struggled in the Emirates having conceded 10 goals in their last five head-to-head matches when Arsenal is listed as the home squad. We expect Leicester’s woes to continue with the Gunners putting on another impressive performance.

Brentford vs. Manchester United Pick: Over 2.5 | -129 on BetRivers

Saturday, August 13 | 12:30 p.m. ET

Two teams who enter in different mindsets. Brentford clawed back from a 2-0 deficit to claim a point on the road to Leicester City last round, while Manchester United failed to impress at Old Trafford in a 2-1 loss to Brighton. Luckily for us, the winner of this match is irrelevant as we are seeking goals.

Brentford showed an ability during the pre-season to score goals, having done so in six of their seven matches leading up to the start of the season and then carrying that momentum into matchday 1, banging home another two on the road. Brentford look to carry their form in the offensive third when at home into the new season, having scored a goal or more in four of their last five.

Manchester United on the other hand are likely in for a rough season. The Cristiano Ronaldo saga lingers on with no resolution in sight. Is he going to start this week or remain on the bench? Does it matter? For those seeking goals (us),  it does.

Finishing off last season, United lost six straight on the road to close out the year which is disastrous for a club of this stature. For whatever reason, the goals on the road dried up near the end, going scoreless in four of those six losses.

We’re going to look past that, because while it may cause some concern, they did also score a goal in six of their last 10 on the road in all competitions. It was a string of bad luck in the final third and nothing more.

These squads met twice last season, both times covering the Over 2.5 (Manchester United scoring three on both occasions) and with an ability on both sides to score the ball, we should be in for an exciting match with enough goals to cash our ticket and send us home happy.