Live on BTSport 1: Sun 16.00: We have two picks including an Olivier Giroud opener (15/4, bet365) as Arsenal go to Brighton in the FA Cup.
FA Cup holders Arsenal accounted for Hull in the third round of the competition three weeks ago in a re-run of last year’s final and subsequently handed a trip to Championship Brighton at the next stage, the Gunners are 15/2 with betway to retain the trophy; odds that make them fourth favourites.
Bookies are confident that Arsene Wenger’s men will move a step closer to another trip to Wembley this weekend, BetVictor installing them as 4/7 favourites to eliminate the Seagulls at the first attempt while the hosts are Winner.com’s 6/1 outsiders to cause an upset and bet365 offer 10/3 about the tie requiring a replay.
The pair met at this stage in the tournament two years ago and on that day Arsenal ran out 3-2 winners, a result that’s 28/1 courtesy of Stan James on this occasion but Chris Hughton’s team aren’t exactly prolific in attack on their own patch, where they’d averaged less than a goal a game in the league at the time of writing so it’s hard to envisage them netting twice against a Gunners rearguard that has managed three consecutive clean sheets.
Indeed, Wenger’s charges are decent value at 8/5 with Paddy Power to prevail ‘to nil’ at the Amex Stadium, where Ladbrokes price them at 13/2 to notch twice without reply and at the other end Olivier Giroud, who struck twice in the pair’s last clash, is 15/4 (bet365) to break the deadlock in this renewal.
Recommended Bets:
Olivier Giroud to score first – 15/4 (bet365)
Arsenal to win ‘to nil’ – 8/5 (Paddy Power)
Compare all FA Cup odds and bet at the best prices.
