Betting tips for Manchester City vs Arsenal: FA Cup preview and odds

Belfast Telegraph

27 January 2023

Betting tips for Manchester City vs Arsenal: FA Cup preview and odds

Manchester City and Arsenal put their title battle on hold when they meet in the fourth round of the FA Cup at the Etihad Stadium on Friday (kick-off, 8pm).

It is the first time that these two teams have met this term and could offer a good insight into how the Premier League title race will go in the second half of the campaign.

Following back-to-back defeats, City come into this game on the back of successive victories in the Premier League, having beaten Tottenham Hotspur and Wolves.

Both of those wins came on home turf, extending City's unbeaten at the Etihad record across all competitions to five matches.

City have already dealt with one ‘big-six’ rival in the third round of the FA Cup, easing to a 4-0 victory over Chelsea three weeks ago.

Arsenal, meanwhile, haven’t tasted defeat in their last seven outings in all competitions, winning each of the last three, including victories over Spurs and Manchester United.

They beat League One side Oxford United in the previous round, running out 3-0 winners, but Friday’s fixture under the lights in Manchester will undoubtedly prove to be a sterner test.

Manchester City vs Arsenal betting tips

Odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

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City to land knockout blow

City have recovered after a blip earlier month when they lost against Southampton in the Carabao Cup and Manchester United in the league.

Both of those defeats came on the road and City have recorded two home victories since to steady the ship and keep the pressure on Arsenal in the Premier League title race.

Just five points separate the clubs but Arsenal do have a game in hand and the north Londoners aren’t cracking just yet, having shown guts to beat Manchester United 3-2 on Sunday.

Both City and Arsenal can draw on solid form ahead of this encounter and it looks set to be an enthralling encounter, possibly full of goals.

Both teams have scored in four of City’s last six at home across all competitions, while Arsenal have netted at least one goal in 13 of their 14 away from home this campaign.

Arsenal have only lost three games this season but two of those came on the road against PSV and Manchester United, and City should have enough to come out on top at fortress Etihad.

Tip: Manchester City to win and both teams to score @ 21/10 with Betfred

Saka thrives on the big stage

Arsenal haven’t been reliant on any one player this season with the goals well spread out among the squad.

Eddie Nketiah is the leading scorer across all competitions, netting nine, while Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard both have eight, Gabriel Martinelli has notched seven and Gabriel Jesus has five.

That means there are several candidates to get on the scoresheet at City, but Saka is the standout after stepping up when it has really mattered for Arsenal this term.

His latest goal came in the 3-2 win over Manchester United on Sunday, he also bagged in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford and has scored twice against Liverpool.

Saka fired home the opener when Arsenal lost 2-1 at home to City last season and, with momentum on his side, he looks well placed to further add to his tally.

Tip: Bukayo Saka to score at any time @ 7/2 with Betfred

Haaland haul keeps growing

Some suggested Erling Haaland was enduring a goal drought after he failed to register in three successive games, however, he has since responded by scoring four times in his last two outings, including a hat-trick against Wolves.

We’ve selected Haaland, who has registered 31 times in 25 appearances this term, to score at any time as one leg of our #PickYourPunt bet builder.

Haaland tends to deliver at home, with 22 of those efforts coming at the Etihad, and Arsenal will have their hands full with him leading the line.

The second leg in our #PickYourPunt requires over 2.5 goals to be scored in the match.

That has landed in five of City’s last six at home and six of the last seven when they’ve hosted Arsenal.

Tip: Erling Haaland to score at any time and over 2.5 goals @ 11/10 with Betfred

Manchester City vs Arsenal odds

Odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Manchester City team news

Phil Foden is the only major doubt after he missed out against Wolves last weekend with a foot injury but Ruben Dias could make his first since the World Cup after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Man City predicted line-up (4-3-3): Ortega; Walker, Dias, Laporte, Gomez; Phillips, Bernardo, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Haaland, Grealish.

Arsenal team news

Arteta has no fresh injury worries but Gabriel Jesus, Mohamed Elneny and Reiss Nelson remain sidelined. New signings Leondro Trossard and Jakub Kiwior could make their full debuts as Arteta looks to rotate his squad and rest his star players.

Arsenal predicted line-up (4-3-3): Turner, Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Partey, Lokonga Odegaard; Saka, Nketiah, Trossard.