After the ups, downs, shocks and one-sided processions, the FA Cup has only nine teams left standing. And it will soon be eight once Manchester City have hosted Huddersfield Town in a replay. So at the quarter-final stage it is worth analysing what markets still hold value. And it would appear one team has their name written on this year’s trophy.
Step forward Arsenal, who have had such an easy run to this stage that it seems hardly fair. From a best 10 with Bet365 at the start of the season, the Gunners are now no better than 4 (at most green listed bookmakers). Had we known that they would have faced a Championship side, a listless Premier League also-ran in Southampton and non-league minnows Sutton United to get this far we would have put the mortgage on. But that’s the luck of the draw.
And it doesn’t get any luckier than another non-league team, this time at home, in the last eight. Lincoln City have been brave and brilliant but Arsene Wenger may as well buy a lottery ticket. Perhaps he could spend some of his winnings on players with gumption.
Against Sutton Arsenal produced the sort of display which was more damning than their loss to Bayern Munich. They lacked drive and power and had as much killer instinct as a fluffy rabbit. It ws a pathetic display not to score more than twice.
Still, they have one foot and five toes in the semi-final so the 2.25 with BetVictor that they make the final is a sound call. Considering they are 1.1 to beat Lincoln would they be as big as 2.25 against opposition in a Wembley semi?
The name the finalists market is also makes interesting reading. Arsenal in the showpiece against Chelsea is 7 with BetVictor, it’s the same price v Man City, 8 v Tottenham Hotspur, 10 v Manchester United and 26 v Middlesbrough.
Our wager was on United a few weeks back on the outright. And we’re not too disappointed they have to play Chelsea at this stage. They would have to beat at least two of the Big Boys to get their hands on the trophy.
And with United slick and Chelsea perhaps ‘concentrating on the league’, an Arsenal-United affair is appealing. The stat that Arsenal, United, Chelsea or Liverpool (dumped out by Wolves) have won 17 of the last 20 Cups is relevant.
A word, though, for Manchester City. We expect them to get past Huddersfield and then they have to travel to Middlesbrough, another side who have had an easy route. Having said that, they should have suffered defeat by Oxford United last time were it not for a bizarre disallowed goal for the visitors.
Boro can defend but they are shot-shy in attack and with City’s prowess in front of goal proved against Monaco we like the 4.5 with Bet365 about them winning it.
But we will stick with our United bet for now. And if you need added interest City at 2.62 to reach the final with Paddy Power is a good wager.
Another stat: in the last six years Stoke (70-1), Wigan (100-1), Hull (200-1), Aston Villa (50-1) and Crystal Palace (66-1) have all amde the final. Millwall, who were probably 750-1 are still alive with an away tie at Spurs.
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