FA Cup Semi Sees Arsenal Take On Reading

Wembley Stadium will host the first FA Cup semi-final of the season as Championship side Reading take on Arsenal. The Royals` FA Cup success has come in spite of a poor league season that sees the former Premier League side in 18th position in the second tier of English football and just eight points from the relegation zone. Reading have not won any of their last five matches, scooping just three draws and two losses.

Arsenal, conversely, have not dropped a point in any of their last five Premier League games seeing them rise to as high as second in the top tier of football in England. The Gunners are just seven points off the pace set by table toppers Chelsea and are still in with a considerable chance of getting their hands on the title.

Whilst both Arsenal and Reading joined the FA Cup in the third round stage, the latter`s failure to squeeze past League One club Bradford City at the first attempt has seen them play one more match in the tournament than their Premier League opponents.

Indeed Arsene Wenger`s side`s superior standing, form and reputation means that it is they who are the favourites to progress through to the final of the competition. The Reds have been installed as the 2/7 favourites at both betfred and Totesport, this price being the best price on the market. Otherwise, their Berkshire opponents can be picked up at a massive 14/1 (bet365, betfair, boylesports) to cause an upset with 11/2 (bet365, Betvictor, boylesports) being the price on a draw.

Should the match finish tied, the encounter will go to 30 minutes of extra time and - if necessary - a penalty shoot-out. Betbright have the best price on there both being extra time and there being a penalty shoot out. Regarding the former, the bookmaker has 2/17 on the two teams not playing extra time. Alternatively, 41/10 says they will. Indeed whilst 1/33 says that the two clubs won`t need to be separated by penalties, 8/1 (again with Betbright) says that these spot kicks will have to be contested.

Arsenal`s first FA Cup game of this season was fought out against fellow Premier League side Hull City. Arsenal managed to secure their first of only two wins to nil of the tournament so far with a 2-0 victory. Wenger`s men were also able to earn themselves a 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough in the fifth round. sportingbet have the best price of evens on the North London club winning to nil tomorrow with their third 2-0 result of the competition being available at 11/2 at most bookmakers.

Between these two matches Arsenal managed to see off Brighton and Hove Albion by three goals to two before easing their way past Manchester United 2-1 in the quarter-final. betway`s 23/10 says that the two teams will be separated by a margin of one goal tomorrow.

Reading sealed all of their first three victories in this competition by such a margin. Fellow Championship also-rans Huddersfield Town were kicked to the curb by a goal to nil before both Cardiff City and Derby County lost out by two goals to one. Neither Reading nor their quarter-final opponents Bradford could hit the back of the net in their encounter but Steve Clarke`s Royals thumped their rivals by three goals to nil in their replay at the Madjeski Stadium.

Both bet365 and Spreadex have 10/1 on Reading claiming their third straight clean sheet in the competition at Wembley. A red card has been issued to all but one of the side`s FA Cup rivals. Boylesports` 17/2 says that a Gunners player will see red tomorrow.

Go To bet365

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17/04/2015     © Frixo 2024