Arsenal Strong Favourites For FA Cup Brighton Clash

Arsenal are unbeaten in their last three games in all competitions and will look to continue this run on the road against Brighton in the FA Cup tomorrow (16:00). The Gunners have scored at least two goals in all three of these games and have not conceded in the last 270 minutes of play.

Despite sitting six points above the Championship relegation zone, their hosts have also experienced something of an upturn in form. Under new manager Chris Hughton, the Gulls have won four of their last five matches and have racked up a total of 10 points from their last five Championship games since the departure of previous head coach Sami Hyypia.

Both these teams slotted two goals past their opponents without reply in the third round of this tournament with the Amex Stadium outfit seeing off fellow Championship club Brentford and Arsenal taking down Premier League strugglers Hull City.

Albion`s encounter with the Bees was goalless right up until the 88th minute of the game when Lewis Dunk finally broke the deadlock. Their advantage was doubled less than two minutes later with Chris O`Grady putting the Sussex side out of sight.

Arsene Wenger`s men can thank Per Mertesacker for opening the scoring in the first 45, the tie still all to play for until the closing stages when top scorer Alexis Sanchez made sure it wasn`t going to be the Tigers` day.

Both teams received a bye into the third stage of the competition.

Chilean Sanchez has scored 18 goals in all competitions for the Gunners this season. This record includes three braces against Sunderland, Burnley and Stoke respectively.

Eighteen to five with 888sport and unibet says that the 26-year-old will grab the first goal of the match, whilst most bookmakers have priced him up at 9/2 to grab two or more goals.

With a plethora of potent attacking options, Arsenal have been installed as the strong 4/7 (betfred, Betvictor, Totesport) favourites to clean up on their travels tomorrow. A draw is available to be backed at 18/5 with boylesports, otherwise a win for Brighton and Hove Albion can be obtained at the best price of 6/1 across the board.

It won`t be all that easy for the Premier League stalwarts, however, with the North London club having to take into account injuries to a number of key players. At the back Arsenal will still be without Mathieu Debuchy who is set to be out for around three months after dislocating his shoulder when being shoved into advertising hoarding by Stoke`s Marko Arnautovic.

Despite this the Gunners are still 4/6 (bet365) to keep their fourth consecutive clean sheet following their wins against Hull (2-0), Stoke (3-0) and Manchester City (2-0). They are also 8/5 (paddy Power, Totesport) to win to nil once again.

There are also problems in the middle of the park for Arsene Wenger as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jack Wilshire are, too, sidelined. England international Oxlade-Chamberlain isn`t fit to play after sustaining a groin injury whilst Wilshere is recuperating following surgery on his problem ankle.

In better news, Arsenal may hand a debut to new teenage signing Krystian Bielik. The 17-year-old transferred from Legia Warsaw this week and is 7/1 with Skybet to get his career in England off to a flying start with a goal at any time tomorrow.

Brighton will look to Joao Teixera for goals after the Portuguese midfielder hit a stunning double in his side`s 3-2 victory over Ipswich Town in the league last time out. bet365 are offering odds of 6/1 on the midfield maestro adding to his tally at any time tomorrow whilst an unlikely second consecutive brace has been priced up at 66/1 with the same bookmaker.

Go To bet365

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24/01/2015     © Frixo 2024