Swansea vs Arsenal FA Cup betting preview

This weekend sees the arrival of the FA Cup Third Round, an eagerly awaited weekend for many lower league or even non-league clubs hoping to rake in big money and produce an upset. On Sunday, however, Swansea and Arsenal will fight it out to keep their hopes alive of winning a trophy this season. Arsenal fans, in particular, will be expecting victory following poor performances in the Premier League, as well as a shock defeat to Bradford in the Capital One Cup, leaving the FA Cup and Champions League as their last hopes for silverware. Swansea, who have reached the League Cup semi-final for the first time in their history, will be hoping to continue a promising 2012/13 season by progressing to the Fourth Round on Sunday. Get your FA Cup free bets here.

Swansea’s Recent Results:

Swansea 2-2 Aston Villa (Routledge, Graham)
Fulham 1-2 Swansea (Graham, de Guzman)
Reading 0-0 Swansea
Swansea 1-1 Manchester United (Michu)

Swansea have been one of the surprises of the season having brushed aside fears of ‘second season syndrome’ by rocketing into 9^th place in the Premier League table with 7 wins from 21 games. Michael Laudrup has picked up from where Brendan Rodgers had left off, having beaten Arsenal and gained respectable draws against Man United and Chelsea this season.

Possibly the signing of the season so far, Michu has been a revelation having joined from Rayo Vallecano in the summer for a reported £2 million. He has scored a total of 14 goals, all but one of those coming in the league, putting him in joint third on the top scorers list behind van Persie and Suarez.

The Welsh side have already been successful in cup competition this season, beating Barnsley, Crawley, Liverpool and Middlesbrough to set up a Capital Cup semi-final tie with Chelsea next week. In three of those four matches Swansea have scored three goals and are best priced to do so again on Sunday at 5/1 with Sky Bet.

Arsenal’s Recent Results:

Southampton 1-1 Arsenal (Do Prado (og))
Arsenal 7-3 Newcastle (Walcott (x3), Oclade-Chamberlain, Podolski, Giroud (x2))
Wigan 0-1 Arsenal (Arteta (pen))
Reading 2-5 Arsenal (Podolski, Cazorla (x3), Walcott)

Following calls for Wenger to be sacked at the beginning of December, Arsenal have turned things around over the Christmas period to be back in contention for the Champions League places. Convincing wins over Reading and Newcastle were particular highlights, however a league cup penalty defeat against Bradford and a 1-1 draw against Southampton on New Year’s Day still mark Arsenal’s form sheet.

Theo Walcott has answered his critics that have classed him as just a winger by scoring 14 goals this season, including two hat-tricks, one in the league and one in the league cup. Arsenal will be hoping that Walcott signs a new contract soon having not yet agreed to any offer the club have made.

Arsenal have scored 40 league goals and 24 cup goals (domestic and European) from 29 games, giving them an average of over 2 goals a game. Sky Bet have Arsenal at 10/11 to score two goals or more this weekend.

Betting Preview:

When the sides met at the beginning of December Swansea shocked Arsenal at the Emirates to come away with a 2-0 win. Michu was the hero scoring two late goals, securing a second win since the Swans’ return to the Premier League, continuing their unbeaten run against Arsenal in their last four meetings.

Arsenal’s four Capital One Cup ties this season have seen 21 goals with both sides scoring at least one goal each. Over 4.5 goals are best priced with Bet Victor and 5/1 and both sides to score is at 8/13 with Bet365 and Ladbrokes.

The FA Cup Third Round is renowned for seeing big names drop out early and, with the pressure all sat on Arsenal and Arsene Wenger’s shoulders, there is a big possibility they could lose a tricky away tie. Swansea have been more than capable of beating the top teams this season and will be confident of continuing their cup success this Sunday. Swansea are best priced at 6/4 to qualify to the Fourth Round with several bookies.

Prediction: Swansea 2-1 Arsenal – Best priced at 13/1 with Bet Victor.

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Article by Jack Teague

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