Enda McElhinney’s selections for Sunday’s huge cup tie between Premier League giants includes a win for the hosts and a centre-back to hit the target.
Arsenal and Manchester United, the two most successful clubs in the decorated history of the FA Cup, clash at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday in a heavyweight third round tie.
The Gunners are 14-time winners while United have lifted the trophy 13 times, most recently at Wembley last May.
Arsenal are hoping to make amends for Tuesday night’s disappointing 2-0 home loss to Newcastle in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final, while United will be looking to build on Sunday’s admirable 2-2 draw at Liverpool in the Premier League.
This will be the 17th meeting between these old rivals in this competition – but the first time at the third-round stage.
Selections
Arsenal win & Over 1.5 Goals 11/10
William Saliba To Have 1+ Shots on Target 6/1
Over 10.5 Corners 11/10
Arteta’s aces can get back to winning ways
It hasn’t been a good week for Arsenal by their own sky-high standards but they can get back to winning ways at home to Manchester United in a blockbuster FA Cup third round tie.
The Gunners, contentiously held 1-1 at Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday, were then beaten 2-0 at home by Newcastle in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final on Tuesday.
Within touching distance of silverware, in just a few days their odds on winning either trophy have duly lengthened. And while the FA Cup won’t be uppermost in Mikel Arteta’s planning this season, he won’t want a third successive setback.
And United are undoubtedly there for the taking.
Ruben Amorim’s men deservedly won plaudits galore for the manner of their 2-2 draw at Liverpool on Sunday.
But betting the Red Devils to produce two decent efforts back-to-back is clutching at straws these days and this is a team without a win in five, without a clean sheet in nine and who lost 2-0 at this venue on December 4 in the league, when it easily could have been more.
United’s set-piece woes play into Saliba’s hands
Arsenal undid United with a couple of routine set-piece moves in last month’s 2-0 win over Amorim’s men.
And if there are two things we know as fact about this year’s Premier League, it is that the Gunners are lethal from set-plays and United cannot defend them.
William Saliba scored one of Arsenal’s two when these teams last met and the 6/1 the strapping central defender simply has an effort on target is too big to ignore.
Corner a profit with Arsenal’s strong suit
Arsenal are winning 8.4 corners per home game in the league this season – only Manchester City win more in front of their own fans – and they can maintain that sort of level at home to United.
United themselves are averaging 5.5 on their travels and chalked up nine at Liverpool on Sunday on just 47 per-cent possession.
A month ago Arsenal won the corner count 13-0 against United, who can at least play their part this time in a match total of over 10.5 corner kicks.
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