FA Cup: Who’s Going out…Arsenal or Manchester United?

Arsenal vs Manchester United

The big guns enter the FA Cup in the third round this week, and they don’t get much bigger than Arsenal and Manchester United who are set to meet at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

The pre-third round FA Cup 2024 betting odds make Mikel Arteta’s Gunners the third favourites to win the trophy, priced at 8.00 with Manchester United fifth favourites at 13.00. For Red Devils manager Ruben Amorin, any win is a good win at the moment and a 2-2 draw away to Liverpool last week certainly qualifies as a moral victory. Meanwhile Arsenal dropped points in the Premier League last weekend and then lost their first leg Carabao Cup semi-final on Tuesday night, and they really need to get back to winning ways quickly.  

There will be plenty of FA Cup 2025 highlights to enjoy over the weekend, Liverpool against Accrington Stanley catches the eye, and this clash between the Gunners and the Red Devils is definitely one to get stuck into. 

One of the favourites, one of the biggest names in English football, will fall at the first hurdle.

Talking Points

Gunners striker problems continue

Arsenal are prone to the odd blip, and two disappointments in the last week will turn into one such blip if they can’t beat Manchester United on Sunday. Arteta has been looking for a striker for some time and, while Gabriel Jesus has been in good form, the manager may well be dipping in the market over the next three weeks. The usually free-scoring Gunners have only hit more than one goal once in the last four games, and scored only one in the last two.

After drawing 1-1 away to Brighton and Hove Albion last weekend, registering an unusually low nine shots in the whole game, the toothless Gunners drew a blank in a 2-0 Carabao Cup loss to Newcastle United. At home to the Magpies Arsenal had 23 shots, but without success, as William Saliba had an effort blocked on the line, Gabriel Martinelli hit a post and makeshift striker Kai Havertz made a total hash of a great chance. Arteta, rather oddly, said his players were so often off target because the different Puma ball for this game made it more difficult to control the shot.

Unsurprisingly social media has been awash with jokes at Arteta’s expense. Now I don’t particularly want to join in the mockery but I do remember Arteta once explaining his side’s inability to beat Burnley because of the longer than usual grass; and its fair to point out that the Newcastle strikers managed to keep the ball down, twice with deadly effect on Tuesday!

Jesus was on the bench against the Magpies and I expect him to start against the Red Devils.

Can Amorin build on Anfield heroics

Manchester United were unrecognisable from the team which had surrendered meekly in their previous four outings when they fought back to take a priceless point away from Anfield. Moving up one place to 13^th in the Premier League table doesn’t sound like a huge achievement but it was the way the Red Devils played against their fiercest rivals that has given United fans hope. 

The long running saga of Marcus Rashford’s uncertain future rumbles on and the latest rumours suggest he could be on his way to Italy, and if that comes off then Amorin may be able to move in the market to strengthen his hand. In the meantime the club is close to announcing a contract extension for the excellent Amad Diallo who scored the late equaliser against the league leaders on Sunday after Lautaro Martinez had given the Red Devils a surprise lead. Players of this character can help Amorin to lift United out of its malaise and the leadership of Bruno Fernandes, both on and off the pitch will be crucial.    

History

With 34 wins to 26 Manchester United are still ahead in their encounters with Arsenal, though the tide is turning sharply as the Gunners have won the last four and are unbeaten at home to the Red Devils in seven meetings.

With four wins from six the hosts are in better form than their visitors, who won the Manchester derby before Christmas, thanks to late, late goals from Fernandes and Amad, but they followed that up with four losses and the draw at Anfield. And the return to fitness of skipper Martin Odegaard has certainly boosted the Gunners; and I expect a response from his players on Sunday.     

Betting Tip

At SBOTOP odds of 1.53 the Gunners are hot favourites to make a safe passage through to the fourth round, but Manchester United are in a process of restoring pride and a result at the Emirates would certainly help to do that.

Amorin’s men are at 4.51 to win and 3.45 to draw, with the Double Chance (win or draw) at 2.11 and that is a distinct possibility following the events of the past week; and that makes this match a much better prospect.         

 

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