Oxford United vs Arsenal
Premier League leaders Arsenal are diving into FA Cup action when they visit Oxford United for their third round tie.
No club has won the FA Cup more than the Gunners, who last won it in 2020, and they are one of the heavy favourites to win it again this season.
Arsenal are coming off a goalless draw on Wednesday, so they’re eager to get back on the winning track. On the other hand, Oxford United have only won once in their last five outings in League One.
The pre-match SBOTOP betting odds are backing the Gunners for a comfortable win, but can the U’s put up a fight against them at home?
Talking Points
Oxford United’s aces need to bring it
Karl Robinson is hoping that his top guys regain their shooting touch if they have a chance against Arsenal.
Oxford United have several players who can create entries in the FA Cup 2023 highlights reel. Cameron Brannagan is their top scorer so far with eight goals and one assist, while Billy Bodin, Kyle Joseph, and Matty Taylor have seven, five, and four goals, respectively.
Brannagan has yet to find the back of the net since November 26, which is a concern for manager Karl Robinson, but he should get back on track sooner rather than later.
The former Liverpool youngster has excellent technical ability and work rate, making him a viable option for some clubs that are looking for a No. 10 in this January transfer window.
The U’s don’t have any fresh injury concerns, and they have a track record of pulling off upsets from time to time, so the Gunners simply cannot let their guard down.
Arsenal get their star midfielder back
After being out for four months due to injury, Emile Smith Rowe is closing in on a return to action, and he might play his first game on Monday.
Smith Rowe injured his groin at the start of September and underwent surgery, but he’s been back training with the club recently.
Should Smith Rowe get the starting nod on Monday, this means that captain Martin Odegaard will get his much-needed day off since he has been doing the heavy lifting for the Gunners.
His return is going to be a huge boost for Mikel Arteta because they need attacking reinforcements with striker Gabriel Jesus out indefinitely due to a knee injury.
Without Jesus, Arsenal defeated West Ham United and Brighton before being held in their match against Newcastle United during their New Year showdown.
Speaking of attacking reinforcements, Arsenal are keen on adding a new wide forward this month, and they have Mykhaylo Mudryk as their No. 1 target. The Shakhtar Donetsk youngster has recorded seven goals and assists so far in the 2022–23 season.
But Arsenal are not the only Premier League side that’s interested in him, as Chelsea are also keen to bring him on given their spate of injuries.
History
Oxford United and Arsenal will meet for the first time since the third round of the FA Cup in 2002-03, which the latter won 2-0 as Dennis Bergkamp scored his 100th goal for the club. After the said match, the Gunners eventually won their ninth FA Cup trophy.
The U’s haven’t found the back of the net in any of their last five encounters against the Gunners in all competitions (D3, L2). The last Oxford United player to score in this fixture was Billy Hamilton in a 3-0 win in May 1986 in the top flight.
Arsenal have only been eliminated in two of their last 26 FA Cup third round ties, while Oxford United have only advanced from one of their last eight FA Cup ties against Premier League sides.
The Gunners last went out in the third round of this competition against Nottingham Forest last season. The U’s last victory against a Premier League side in the third round, meanwhile, was against Swansea City in 2015-16.
Betting Tip
The FA Cup 2023 odds are unsurprisingly in favour of Arsenal for this one. The Gunners are priced at 1.16 to win, while Oxford United are massive underdogs at 11.50, and a draw is at 5.80 in the 1×2 market.
Mikel Arteta is expected to rotate his squad with the matches coming thick and fast. But still, they should have enough quality to cruise past the U’s on Monday night.
Total Goal 2-3 @ 2.17 sounds like a good alternative bet, while Over 3.50 @ 1.99 is also not a bad idea if you’re swinging for the fences.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT))
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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