Holders Arsenal travel to Southampton in the FA Cup on Saturday lunchtime. Joe Rindl has a preview and best bets.
Football betting tips: FA Cup
1pt Arsenal to win both halves at 15/2
0.5pt Bukayo Saka to score first at 10/1
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Southampton v Arsenal
- 12:15 GMT on BT Sport 1
- Match odds: Home 15/8 | Draw 23/10 | Away 7/5
The FA Cup is a competition Arsenal have always taken seriously. The 14-time winners - who have lifted the trophy more times than any other club - have a fantastic recent Cup history, triumphing at Wembley in four of the past seven seasons.
Crucially, they don’t seem to slack when given tougher draws.
Including finals, the Gunners have won their past five FA Cup ties against Premier League opposition. It's a run that has seen them beat big guns Chelsea and Manchester City last term and Newcastle United in this year’s third round.
Mikel Arteta may have made seven changes to the side that edged out Newcastle after extra-time, but that game arrived shortly after Arsenal’s recent dip in form, when the Spaniard was still tweaking tactics and line-ups.
Although I do see them making changes in this match, I still think the Gunners will retain enough firepower to beat Southampton, whose focus could well be on the Premier League and targeting a Europa League spot.
Indeed, the Saints have often rested players in knockout competitions under Ralph Hasenhuttl, a case in point when they lost 2-0 to Championship side Brentford in the EFL Cup back in September.
So with Arsenal likely to go all out for a win, and Southampton content to rotate, I think the 15/2 Sky Bet offer on Arsenal to win both halves is really worth a poke.
I’m also tempted by Arsenal to win by two goals at 13/2 (Sky Bet) - in four of their last six games Arteta’s side have won by at least that margin.
✅ 2pts Arsenal clean sheet at evens
— Joe Townsend (@JoesterT) January 19, 2021
✅ 1pt Arsenal win to nil at 11/8
😬🤏 0.5pt Saka to score first at 8/1
🙌🔥 @joe_rindl so close to nailing the perfect staking plan.
👏 Superb, insightful tipping.#ARSNEW
pic.twitter.com/0u4nlofvk1
In Arsenal’s last match against Newcastle I successfully tipped the Gunners to keep a clean sheet at evens and to win to nil at 11/8. The only blip was Bukayo Saka to score first at 8/1. The teenager instead scored second.
If he starts, Saka again represents a nice outside bet. At 10/1 with both Boyle Sports and Genting Bet he has longer odds than Che Adams (7/1, general) and Dan N'Lundulu (17/2, general) despite the latter only having one career start for the Saints.
Left-back turned left-wing-back turned winger turned central midfielder, Saka has been the Gunners' best and most reliable player for several months now.
He has scored in three of his past six matches and regularly goes for goal - no Arsenal player has had more shots per game this season than the 19-year-old England international.
Score prediction: Southampton 1-3 Arsenal (Sky Bet odds: 20/1)
Southampton v Arsenal best bets
1pt Arsenal to win both halves at 15/2 (Sky Bet)
0.5pt Bukayo Saka to score first at 10/1 (Boyle Sports, Genting Bet)
Odds correct at 1200 GMT (21/01/21)
Follow Sporting Life on social - find us on Facebook here or tweet @SportingLifeFC
Related football content
Responsible gambling
We are committed in our support of responsible gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, or visit begambleaware.org.
Further support and information can be found at GamCare and gamblingtherapy.org.
