FA Cup Picks: Manchester City vs. Arsenal
Another FA Cup weekend is upon us in England and it kicks off with a mouthwatering encounter between the top two teams in the country.
Arsenal has become the firm favorite to win the Premier League after beating Manchester United, while Manchester City is seemingly still the people’s favorite to defend its title.
They are yet to meet in the league, however, but they finally lock horns in the FA Cup on Friday.
Our three picks in a same game parlay is +5304 with FanDuel.
Manchester City to Win by Exactly Two Goals
As this is not a must-win clash for the upper hand in the Premier League and instead an FA Cup game that Arsenal may not be so concerned about, we expect it to make some changes to its team.
One of the main reasons for Arsenal’s stunning run to the top of the Premier League is its injury situation. While teams around the country have had major problems in this department, Arsenal, besides Gabriel Jesus, is relatively injury-free. This game is Mikel Arteta’s perfect way to keep that going.
The Arsenal manager will likely switch his starting XI around, and with it lacking team depth like City, Pep Guardiola’s deep squad may ease to a win.
Arsenal is the better team this season, as the Premier League table demonstrates. However, these are the games City can often stroll past because of its options across the pitch. The Gunners could score, of course, but a 2-0, 3-1 or even 4-2 scoreline all seem equally as plausible.
Manchester City to win by exactly two goals is +420 with FanDuel.
Julian Alvarez to Score First
Despite another Erling Haaland hat trick last weekend, Julian Alvarez is likely to start in the offense for City. Guardiola has used Alvarez in most cup competitions, as he scored in the 4-0 win over Chelsea in the last FA Cup game.
One goal in two games has also come in for him in the EFL Cup, while Alvarez has also scored twice and played all six groups games in the Champions League.
In another FA Cup battle that City is expected to win, it makes sense for the World Cup winner to get another goal and make it 10 for him since joining City.
Alvarez is +160 to score anytime and +175 to have two or more shots on target. We think he’ll get the first goal, however.
Julian Alvarez to score first is +490 with FanDuel.
Leandro Trossard to Have One or More Shots on Target
Keeping with the idea that Arteta is expected to make many changes to Arsenal, we expect its new signing to be the first. Leandro Trossard signed just in time to play against Man United last Sunday, as he came off the substitutes bench.
The Belgian looked excellent in his eight minutes of action that day. He made one tackle, won one aerial duel, had a 100% pass success rate and completed two successful dribbles in his short time on the field.
Trossard didn’t have a shot on target, however, but from a starting role, we expect him to get at least one shot on City’s goal and perhaps more.
Leandro Trossard to have 1 or more shots on target -190 with FanDuel.
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