Arsenal will look to continue their quest for a quadruple this season on Saturday lunchtime as they travel to Field Mill to take on League One side Mansfield Town in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
It was a good midweek for Arsenal, as their 0-1 victory at Brighton & Hove Albion, coupled with Manchester City’s surprise 2-2 draw at home to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest, extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to seven points, albeit they have played a game more than the Cityzens.
The Gunners now turn their attention to the FA Cup this weekend, where they have already eased past lower league opposition, winning 1-4 away at Championship side Portsmouth before defeating League One Wigan Athletic 4-0 – on an afternoon both of my selections landed.
However, they take on a Mansfield Town side who have knocked out Championship side Sheffield United 3-4 at Bramall Lane, before winning 1-2 at Turf Moor against Premier League strugglers Burnley in the previous round.
However, Nigel Clough’s hosts are in the midst of a nine-game winless run in League One after playing out a goalless draw away at Rotherham United at the weekend, leaving the Stags in 16th position, just five points outside of the relegation zone.
How the bookies view it: Arsenal clear favourites
Unsurprisingly, Arsenal are clear favourites to advance to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on Saturday, with bet365 pricing them at just 1/25 To Qualify, whilst the win inside 90 minutes isn't much better at 1/14.
Mansfield Town are a massive 12/1 just to qualify, whilst the win inside regulation time is 18/1.
Head to head: Second-ever meeting
Saturday will be the second time these two clubs have faced each other in a competitive clash, with the other coming in a 2-0 Gunners success in the fourth round of the FA Cup way back in 1929.
Players to watch: More Martinelli magic in the cup?
Gabriel Martinelli has scored 11 goals for Arsenal this season, with 10 of those coming in cup competitions.
The Brazilian scored a hat trick against Portsmouth and one against Wigan Athletic in the previous round, and the 5/4 on offer at bet365 for him to score on Saturday appeals to me.
Backed a player to find the net? Check our Goalscorer Betting guide to see how the markets work and where to find value.
Predicted line-ups:
Mikel Arteta will be without the injured Mikel Merino and suspended Myles Lewis-Skelly, whilst Ben White, William Saliba and Martin Odegaard are doubts.
Mansfield will be without their captain Ryan Sweeney due to injury, as well as Baily Cargill, whilst Luke Bolton is a doubt.
Mansfield Town: Roberts, Knoyle, Oshilaja, Blake-Tracy, Akins, Lewis, Reed, McLaughlin, Russell, Evans, Oates
Arsenal: Kepa, Mosquera, Salmon, Hincapie, Calafiori, Norgaard, Eze, Madueke, Havertz, Martinelli, Jesus
Anything else catch the eye?
With Arsenal playing Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in midweek, Mikel Arteta is expected to rotate his squad and rest many of his big-hitters.
However, just like in the previous rounds, Arsenal’s second-string have proven to be too strong for lower-league opposition, and I’m expecting them to breeze into the quarter finals on Saturday.
The Gunners scored four goals in both victories against Portsmouth and Wigan Athletic, and the 4/5 on offer at Betfred for an Arsenal win and over 3.5 goals appeals to me here.
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