FA Cup / Mike Norman / 17 March 2009 / Leave a comment

Mike Norman believes the good times are returning for Arsenal and that means we are unlikely to see a repeat of Hull's league upset at the Emirates. Best Bet: Back Over 3.5 Goals @ [3.1].

I have a feeling that not many Premier League grounds will bask in as much entertainment as the Emirates Stadium over the coming months. With star players returning from injury, and confidence seemingly restored, Arsenal are set to have a strong finish to the season... starting with a straightforward victory over Hull City in the FA Cup on Tuesday night.

The Match Odds market has Arsenal available to back at [1.33], Hull at [13.0], and The Draw at [5.6]. In the To Qualify market, Arsenal are just [1.14] to set up a semi-final encounter with Chelsea - Hull can be backed at [6.4].

An argument can be made that Hull have nothing to lose and will play with a lot less pressure on their shoulders away from their fight to stay in the Premier League. But Arsenal are on a good run of form (unbeaten domestically since early December), have an almost full strength squad to choose from, and possess far too much quality to lose at home for a second time to Hull this season.

In fact, that embarrassing league defeat to Hull way back in September should act as a spur for Arsenal to get revenge tonight. In the Half Time/Full Time market the Arsenal/Arsenal option is available to back at [1.96], and I'm all over that price like a rash.

I say Arsenal have an almost full strength squad to choose from because the fact is that only Tomas Rosicky and Cesc Fabregas are not expected to return for a few weeks yet. But all of Emannuel Adebayor, Eduardo, Andrey Arshavin, Manuel Almunia, Theo Walcott and Mikael Silvestre are either just returning from injury or picked up a knock at the weekend, meaning not all of them will line-up this evening.

Hull are still without long term absentees Jimmy Bullard and George Boateng whilst Kevin Kilbane is cup-tied and Dean Marney serves that last of his three-match bans.

Whatever the line-ups, I fancy Arsene Wenger's men to ease past the Tigers and will be having a bet on Any Unquoted ([5.1]) in the Correct Score market. 2-0 ([6.6]) and 3-0 ([9.4]) to the Gunners will perhaps be more popular selections amongst punters, but as always when I can see a team scoring two or three with ease, backing Any Unquoted is my preferred choice.

Over 2.5 Goals is definitely the way ahead. Hull's 'in your face' style of play can always earn them a scrappy goal, whilst with Geovanni in the team they will be very dangerous from set-pieces. Having said that, they can't defend very well and Arsenal should take full advantage by scoring a few themselves. Over 2.5 Goals is available to back at [1.83] but I'm more interested in backing Over 3.5 Goals at [3.1] and even Over 4.5 Goals at [6.2].

Finally, for a First Goalscorer I'd probably wait until the line-ups are announced, though if starting, Robin van Persie would be my selection at [5.5]. Theo Walcott looked in good shape against Blackburn at the weekend and is available to back at [9.2], whilst that man Geovanni is worth a few quid at [18.5].