Manchester City vs Arsenal Prediction & Betting Tips - FA Cup

Prediction published on 25/01/2023, 09:44  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 25/01/2023 at 10:45 in FA Cup Prediction

The top two in the Premier League face each other in the FA Cup fourth round. Manchester City are second in the table but will be favourites to knock Arsenal out of this competition at the last 32 stage. City have had a tough times when it comes to cup draws this season. They've already faced Liverpool and Chelsea (twice) in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup. Home advantage will be important to them as will be the sheer strength of their squad. Both clubs will make plenty of changes for this game but one look at the City bench lets you know that they will still be able to field a starting line-up most teams would dream of owning. Erling Haaland returned to form last week with a hat-trick against Wolves and he's likely to at least start this match. With City struggling to retain their Premier League title and already out of the Carabao Cup, this competition will be one that they will want to be winning this season. They last twon the FA Cup in 2019 but the past three seasons has seen them reach the last four and give their fans another Wembley day out. City have scored 11 goals in three home games this January and that includes playing a weakened-line up against Chelsea in the FA Cup third round and winning 4-0.

Arsenal have just about achieved their main aim for this 2022/23 season. They are 15 points clear of fifth place in the Premier League and with two games in hand. That means getting back into the Champions League is almost a certainty. Even the most opitimistic supporter wouldn't have predicted they'd lead the Premier League by five points (with a game in hand) in mid-January. They have won the FA Cup on 14 occasions but given the choice between reaching the fifth round or beating City at home in the Premier League on February 15, it's a no-brainer. Arsenal last won the FA Cup in 2020 but in four of the past five seasons, they've failed to get past the fourth round. They will leave key players out but the quality of their replacements isn't quite at the same level of their opponents. Go for City to win this.