Manchester City vs. Arsenal FA Cup Odds, Pick: Soccer Expert Predicts Match Outcome
Naomi Baker/Getty. Pictured: Erling Haaland.
Manchester City vs. Arsenal Odds
| Man City Odds | -131 |
| Arsenal Odds | +300 |
| Draw | +300 |
| Over/Under | 2.5 (-160 / +120) |
| Both Teams to Score (Yes/No) | (-160 / +120) |
| Odds via PointsBet. Get the latest soccer odds here. | |
Manchester City and Arsenal headline the fourth round of the FA Cup as the Cityzens host the Gunners at Etihad Stadium Friday afternoon.
Both sides cruised to victory in the third round, with City routing Chelsea 4-0 and Arsenal defeating Oxford United of League One 3-0.
While these two heavyweights have their eyes set on a Premier League title this season (and for City a Champions League title as well), there will certainly be no love lost between them with a chance at a different piece of silverware in play.
Here is our breakdown of the Manchester City vs. Arsenal odds, and my pick for the FA Cup showdown on Friday.
Man City Have Remarkable Depth
The Premier League and Champions League are City's main goals this season, so it's unlikely for them to play their true starting XI on Friday.
However, the greatest strength of this City side is their depth. Manager Pep Guardiola flexed that muscle in the vital Tottenham match earlier this month, starting Aymeric Laporte, Kalvin Phillips, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker, Kevin De Bruyne, Stefan Ortega and Joao Cancelo all on the bench during their 4-2 win.
That is an estimated $461 million bench market value, which is more than 13 other EPL teams' starting XI via transfermarket.us.
Regardless of who takes the pitch on Friday, however, Guardiola will expect an all-out performance for 90 minutes. He was verbal to the press after the Spurs match about how his team has lacked passion this season and that it will be the reason they are unable to catch up to Arsenal in the table if it is not to improve.
The clubhouse listened and responded to their manager's critique, rolling over Wolves 3-0 the following weekend. Look for that momentum to carry over against their title-contending rival.
Arsenal Are Young and Confident
Unlike City, Arsenal's biggest weakness is their roster depth. However, they have the youngest team in the EPL, so Mikel Arteta doesn't need to worry as much about fitness levels as Guardiola, who manages the seventh-oldest club in the Premier League.
Moreover, the Gunners have passed every test this season and have defied their harshest critics. The latest successful test was when they outlasted Manchester United 3-2 in their previous outing, just a week after defeating Tottenham 2-0 to retain their five-point lead over City in the league table.
This upcoming test on Friday will not have any impact on the EPL standings but will have a significant mental impact. City and Arsenal still have two upcoming league matches to come.
A result Friday would not only increase the confidence of an already buzzing young Gunner side, but also the confidence of Arteta himself. Since leaving Guadiola's staff to take over the North London side in 2019, he's only beaten his fellow countryman once in six attempts.
Man City vs. Arsenal Pick
These are two of the most talented rosters in the world. However, I am not expecting either coach to put out their best XI with the title race being so close and European competitions starting up in the coming weeks.
With that being the case, Manchester City should have the edge in this matchup, given their superior depth.
Look for Guardiola to teach his young coaching prodigy another lesson and take City on the moneyline.
Pick: Manchester City ML (-131)
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