WhoScored Tipster: Worth backing a fast start as Arsenal host Manchester United
Friday night FA Cup football sees Arsenal host Manchester United under the lights at the Emirates in what is undoubtedly the glamour tie of the fourth round.
The visitors approach the game hoping to extend a seven-game winning streak under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, while Arsenal will be hoping to build on an impressive 2-0 win over Chelsea last time out.
Both managers are set to make some alterations to their usual starting XIs, with one enforced change for the hosts after Hector Bellerin was ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury. Mesut Ozil is expected to return to the lineup, however, and so too is Alexis Sanchez for the visitors up against his former club.
Elsewhere Romelu Lukaku is likely to start for United, though it remains to be seen if Marcus Rashford will be given a rest, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also one that may drop out for the hosts.
Nevertheless, there are plenty of goals in both sides given their strength in depth in attacking areas, and this certainly promises to be an entertaining and end-to-end affair.
There have been at least two goals in the last ten meetings between the sides after all, and in that time there have been eight occasions on which both teams have scored.
Both the overs and both teams to score market are ones that may will be looking towards when placing bets this evening then, though the odds aren’t particularly tempting on either. Instead we’re tipping those goals to come early tonight given the way both teams have started matches in recent weeks and months.
While Arsenal’s struggles to find an advantage at the break in games only ended recently, that’s not been down to profligacy in the final third in the most part, but rather their defensive ineptitude at times.
Full match preview with team news and predicted line-ups
The Gunners have, in fact, scored in the first half of 12 of their last 15 matches in all competitions, while Manchester United have been equally effective in front of goal early doors, particularly under Solskjaer.
The Red Devils have scored in the opening 45 minutes of six of the Norwegian’s seven matches in charge to date, and ten of their last 12 in all competitions since the start of December. That includes the match between these sides at Old Trafford before Christmas, when both teams found the net in both the first and second half of a 2-2 draw.
A repeat of both finding the net before the interval in the capital is out at 3.75 with William Hill as things stand, making that our top tip for tonight’s big game.
