Managerless Nottingham Forest will be hoping for a morale-boosting win when Arsenal visit the City Ground for Sunday’s FA Cup Third Round clash.
After sacking Mark Warburton following a run of five defeats in seven matches, the Championship side ground out a creditable 0-0 draw at Leeds United in their next match.
Match Odds
However, they are on offer at 17/4 (5.25) with dabblebet to returning to winning ways in style with a shock victory over their top flights opponents.
Having lifted this trophy in three of the last four seasons, the Gunners are priced at 6/10 (1.60) to remain on track to retain it once again by coming out on top here.
Three of the guests’ last four matches have resulted in draws, and there are odds of 3/1 (4.00) available on them being held to another stalemate in this one.
Team News
Arsene Wenger is likely to rotate a team that has been deprived the services of Nacho Monreal, Laurent Koscielny and Sead Kolasinac recently, as well as longer term absentees Aaron Ramsey, Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla.
Forest struggling to fire
Despite those injuries to defensive players, Wenger should not have too many concerns over his backline considering the home side’s poor recent record in front of goal; indeed, the Tricky Trees have failed to score a single goal in their last three matches, and drawn a blank in three of their last four at the City Ground.
For all the criticism they receive over their own defensive performances, Arsenal have only conceded four times in their last five away matches - and let in just three goals in six ties on their way to last season’s FA Cup triumph.
Tips and Predictions
With this in mind, odds of 9/5 (2.80) look like strong value on the holders winning to nil for their fourth cup tie in five on opposition territory.
Arsenal to win to nil for a 1.5pt stake at 9/5 (2.80) with dabblebet