FA Cup: Sunderland vs Arsenal Odds and Betting Preview

SUNDERLAND, UK – Arsenal will be looking to recover from Wednesday’s Milanese nightmare this afternoon as they travel to the Wearside to take on Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. Arsenal are the favourites for the contest, with Stan James offering an industry leading 17/10 on an away victory. Sunderland are a 2/1 chance for the encounter at Bet Victor whilst the draw is a 12/5 shot at SkyBet.

Fresh off Wednesday’s capitulation at the hands of AC Milan, Arsenal face another tough test this afternoon as they square off against in-form Sunderland in the fifth round of the FA Cup. The Gunners were seemingly just beginning to get their season together in recent weeks, with Arsene Wenger’s side put together three victories from their last four matches to move into the top four, but now must start over once again as gloom returned to the Emirates as the side all but exited the Champions League at the San Siro. Any hopes of Arsenal claiming silverware this season will now surely rest on the FA Cup, adding extra significance to this afternoon’s fixture.

Sunderland meanwhile have been in outstanding form ever since the appointment of Martin O’Neill in December, winning nine of the Northern Irishman’s first fourteen matches in charge, and will be hopeful of causing an upset this weekend to progress to the Quarter-Final stages of the competition. The Black Cats faced Arsenal as recently as last weekend, with the North London club fortunate to escape with a 2-1 come-from-behind victory thanks to late goals from Aaron Ramsey and Thierry Henry. Sunderland will be without Nicklas Bendtner (ineligible to play against parent club) and David Vaughan (ankle injury) but should welcome back club captain Lee Cattermole after the tenacious midfielder recovered from a hamstring injury.

In the correct score market, the 1-1 draw is the favoured result at a best price of 6/1 with Ladbrokes. Arsenal are 8/1 with Paddy Power to win the match by a goal to nil whilst 2-1 to the visitors is a 17/2 chance with Bet365. Sunderland are 19/2 with Bet Victor to record a 1-0 victory whilst 2-0 to the hosts is a 16/1 shot at William Hill.

Punters expecting a high scoring contest can back three or more goals to be scored in the encounter at a best price of 10/11 with SkyBet or four or more at 5/2 with the same firm. Ladbrokes go 19/20 on less than three goals being scored in the contest whilst fewer than 1.5 goals is offered at 11/4 with William Hill.

Robin Van Persie, who leads Arsenal’s scoring charts with a remarkable 22 goals so far this season, is the 4/1 favourite to open the scoring with Coral. Frazier Campbell, who has been in impressive form since his return from a long injury layoff, is the next best chance in the market at 7/1 with Bet365 whilst Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is available at 10/1 to grab the opening goal with Bet Victor.

Arsenal are the 8/13 favourites to qualify from the tie with Paddy Power and are a 13/2 chance for the competition with the same firm. Sunderland are available at 6/4 with William Hill to progress to the next round and are a 14/1 shot for the trophy at Bet365.

The Match Kicks off at 1715 GMT with live coverage on ITV1.

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