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2012-12-11 - Bradford City vs Arsenal
A Sports Betting Pick by Lamps
Football : England : League Cup
Tuesday 11th December - Kickoff 7:45pm
Bradford City
Bradford City of League Two host Arsenal in this huge League Cup Quarter Final encounter. City are in 4th place in the League Two table and will certainly be high on confidence ahead of this big ask against Premiership giants Arsenal.
Parkinson's side have played a lot of minutes in this year's League Cup with 3 of their 4 ties going to extra time. 2 of their wins have come after extra time at Notts County (0-1) then at home to Burton (3-2). In the last round Bradford went to another Premiership side, Wigan and eventually defeated them on penalties after a scoreless 120 minutes.
3 of Bradford's 4 games have been away from home and the same amount has been against higher level opposition. The team won't fear Arsenal and I'm sure under the lights, at home in a sell out will make for a really good atmosphere.
A fear is that this team has played a lot of football in recent weeks and their squad just won't match Arsenal's over 90 minutes. 10 games in the month is a tough ask with a lot of travel and very little rest time. Arsenal will rotate their side for sure but this team needs to step up against young fresh legs with mainly tired ones in their ranks.
Arsenal
Arsenal visit Bradford with a big pressure to win the tie. With no trophies in 7 years this is as good a chance as any for some silverware with so many top sides out of the competition.
Wenger's side have been involved in 2 epic cup ties winning 6-1 at home to Coventry and then in a remarkable 5-7 extra time win at Reading.
As expected in both games Arsenal rotated their squad so expect Santi, Giroud, Podolski, Wilshere and Arteta to make way in this one. However, the quality is still there but on a bobbly pitch on a cold night in Bradford will the reserves crumble?
6 of the last 7 Arsenal League Cup games have gone over 2.50 with the 0-1 loss to Manchester City the only under in the past few years. Whatever side starts, this team will always score goals and at the same time allow chances at the back. It's just the Arsenal way these days.
Betting Verdict
Arsenal are best priced at 1.37 to win and I think they will eventually get the job done. However, we can't back such a price and I will chance them to win by 2 or more.
6 of the last 8 Arsenal league cup wins have come by 2 goals or more and Bradford will need at least 1 if not 2 to avoid this coming in again.
The hosts are up against superior players who should be the fresher of the 2 as well. The only negatives is the pitch and the crowd (potentially). However, most of Arsenal's fringe players have played in hostile places and if Arsenal get in at half time ahead, the game will become stretched in the second half and I see Arsenal killing the game.
Even with a mixed starting lineup, Wenger won't want extra time. With a big Xmas period ahead he needs his squad fully fit and I expect a resounding Arsenal win despite the media hype of a shock win under the Sky Cameras.
Good Luck
The Pick :
Bradford City 1-3 Arsenal
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
Take Arsenal -1.50 AH at 2.10 Pinnaclesports
