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2012-12-11 - Bradford vs Arsenal
A Sports Betting Pick by Addicted
Football : England : League Cup
Tuesday, December 11th, 2012, 7:45PM GMT
PREVIEW
A whole host of Arsenal first teamers will be missing from this League Cup QF match, as the Gunners taken on Bradford. The Gunners have reached the QF stage for the 10th straight year in a row, the longest consecutive run by any team in the history of the competition. Not bad for a team that does not give it any importance eh?
Wenger has said that despite the absence of several important players, he intends to field a strong side. With the recent results not going Arsenal's way and the well documented lack of silverware since Vieira's FA Cup final penalty kick back in 2005, it is important this team win something, anything, to get a taste for it, because once they do, the team will not want to go a season without lifting trophies.
The last match in this tournament also had 1st team players missing, but they roared back from a massive deficit to win 7-5, one of the most remarkable turnarounds ever. The defence will likely not concede anywhere near that number, but the signs are there that the offence can do a lot of damage.
I'll cut to the chase, because you can get waffle on the match elsewhere. I'm looking at a bet on Arsenal to score a few here, in a match they will win, but are priced to short to bet on. There is a chance this defence could let in goals, and I don't want to be scuppered on the AH if they lose concentration at the back, something that has happened enough times to put me off, even against a lower league side.
We're getting a pretty good price on Arsenal to score over 2.5 here, and that has to do with Bradford's defensive stats, as they are the stingiest home defence in League Two. In 11 home games, Bradford have allowed just 6 goals, that's just 1 every other game. They've also already taken out a Premier League side, beating Wigan away on penalties.
Now that might look good, but the Arsenal come into town with a whole host of very hungry youngsters who have just this competition to prove to the manager that they are worth the move up into first team action. Wilshere, Cesc have already done it, and the kids who will play will not be short on motivation.
BETTING VERDICT
The game against West Brom was won by 2 penalties, but there were a plethora of chances created, and that is what I was encouraged by.
The chances will come again, and if Arsenal score early, as I'm expecting them to, it's theirs to take in a landslide, because a League Two side will not be ale to deal with the counter attacking moves Arsenal throws at them when they push forward looking to get back into the game.
The Pick :
Bradford 1-3 Arsenal
