Arsenal v Blackburn Betting Preview
There is a bit of a chance that this could again be a Premier League fixture next season. Blackburn are on the fringes of the playoffs in the Championship and will try and grab their opportunity to claim a big cup scalp in this FA Cup 5th Round match. Arsenal have found themselves in a bit of form again though and will go as favourites at the Emirates to move ahead to the sixth round.
Arsenal v Blackburn Betting Odds at online bookmaker Paddy Power
Arsenal 2/7, Draw 9/2, Blackburn 10/1
Arsenal v Blackburn Recommended Bet:
One of the things that could influence this tie is the fact that Arsenal have a massive Tuesday night encounter against Bayern Munich in the Champions League. So that will naturally have a bearing on the quality of side that Arsene Wenger will put out for this fixture. So it may well be an understrength Arsenal that takes on Blackburn. This realistically is the last chance for silverware on the season for the Gunners and they won’t want to throw it away. So will an understrength Arsenal have too much for Blackburn? The Gunners have rediscovered a bit of confidence in their game although five of their last seven wins have all been by a single goal and they are lacking a little bit of cohesive fire power. Still, their current form against Blackburn has been pretty good, the last time they met back in February of 2012 in the Premier League, Arsenal hit a massive 7-1 win.
The Gunners have won four of the last five home games against Blackburn, and are undefeated in that run. Perhaps more significant is the amount of goals they have scored around Rovers, banging in 19 in those five matches, having conceded just three. So heavy favouritism for the Premier League side in this one. Arsene Wenger sent out an under strength side at Brighton in the last round and just about squeezed through with a 3-2 win. So it really may be worth looking at Arsenal to just win by a one goal margin. The Gunners are unbeaten in their last five games in all competitions and should have enough in the tank. It has to be said though that Blackburn are improving. Slowly but surely they have gotten themselves closer to the play off picture in the Championship, having lost just one of their last eight in the second tier.
Rovers took a comfortable 3-0 win at Pride Park to beat Derby and set up the clash with Arsenal. With their recent upward swing in form, they will probably be in good enough spirits to take on this challenge, as heavy as underdogs that they will be in the match. They are unbeaten in their last three away games in the league, but they have been playing a whole bunch of home games. So it may be that they will aim to hang on for a replay here and take their chances back at Ewood Park. That is what they did in the 2006/07 FA Cup, they took a 0-0 draw at the Emirates and then won 1-0 back on home turf. Boss Michael Appleton will probably have higher priorities in getting Rovers back to the Premier League than this. With them taking just three away wins all season in the Championship, the chances of winning this are slim. But that having been said, they have drawn nine of their sixteen away matches this season in the league, could they pinch a draw against an under strength Arsenal?
Arsenal probably won’t field a full strength side and Blackburn are an improving side. Still, you would probably be backing the Premier League outfit in this one. With Arsenal’s recent tendencies to win by a single goal, it could be worth riding that for a price of 3/1 at online bookmaker Paddy Power.
Form
Arsenal LWWDWW, Blackburn LDWWWD
Stat Attack
Five of the last seven wins for Arsenal have been by a single goal
The last five meetings between between the two have produced 19 goals for Arsenal and 3 for Rovers
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last five home matches against Blackburn
Rovers have lost just one of their last eight games
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