Arsenal v Aston Villa Tip

We can take 11/8 with Boylesports on Arsenal failing to win their FA Cup match against Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon. With this ‘double chance’ bet an away win or a draw pays us out. When you consider that the visitors have taken more points off the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium than any other Premier League team, this looks pretty tempting. Villa have won two, drawn two and lost only one of their trips to the 60,000 capacity stadium.

Arsenal are obviously favourites for this fourth round clash (8/13 WilliamHill) but there are strong reasons to oppose them, most especially at those odds. There’s an injury crisis that won’t go away; the absence of quality full-backs is a constant source of concern in particular. There have been three straight defeats in the league and Wenger is getting some stick from restless natives. The Emirates is hardly home sweet home at the moment.

Meanwhile, there are signs of improvement at Villa. The 3-2 victory at rivals Wolves last week could be season-defining. With Darren Bent and Robbie Keane both on the goal trail they have a new potency going forward. Six games unbeaten on their travels in all competitions, Alex McLeish should be confident. His last knock-out match against Arsenal was victory in the Carling Cup Final with Birmingham last February.