Carling Cup: Arsenal v Manchester City Odds and Betting Preview

LONDON, UK – Roberto Mancini’s men travel to North London on Tuesday evening to face Arsenal in front of a sell-out crowd at the Emirates Stadium. This Carling Cup quarter-final will be Samir Nasri’s first visit to his former stomping ground since he decided to quit the Gunners in favour of the oil-millions on offer in Manchester.  The game comes at a time when managers will look to rest some of their stars as both sides had tough Champions League matches this time last week followed by Premier League action at the weekend.

Manchester City have been priced up as the 11/8 favourites for this tie with Ladbrokes and Paddy Power whilst last year’s beaten finalists, Arsenal, are quoted at 21/10 with Victor Chandler. A draw is a standout 5/2 with the same firm, which would see the game forced into extra-time to decide the winner.

Manchester City remain unbeaten in the Premier League following their one-all draw with Liverpool on Sunday and Mancini has a huge squad packed with world-class talent at his disposal for this cup game. City’s Champions League progression is now out of their hands and they will want to keep their hopes of recording a domestic treble alive with victory over another one of the ‘big four’. Adam Johnson and Edin Dzeko did not feature in the starting line-up at Anfield and should be handed at start on Tuesday evening. Manchester City thrashed Wolves 5-2 in the last round thanks to a brace from Dzeko and he could do more damage slicing through Arsenal’s back-four here.

Arsenal are unbeaten in their last ten matches and are the only English side to have booked a spot in the knock-out phase of the Champions League with a game in hand. The Gunners look set to rest several of their first team regulars which should give Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Chu Young Park and Andrei Arshavin the chance to show manger Arsene Wenger that they are still pushing for regular first-team football. Robin van Persie has been an inspirational leader for his side this season and following their shaky start, his clinical finishing has single-handedly propelled them up the league table. The skipper’s performances will have instilled confidence in the rest of the squad that should encourage them to play with freedom even in his absence from the starting XI.

In the Over/Under betting, over 2.5 goals is 8/11 with Boylesports whilst under the same 2.5 goal margin is a 23/20 chance at Victor Chandler. For any punters who predict a low scoring encounter can back under 1.5 goals at a standout 10/3 with Stan James.

Manchester City are 3/1 in the popular Half-time/Full-time betting market to be leading at the end of both halves and Draw/Manchester City is as big as 5/1 with Coral. Wenger’s side will have the home advantage and can be backed at 9/2 with Ladbrokes to take a lead into the interval and progress to the semi-final of this cup competition ion 90 minutes. The Arsenal manager has said he will not just field a team full of youngsters and punters can back Draw/Arsenal at a standout 13/2 with Coral, a result that would take his side a step closer to filling the dusty trophy cabinet at the Emirates. A Draw at the end of both periods is 5/1 with Blue Square and will result in additional time being played.

Manchester City are 10/1 with Paddy power to win by a goal to nil and 12/1 at William Hill to return north with a 2-0 victory. A 2-1 score line in favour of the visitors is 9/1 with Blue Square whilst a one –all draw is quoted as the 13/2 favourite in the Correct Score market at Ladbrokes.  Arsenal are 11/1 at bet365 to secure a 1-0 victory and 11/1 at Betfred to win by two goals to one.

The Fist Goalscorer market remains very open at present as the make-up of both starting XIs is yet to be finalised, and punters should check before placing a bet in this market. Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko are both 6/1 with Boylesports and Betfred respectively to score the game’s opening goal whilst Samir Nasri is 11/1 with bet365 should he start the game. Arsenal’s shortest priced player, without van Persie, is Chu-Young Park at 8/1 with bet365 whilst Andrey Ashavin is 10/1 with Skybet and the pair both found the back of the net in their 2-1 victory over Bolton in the last round of the Carling Cup.

This match kicks off at 20.00 GMT and is broadcast live on Sky Sports 2.

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Arsenal v Manchester City – First Goalscorer Odds