Don't expect an FA Cup giant killing at Gander Green Lane on Monday night.
Sutton Utd v Arsenal – Monday 19:55, BBC One
Sutton have done well to reach this stage of the Cup, but paired against a wounded Arsenal side have surely come as far as they go this year. The hosts here have only managed to win the first-half once in their six FA Cup matches this season, against Dartford, and though Arsenal have drawn the first-half in four of their last seven FA Cup matches, Wenger’s side should respond to a traumatic defeat at the hands of one of the top teams with a carefree saunter against weaker opposition.
Arsenal suffered Groundhog Day as they lost 5-1 away to Bayern midweek, the same score as when they travelled to the Allianz Arena last season, and with Wenger likely to rotate his side we think there may be opportunities for the likes of Walcott, Welbeck and Lucas Perez to get on the score sheet here. The former netted a hat-trick against Southampton in the previous round, and as such we think a price of 5.0 represents good value for Walcott to score 2+ goals, whilst the repeat of a hat-trick at 21.0 is a tempting punt.
The Gunners have been ahead at both half-time and full-time in six of their seven FA Cup matches against sides below the Championship since the 2000/01, winning the second 45 in four of these games, and given the only tie against non-league opposition in that streak was a 5-1 stroll at Farnborough we expect that trend to continue here. We’re backing Arsenal to win both halves at 2.14.
