Brighton v Arsenal FA Cup Prediction 26th January 2013

Brighton v Arsenal Betting Preview
The Seagulls have already claimed one big Premier League scalp in this season’s FA Cup, knocking out Newcastle on the south coast. Their rewards for that is another big home tie, this time against Arsenal. The Gunners have been in a bit of a sticky patch themselves lately, losing two of their last three matches. So there could be an opportunity for the Seagulls, who are unbeaten in five, to go out and cause another great FA Cup upset. If it happens, it would be the first FA Cup triumph ever for Brighton over the Gunners.

Brighton v Arsenal Betting Odds at online bookmaker Paddy Power
Arsenal 8/11, Draw 13/5, Brighton 4/1

Brighton v Arsenal Recommended Bet:
For the second season running, Brighton dumped Newcastle out of the competition. It was a deserved win for the Seagulls at the Falmer Stadium, and boss Gus Poyet (former Chelsea midfielder) will be setting his men up for another scalp. Brighton are unbeaten in their last five matches in all competitions, taking three wins and two draws. A midweek fixture in the Championship may not have helped their preparations much, picking up a point against Blackburn. The Albion are in the hunt for a playoff spot in the Championship and have lost just one of their last eight in the league. They have drawn five of those eight though, so there is a big of resiliency in them. The Seagulls do have the the joint second-best defensive record in the Championship this season.

However, in their three previous FA Cup ties against Arsenal, the Seagulls have come out on the losing side on each occasion. The last time they met was in 1988 with the Gunners winning 2-1. However, there may be a glimmer of hope and opportunity here for Gus Poyet’s men, as Brighton have won their last two FA Cup home matches against Premier League opposition, and you feel that that they have to take full advantage of home soil in this one. Arsenal’s away form as well may be something that plays into the hands of the home side too. Two of the top five Players of the Round from the 3rd round were Brighton players. Just shows you the level they produced against Newcastle. At home in the Championship this season, Brighton have lost just three of fourteen and have conceded at a rate of under a goal per game.

So this is going to be a tricky match for Arsene Wenger’s men. The Gunners have won all three previous meetings without needing a replay in the FA Cup against Brighton, so they have that history on their side. Arsenal have won just one of their last five matches in all competitions though, a 1-0 FA Cup third round replay against Swansea. To be fair, the Gunners dominated that match, and should have ran up a cricket score, but they struggled to find any kind of clinical finishing. That win was sandwiched in between Premier League defeats against Manchester City and Chelsea, and overall, the goals in general have not been flowing for the Gunners lately. They have netted just two in their last three Premier League matches against good defences and they toiled, as mentioned in that FA Cup replay at home against the Swans.

Arsenal are unbeaten though in their last 33 games against sides ranked lower in the FA Cup. The last time they were knocked out by a team from a lower division was back in 1996 when they lost against Sheffield United. The Gunners though have not won any of their last three away matches, taking two draws and one defeat. Defensively there could be issues for Arsenal at the Farmers Stadium on Saturday because they have not managed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last seven away matches in the FA Cup. During that run of seven matches, Arsenal have shipped 12 goals. The Gunners only have two clean sheets in their last eight in all competitions.

Arsenal will be wary. Especially after getting dumped out of the League Cup by Bradford City. It could be a long, nervy afternoon for the Gunners. They have the class in their ranks, do they have the mental acumen? May well be worth taking Both Teams to Score for a price of 4/5 at online bookmaker Paddy Power.

Form
Brighton LWWWDD, Arsenal WDDLWL

Stat Attack
The Gunners have not won any of their last three away games in all competitions
Arsenal have not kept a clean sheet in their last seven away fixtures in the FA Cup
Brighton have won their last two home matches in the FA Cup against EPL opposition
Brighton have lost all three of the previous FA Cup matches against the Gunners

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