Oxford United-Arsenal is an FA Cup third round match and is played on Monday at 21:00: odds, predictions, live TV and streaming.
No surprises were spared in this FA Cup third round. Many Premier League clubs have fallen, with several teams from lower categories able to overturn the predictions, as often happens in this competition. The four-day fixture concludes with the match between English top flight leaders Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal and League One club Oxford United.
In the Gunners’ minds at the moment there is only the Premier League, which they have basically dominated so far, with two days to go with 44 points in their pockets and winning 14 out of 17 games. The consecutive series of victories was interrupted in the last round, with the zero-zero in the home match against Newcastle. A draw that allowed Manchester City, the main pursuer, to nibble two points and move back to -5. The Basque coach has no intention of taking the cup fixture lightly, even though he has rested his starters, with the aim of avoiding potential embarrassments (one of the three defeats of the season, incidentally, came in the League Cup against De Zerbi’s Brighton). Arsenal historically have a good ‘relationship’ with the FA Cup, winning it on four occasions in the last ten years (2014, 2015, 2017 and 2020).
Against Oxford there will certainly be no injured Gabriel Jesus and Nelson, but Arteta could give a starting shirt to Smith Rowe, who has been out since September.
Oxford United players’ jubilation
The other second-liners involved should be Elneny, Vieira, Holding, Marquinhos and Lokonga. At rest instead most of the starters, taking into account that on Sunday the Gunners will be guests of Tottenham in the heartfelt North London derby. As for the hosts, it will be a special night for them, whatever the outcome of the challenge with the Londoners. Karl Robinson’s men will play it without any particular worries, occupying a fairly quiet position in League One – the third tier of the English football system – far from the relegation zone.
The Prediction
Arsenal, despite taking the field with the reserves, are overwhelming favourites to pass the round. However, it cannot be ruled out that Oxford will score at least one goal in a match in which the total number of goals is likely to be at least three. Striker Nketiah is in a good run of form and could end up on the scoresheet.
The likely line-up for Oxford United-Arsenal
- OXFORD UNITED (4-3-3): McGinty; Anderson, Long, Moore, Brown; Bate, McGuane, Brannagan; Wildschut, Taylor, Murphy.
- ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Turner; Tomiyasu, Holding, Saliba, Tierney; Elneny, Lokonga; Marquinhos, Odegaard, Vieira; Nketiah.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-3
