S.P.Read Esq: The FA Cup Final

Our daily columnist and pundit S.P. Read Esq. looks ahead to the FA Cup Final at Wembley on Saturday (5.30pm BBC1/BT SPORT) between ARSENAL v ASTON VILLA and finds the best opportunities available on Star Spreads, the home of sports spread betting.

Arsenal have beaten Villa by an aggregate of 8-0 in their two Premier League games this season so it’s easy to see why they are 8/15 favourites on Star Sports fixed odds to defend their FA Cup title inside 90 minutes at Wembley.

The teams finished third and 17th in the table with Villa narrowly escaping relegation.

Arsenal’s striker Danny Welbeck misses the match after failing to recover from a knee injury but there could be starts for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mathieu Debuchy and captain Mikel Arteta who are all back in training after recent injuries.

For Villa, Dhay Given is fit after recovering from a groin injury and Aly Cissokho (groin), Kieran Richardson (calf) and Jores Okore (knee) have also trained. Ciaran Clark misses the final with a knee injury.

Arsenal’s midfielder Aaron Ramsey was the hero last season when he scored an extra-time winner to beat Hull 3-2 and gave Arsenal their first trophy in nine years.

Ramsey said: “To score a winner in the FA Cup final, it’s everybody’s dream and I managed to live it. To finally win something after all those years and the pressure that has been put on this club was such a nice feeling of relief to finally win something. We never do it easy. We’ve experienced what it’s like now, going a few goals behind early in the game, but we still believed in ourselves and our ability to get through it.”

Arsenal v Aston Villa
FA Cup Final
5.30pm BBC1 / BT SPORT

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Maximum 10 matches)
Feb 2015 Premier Arsenal 5-0 Aston Villa
Sep 2014 Premier Aston Villa 0-3 Arsenal
Jan 2014 Premier Aston Villa 1-2 Arsenal
Aug 2013 Premier Arsenal 1-3 Aston Villa
Feb 2013 Premier Arsenal 2-1 Aston Villa
Nov 2012 Premier Aston Villa 0-0 Arsenal
Mar 2012 Premier Arsenal 3-0 Aston Villa
Jan 2012 FA Cup Arsenal 3-2 Aston Villa
Dec 2011 Premier Aston Villa 1-2 Arsenal
May 2011 Premier League Arsenal 1-2 Aston Villa

Teams

Arsenal (from): Ospina, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Wilshere, Walcott, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Sanchez, Giroud, Szczesny, Gabriel, Monreal, Debuchy, Coquelin, Cazorla, Rosicky, Flamini, Arteta.

Aston Villa (from): Guzan, Given, Lowton, Hutton, Senderos, Bacuna, Vlaar, Okore, Baker, Richardson, Cissokho, Delph, Cleverley, Westwood, Grealish, Cole, Sanchez, Gil, Sinclair, N’Zogbia, Benteke, Weimann, Agbonlahor.

I’m expecting Arsenal not to make life too difficult for themselves this year and get out of the blocks a bit quicker.

As such I am a seller of the time of the first Arsenal goal at 41 minutes with Star Spreads.

CLICK FOR ARSENAL v ASTON VILLA MARKETS ON STAR SPREADS

RECOMMENDED BETS (scale 1-100 points)

SELL TIME OF FIRST ARSENAL GOAL for 50 points at 41 minutes with Star Spreads

• Any spread prices quoted are indicative and as always prices are subject to fluctuation.
• Please note the opinion, views and forecasts above are of the author and not of Star Spreads.