Arsenal v Man City (7.45pm SKY)

Will Arsenal be tired or will the adrenalin from Saturday carry them through tonight at the Emirates where they face West Ham – a team they have beaten the last seven times they have met?

Arsenal were again disappointing for me on Saturday (I made my feelings clear about them in the Saturday preview) and they needed to rely on the lottery of a penalty shootout to get past the resilient Wigan who battled hard in their defence of the FA Cup.

But progress they did, and Arsenal have a chance of silverware if they can get past Hull in the final.

Far more pressing though is the chance to climb back into fourth spot in the table – for 24 hours at least – as a Champions League place is no longer in Arsenal’s hands as Everton have the edge, but the Toffee’s have the harder run-in.

The head to head records suggest that the 4/9 on the fixed odds is about right…

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Max last 10 only)
Dec 2013 Premier West Ham 1-3 Arsenal
Jan 2013 Premier Arsenal 5-1 West Ham
Oct 2012 Premier West Ham 1-3 Arsenal
Jan 2011 Premier West Ham 0-3 Arsenal
Oct 2010 Premier Arsenal 1-0 West Ham
Mar 2010 Premier Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
Jan 2010 FA Cup West Ham 1-2 Arsenal
Oct 2009 Premier West Ham 2-2 Arsenal
Jan 2009 Premier Arsenal 0-0 West Ham
Oct 2008 Premier West Ham 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal looked uncomfortable and nervous on Saturday – you would have thought for the majority of play that THEY were the underdogs.

Wenger’s chances of survival probably lie more with a Champions League place rather than an FA Cup win and he is confident of a bounce in energy and attitude tonight. He said: “The win on Saturday will rebuild the confidence which was very jaded, I’m confident we will respond well. It will give us a target for the end of the season and it allows us to focus on the Premier League in a more serene way.”

Selling Arsenal on the superiority at around 1.35 is definitely the call for me.

RECOMMENDED BET (scale 1-10 points)

SELL ARSENAL / WEST HAM for 10 points at around 1.35 with Star Spreads

RUNNING RETURN (APRIL): LOSS 302.50.00 POINTS

RUNNING RETURN (YEAR): PROFIT 133.50 POINTS

• 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.