There will be a wall of yellow filling the visitors section of Old Trafford when Arsenal takes to the field for their FA Cup quarterfinal match with Manchester United on Monday. Fans of both sides look to turn back the clock ahead of their clash. Manchester United fans will make their own banners and wear old-fashioned scarves to show their support for the most intriguing matchup of the FA Cup quarterfinals.
And of course, don’t forget about the Bradford Cinderella story, which is expected to continue beyond this round. The action starts on Saturday and here’s a preview of all the four FA Cup games coming up.
Bradford City vs. Reading – Saturday, 7:45 a.m. ET
FA Cup Odds: Bradford +147, Reading +174, Draw +220
The Bradford City pitch will not be an issue for the opening match of the quarterfinals but that doesn’t mean a clash with Reading will be all about skill and flash. The giant killers Bradford have shocked the world getting to this stage with wins over Chelsea and Sunderland in the last two rounds, and now a team that sits eighth in the League 1 will have another shot at an upset.
Reading hasn’t faced nearly as strong a level of competition as Bradford to this point and it will be very interesting to see if another upset is on the way. This is a matchup that splits perceptions of “real fans” versus bettors as those who don’t really bet would perceive a Bradford win as an upset whereas those who bet can clearly see that Bradford is actually favored to come away with the win. Look for the host side to move a step closer to the FA Cup finals with a win here. Pick: Bradford City
Aston Villa vs. West Bromwich – Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET
Belgian striker Christian Benteke has all but promised Villa will go through to the next round of the FA Cup and after he netted an injury-time penalty to beat the Baggies 2-1 on Tuesday and end their 12-match winless streak in the Premier League, it’s clear he is a man on a mission. Villa played well in that win and despite their recent struggles, they have another opportunity home to West Brom to stay the course. Considering the visitors record away from home this season (two wins in 14 away Premier League games), Villa should be able to get the job done. Pick: Aston Villa
Liverpool vs. Blackburn Rovers – Sunday, 12:00 p.m. ET
FA Cup Odds: Liverpool -454, Blackburn +1073, Draw +467
Liverpool will be the strongest favorites for this weekend in terms of the betting odds as they’re the highest ranked side remaining. They’re also a team that has hit its stride recently with wins in each of their last five Premier League games. Brendan Rodgers’ side has taken care of Manchester City, Southampton and Spurs recently, and now they get a shot to host a Blackburn squad that isn’t nearly as dangerous as any team on that list. Blackburn is merely 10th in the Football League table with just four wins in 18 away games. Anfield should be rocking for this game as Liverpool extends its recent run of success with a convincing win. Pick: Liverpool
Manchester United vs. Arsenal – Monday, 3:45 p.m. ET
FA Cup Odds: Manchester United +131, Arsenal +191, Draw +227
The main event for the FA Cup quarterfinal round won’t come until Monday when the Gunners visit Old Trafford in a battle between two of the Premier League’s top clubs. Both sides have promised it will live up to the hype in pre-game banter, so it should be a spectacle. Monday’s game will happen 109 years after the first meeting between these clubs and while neither side has been very consistent this season, both have shown flashes of how good they can be in recent weeks. United has the home-field advantage and a talented roster, but the Gunners are able to attack in waves and it wouldn’t be a major shock if they pull off the upset. Pick: Arsenal
