Kick-off: 2000, 09/01/2023
Stadium: Kassam Stadium
TV: ITV
Arsenal begin their quest for a record-extending 15th FA Cup triumph by visiting Oxford and are expected to make smooth progress.
The U’s are only 14th in the League One table and were beaten 2-0 at Kassam Stadium by Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup early on this season.
We’re taking 23/4 for the Gunners to repeat that scoreline as our first Oxford vs Arsenal prediction.
Oxford United Odds
Oxford have beaten Woking and Exeter to get this far but can boast only one win in their last six league games after going down 1-0 at home to Exeter on Sunday.
United failed to convert possession into goals in the first half and were made to pay when Sam Nombe grabbed a 79th-minute winner on the break for the Grecians.
Manager Karl Robinson said: “You can’t play like we did in the first half and not score. We’re not as aggressive in the final third as we need to be.
“Also, we should defend as a team, and that includes from set-plays. Exeter’s goal came from two of our players not doing their jobs. That’s what is so frustrating.
“There’s a transfer window coming up and I don’t want to speak openly about our intentions, but we have two forwards out injured.
“We have to make sure we bring in reinforcements at the top end of the pitch.”
Oxford have a neat midfield playmaker in former Liverpool trainee Cameron Brannigan, but the lack of a cutting edge up front is costing them dearly.
For those who want to hedge their bets with a multiple correct score wager, 17/10 for the Gunners to prevail 1-0, 2-0 or 3-0 stands out from the Oxford vs Arsenal odds.
Arsenal Odds
Arsenal’s impressive run of five straight Premier League wins ended with a frustrating goalless draw against Newcastle on home turf.
The Gunners dominated proceedings but were unable to break down the top flight’s stingiest defence as they dropped points at Emirates Stadium for the first time this season.
Mikel Arteta bemoaned two “scandalous” penalty decisions, with Dan Burn escaping punishment for a shirt pull on Gabriel Magalhaes and a possible handball by Jacob Murphy waved away.
“I’m really proud; the way we played, the way we dominated the game, the approach that we had from the beginning,” said the Spaniard.
“We lacked that spark in the final third to find that opening, to find that right moment and extra pass and a little bit of finishing quality.
“But we had a lot of situations in and around the box to do better – and then there were two scandalous penalties.”
Arsenal were beaten 3-1 in London by Brighton when making changes for a November EFL Cup clash and the Gunners have suffered a couple of early exits in this competition since successful in 2020.
They went out in the fourth round at Southampton the following year and fell at the first hurdle when visiting Nottingham Forest last term.
If bringing in fresh legs to try and avoid another quick KO, Arteta will be under pressure to give £34million summer signing Fabio Vieira a chance to shine.
The 22-year-old former Porto prodigy has so far failed to build on some early promise and was left on the bench versus Newcastle.
Vieira, who netted against Brentford and Bodo Glimt three months ago, is worth support in goalscorer markets in our Oxford vs Arsenal betting tips.
Additional stats
Last result:
OXFORD 0-1 Exeter
ARSENAL 0-0 Newcastle
Head-to-head: N/A
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