Carling Cup 
/ Mike Norman / 28 November 2011 / Leave a Comment Man City boss Roberto Mancini
"Arsenal and Man City have been involved in four Carling Cup games between them this season, resulting in a total of 16 goals being scored."
Two very different sides to the ones we see in the Premier League go head-to-head in a Carling Cup Quarter-Final tie, and Mike Norman believes City's class should triumph over youth.
Arsenal v Manchester City, KO: Tuesday 20:00 live on Sky Sports 2, Match Odds: Arsenal [3.1], Man City [2.46], The Draw [3.6]
I have to admit it's incredibly difficult to pen a match preview when every web search or glance at the TV for team news leads me to a story on Gary Speed's death. Like everyone else I was numb at Sunday's desperately sad news and it's almost impossible to come to terms with.
Myself, and everyone at Betting.Betfair, would like to extend our most heartfelt sympathies to Gary's family and friends.
As Gary would have wanted, football goes on, and on Tuesday evening Arsenal host Manchester City in an intriguing Carling Cup tie. One club desperate to win a major trophy, the other hoping to win the Premier League title. Two or three seasons ago you'd have said the former description fitted Man City, the latter Arsenal. How times have changed.
Despite Arsenal's continued quest for silverware and the strength of the opposition on Tuesday night, Arsene Wenger is expected to field a youthful side similar to the ones that beat Shrewsbury and Bolton earlier in the campaign. Defenders Ignasi Miquel, Carl Jenkinson and Nico Yennaris, midfielder Francis Coquelin, and striker Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could all feature at some point alongside the experienced trio of Tomas Rosicky, Andrei Arshavin and Yossi Benayoun.
City - playing just 48 hours after Sunday's 1-1 draw with Liverpool - will be much-changed though their line-up is expected to be far more experienced than the Gunners', with the likes of Nigel De Jong, Pablo Zabaleta, Kolo Toure, Adam Johnson, and Edin Dzeko likely to start.
Match Odds
The main question I asked myself when assessing this market was, is Arsenal's second string - arguably third string - better than the Wolves line-up that was thrashed 5-2 at home by City in the previous round? Probably not was my conclusion, and that means I have to go for Roberto Mancini's men to win this game at [2.46].
Of course, Wenger could field a much stronger side than expected which would make the outcome far more difficult to call. Remember, you don't have to get involved until the team line-ups are known but if Arsenal line up weak and City line up strong then the [2.46] about an away victory will disappear in the press of a mouse button.
Over/Under 3.5 Goals
Only once in the last seven meetings between Arsenal and Man City have both sides got on the socresheet, but when one side does manage a victory they tend to do it comprehensively - two 3-0 victories and a 4-2 victory for City in those seven games and 3-0 and 2-0 wins for Arsenal. To confuse matters though, the other two games finished goalless.
On this occasion I'm happy to ignore recent history and assess the game on what it is - a League Cup encounter between two much-changed sides. It's hard to make a case for a low-scoring encounter, and I'm not happy about taking just [1.75] on Over 2.5 Goals being the outcome. Arsenal and City have been involved in four Carling Cup games between them this season, resulting in a total of 16 goals being scored. Here's hoping that average of four goals per game can be maintained and a back of Over 3.5 Goals at [3.0] is the selection.
Correct Score
Whenever a glut of goals is fancied it's advisable to cover a few high-scoring options at big odds, even if at the minimum stake (£2). For example, a 3-0 victory to Man City is available to back at [34.0], whilst the 3-1 and 3-2 City win options can be backed at [22.0] and [30.0] respectively. Dutching all three will result in a return at [9.2] should one scoreline be correct, which by complete coincidence is the same price as the Any Unquoted outcome (any side to score at least four goals).
Recommended Bets
Best Bet: Back Man City to win @ [2.46]
Back Over 3.5 Goals @ [3.0]
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