6-1 an insult to capable Swansea

BETTING:

REPUTATIONS in sport can sometimes get in the way of common sense.

Take tonight’s FA Cup replay between Arsenal and Swansea.

It will be the third time they have met this season. In the first Swansea won 2-0 in the league.

Then in the third round of the Cup in South Wales, Arsenal dug out a 1-1 draw to force this replay in North London.

The Welsh side will be bursting with confidence following last week’s 2-0 victory at Chelsea in the first leg of their Capital One Cup semi-final tie.

Add all this up and you would think tonight’s contest is fairly even. But not so, say the bookies — Arsenal’s reputation is the reason.

Arsenal should be around even money, with a draw at 2-1 and a Swansea win about 5-2. Yet you can get a whopping 6-1 on Swansea and only 4-7 for Arsenal, with the draw 7-2.

A Swansea win might not be the most likely result, but it ain’t a 6-1 shot. Price-driven punters like me won’t be able to resist.

As for tonight’s other replay between Manchester United and West Ham at Old Trafford, you know the Reds will find a way to win, even if they don’t play well. That’s what they do: so a 1-3 home win price is right.

RECOMMENDATION: Swansea to beat Arsenal (in 90 minutes) in FA Cup third-round replay, 6-1 (Boylesports).