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Oxford United – Arsenal FC
This weekend the Premier League takes a break. But that doesn’t mean the players can relax this weekend. Because the oldest cup competition in the world goes into the next round. The 3rd round of the FA Cup is coming up. The Premier League and Championship teams now enter the competition. To conclude the 3rd round, Oxford United from League One will host the Premier League leaders on Monday.
Oxford United go into this game as clear underdogs. The team from Oxfordshire is currently in 14th place in League One, which is the third highest division in England. At the weekend, Oxford lost 1-0 at home to league rivals Exeter City at the Kassam Stadium.
Arsenal, on the other hand, are having a fantastic season. The team from north London is top of the Premier League table. The Gunners also have the second best attack in the league. Last Tuesday, however, Mikel Arteta’s team could not get beyond a 0-0 draw against third-placed Newcastle. Find out if Arsenal can find their goalscoring touch in the FA Cup in our Oxford vs Arsenal betting tips.
Oxford – Arsenal Info:
– Date & Time: 09.01.2023, 21:00.
– Venue: Kassam Stadium, Oxford
– Competition: FA Cup, 3rd round
– TV coverage: DAZN
Oxford Form & Balance Check
The city of Oxford is best known for its famous university. The University of Oxford is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world and is one of the “Oxbridge” universities, which also includes the University of Cambridge. However, the city’s football club is not quite as well-known and successful as the university.
Since the 2015/2016 season, Oxford City has been back in the third highest league in England, after the team had even slipped into the fifth division in the meantime. In the past seasons, the Yellows even came close to the second division on several occasions. This season, however, coach Karl Robinson’s team is in no-man’s land in the table. Oxford currently occupy 14th place in a league of 24 teams and will therefore probably only play for the golden pineapple for the rest of the season. On New Year’s Day, the Yellows lost 1-0 against Exeter City.
FA Cup the last highlight
Oxford are now also out of the EFL Cup and the EFL Trophy. Therefore, the match against Arsenal in the FA Cup is probably the last big highlight this season for Oxford United. In the first round, the Yellows narrowly beat fifth division side Woking 2-1 in mid-November. In the second round, Oxford then comfortably knocked out league rivals Exeter City 4-1. With three goals in two games, 30-year-old Billy Bodin is Oxford’s top scorer in the FA Cup. In the league, however, the winger has only scored four goals in 21 games.
Oxford facts & analysis
– 14th place in League One.
– Only one win in their last six league games
– Cameron Brannagan top scorer in league with six goals
Arsenal form & balance check
The FA Cup is Arsenal’s favourite competition. The club from north London has already won the trophy 14 times and was crowned English Cup winners. The Gunners last achieved this in the 2019/2020 season, when Arsenal beat Chelsea in the final thanks to two goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Last season, however, coach Mikel Arteta’s side were eliminated in the third round when they lost 1-0 at then second division side Nottingham Forest.
This year, that misfortune is not to be repeated. If Arsenal can carry the form from the league with them, that won’t happen either. The Gunners have been leading the Premier League table since matchday four. Arsenal have only suffered one defeat and two draws so far. One draw came last Tuesday when the Gunners only drew 0-0 with Newcastle United.
Offensive & Defensive stable
In attack as well as in defence, almost no one is putting anything past Arsenal this season. With 40 goals scored, Arsenal have the second best attack in the Premier League. The goals are distributed on different shoulders in the attack. Both Martinelli and Ødegaard have scored seven times in the league so far. In addition, Saka and Jesus have scored six and five goals respectively. The defence is also the second best in the league with only 14 goals conceded. National goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale provides solid support.
Arsenal facts & analysis
– Currently 1st in the Premier League
– 44 points after 17 games
– Won the group in the Europa League with aplomb
Predicted line-up – last update on 7 January 2023
Oxford have always played in a 4-3-3 system recently. However, in their EFL Cup defeat to Crystal Palace, they played in a 5-3-2. Still, we think Oxford will go into the game with the system they have been playing. Cup specialist Billy Bodin will be a candidate for the starting eleven.
The Arsenal team will probably look different from the one that played against Newcastle. Coach Mikel Arteta will give some players with less playing time a chance to start, similar to the Europa League.
Oxford – Arsenal direct comparison & stats
Both teams have played eight competitive matches against each other so far. Three wins for Arsenal, one win for Oxford and four draws are in the database. However, the two teams have only met once in the 21st century. In the 3rd round of the FA Cup in 2003, Arsenal won 2-0 against Oxford, who were then still playing in the fourth division.
– Oxford’s only win against Arsenal in 1986.
– The two stadiums are 78 kilometres apart.
– Oxford score an average of 1.78 goals in home games
– When Arsenal lead 1-0 in away games, they win 93% of matches
