Betting Update; Middlesbrough v Arsenal with the bookmakers making Arsenal their 5/6 favourites

Added: (Fri Feb 02 2007)

Pressbox (Press Release) - It�s been a great few days for Arsenal Football Club after they got the better of Spurs to set up the first ever all-London Carling Cup Final against Chelsea, so it will be all systems go to keep the momentum up and push on in the league.

With Liverpool, Man Utd and Chelsea all winning in the Premiership in midweek the Gunners now find themselves four points adrift of the them , albeit with a game in hand.

The bookmakers will always make Arsenal favourites in this clash, but I think that due to their good run of form at the moment they are a bit short at around 4/5. They are bound to have their supporters however with punters adding them in to doubles and trebles, but for me I think the bubble might just be about to burst for the Arsenal camp.

Boro are a side to fear at The Riverside and their recent games there backs this up. Gareth Southgate�s men have won seven, drawn 2 and only lost to Man Utd in their last 10 home games.

If you add in the fact they have scored 20 goals in their last 10 games (ave 2 per game) then at first glance the 4/1 on offer for a home win is very interesting indeed.

All this said Arsenal are clearly one of the most exciting teams at the moment with Fabregas, Henry and Rosicky and co looking able to match any team in the world and are now unbeaten in their last eight. It is worth pointing out that they do have a few injury woes with Van Persie, Hleb and Eboue on the sidelines but as we�ve all seen in the Carling Cup Wengers youngsters are more than capable of stepping in.

They do have Gilberto Silva back after he played in midweek after coming back from a suspension and of course their captain Henry is sure to start.
My only concerns though are the tough games they�ve had in the last week. They could have done without extra-time on Wednesday after looking by far the better side inside the 90, and before that a hard fought 1-1 draw with Bolton might also start to take it�s toll soon.

Head-to-head league records see Arsenal with the edge on 57 wins to 28 draws and 28 Boro wins, but Boro did win this fixture last season 2-1 and a repeat scoreline at around 18/1 looks worth a small interest.

The Gunners thumped Boro 7-0 at Highbury around this time last year, but as I�ve said that was in London and there is no way that will be repeated with the decent home record Boro have.

So my advice is to avoid Arsenal at odds-on, but Boro and the draw in the Double Chance market at around 10/11 looks a great bet, while in the scoring markets Yakubu who has scored in three of there last five games, and takes the pens, is 8/1 to score first and 12/5 at anytime - looking a great option.

Recommended Bets - 5pts - Boro/Draw � Double Chance
Recommended Bets - 2pts - Yakubu to score at anytime
Recommended Bets - 1pt - Boro to win 2-1

* All prices correct at time of writing.

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