Sunday's FA Cup Preview - Football (Soccer) News And Picks

Sunday's FA Cup Preview
By Tim Robertson
Posted: 11:00 am PDT 2007-01-27

The beast is about to be unleashed by Arsene Wenger.

After terrorising opponents in the Carling Cup, Julio Baptista is in line for a starting place in Arsenal's team to play Bolton on Sunday in the FA Cup fourth round.

Wenger is looking for a way to rest 19-year-old midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who has played in every Premiership and Champions League game so far this season, and that could signal an extended run in the side for Baptista, who is on loan from Real Madrid.

Wenger is now tempted to make the deal permanent.

"What he is achieving will help to make my mind up," the Frenchman said. "He scored four at Liverpool, two at Tottenham -- you could do worse. It took him time to adapt, but it is amazing -- suddenly, 'boom' one goal is in.

"That is him. He has a little bit of the qualities which [Robert] Pires had, to turn up in the box -- and always you need these kinds of players."

It will be a more familiar Arsenal team than the one that drew with Spurs in the Carling Cup in midweek, with several first team players back.

However, Manuel Almunia is expected to continue in goal ahead of Jens Lehmann, and could play into the hands of Bolton.

The Spanish goalkeeper is far less commanding of his area than Lehmann, which will suit Bolton's direct style of lofting long balls and set pieces into the box, looking for their more physical players to put the defence under pressure and force mistakes.

Striker Kevin Davies will be among those looking for an Almunia mistake to capitalise on.

Last week, Bolton were stunned in a 5-1 thrashing at Middlesbrough, but that looks like an anomaly in their results as they push for a Champions League place in the Premiership.

Davies said: "We cannot play as badly again and are ready to put things right.

"The lads have responded well in training this week and are looking forward to the game. While some of the Arsenal senior players may be ready to play, we are confident of doing something."

"Our record against them in recent years speaks for itself," added Davies, as Bolton knocked Arsenal out of this competition last season. Arsenal want to play a beautiful game but sometimes it does not work for them."

Bolton will have to upset the odds if they are to upset their hosts. WagerWeb offers the Trotters at +550 with Arsenal at -200.

There will be a number of reunions at the City of Manchester Stadium when Southampton travel north to play Manchester City.

Former Saints manager Steve Wigley is now Stuart Pearce's assistant at City, while ex-goalkeeper Tim Flowers is on the Citizens coaching staff. The clubs also have a former player each from their opponents.

Striker Bradley Wright-Phillips came through the ranks at City before moving to the south coast, while one of Wigley's first moves when he came to Manchester was to tell Pearce to snap up young defender Matthew Mills, who remains on the fringes of the first team.

Flowers is warning his current employers to expect a tough time against the Saints.

"They are in the playoff positions, but I think that they will go up automatically this year," said Flowers. "Their squad is strong, they have goalscorers and it is going to be a very tough game for us."

On the pitch, much of focus is likely to be on the battle between teenage defenders Micah Richards and Gareth Bale.

Richards, 18, is the youngest ever defender to win an England cap, and has become a key player for City, who rejected overtures from Chelsea early in the transfer window even as transfer fees as high as �18 million were being rumoured.

All raw pace and power, Richards is an explosive talent, tough to beat and also capable of racing forward in attack.

Bale, 17, is already a key member of the Wales team. Strongly linked with a 10 euro million move to one of several suitors, the left back is more skilful than Richards but is less physically gifted.

How they handle one another, playing on the same flank, could have a big impact on the outcome of this game.

City, as the Premiership club hosting Championship opposition, are the favourites. They may have lost 3-0 to Blackburn in their last home game, but they have key man Joey Barton back and should look a different team.

They are offered at -150 on WagerWeb, with the Saints at +350.

Sunday's other games match Premiership champions Chelsea against League One promotion challengers Nottingham Forest, while Wolverhampton face West Brom in an all-Championship Black Country derby.

Forest had better enjoy their day out at Stamford Bridge, as it is likely to be the end of their FA Cup involvement this season.

Chelsea brushed aside Wycombe 4-0 in the Carling Cup, and ominously for Forest, Andriy Shevchenko looked like he was beginning to enjoy life in a Royal Blue shirt.

WagerWeb has the Blues at -900 while Forest face odds of +550 merely to force a replay.

Wolves against West Brom should be more competitive.

Six points and six places separate the teams in the Championship, where West Brom are pushing for automatic promotion and Wolves are seeking a way into the playoffs.

But home advantage is on Wolves' side and West Brom have not been the best of travellers. They have won 11 of 14 at home, but only three of 15 on their travels.

WagerWeb cannot split them, offering both at +160, but it is tempting to go with the hosts.

Baggies goalkeeper Russell Hoult has been suspended by the club this week for off-the-field activities, and distractions like that will not help them in the heat of a derby atmosphere.

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