Arsenal make a swift return to FA Cup action on Sunday after downing Hull in their fifth round replay only this past week and the Gunners can advance once more, this time at the expense of Watford.
Arsene Wenger and his players have seen their Premier League title hopes diminish in recent weeks, it is three top flight matches without a win, but their love affair with this competition shows no sign of relenting and a hat-trick of triumphs is now within sight.
Victorious in 2014 and 2015, Arsenal have played 16 FA Cup matches since they last tasted defeat in the famous knockout trophy, that a 1-0 reversal at the hands of Blackburn, and Watford are unlikely to buck the trend at The Emirates.
Arsenal required an extra 90 minutes to get by the Tigers but the return match at the KC Stadium was a rout, Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud each scoring twice.
The 4-0 win, albeit against Championship opposition, would have further boosted confidence among a much-criticised squad after Arsenal showed excellent fighting spirit to salvage a draw in the North London Derby on their penultimate start and more capital punishment is in store for the Hornets.
Watford have dispatched Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and Leeds United to reach the last eight, all by a 1-0 score line, but their Premier League form has dipped after such a bright start to the campaign and finding the net has been a real problem.
Only nine times have Watford struck in their last 15 matches in all competitions and just twice in that period, a run stretching back to the end of December, has Quique Sanchez Flores’ men bagged two goals in a contest.
To threaten their upcoming host’s immediate FA Cup future Watford are likely to need to carry a great deal more attacking threat than that and I am surprised Arsenal are available to back at 8/13 to get the job done on home soil.
Wenger will undoubtedly now have his focus on another trip to Wembley for the showpiece with domestic records there for the smashing and I rate his troops decent value.
Watford have lost four of their last five Premier League away outings, failing to score in each defeat.
3pts Back Arsenal (vs. Watford) @ 8/13 (various)