English Football Best Bets - April 25/26

Arsenal are in desperate need of a win to end a run of two consecutive league defeats that has seriously derailed their hopes of winning the Premier League this season. A pair of 2-1 defeats to Bournemouth and Manchester City means the Gunners have slipped behind City on goals scored, although they can move back to the summit with a point or more. 

Manchester City may have laboured to a 1-0 win over Burnley in the Premier League in midweek, but this triumph saw them extend their winning run in all competitions to five matches. In the FA Cup, City have beaten Exeter (10-1), Salford (2-0), Newcastle (3-1) and Liverpool (4-0) in a run of matches in which the quality of opposition has gotten progressively higher. Having beaten Liverpool in the last round, it will not worry City that they could become the biggest giant-killing of the tournament so far. 

Chelsea know they have not been anywhere near good enough this season, with the Blues arriving for this one on the back of a three game losing run alongside seven defeats in their last eight in all competitions. Across their last five league games the Blues have failed to score a single goal in a run of chastening performances. With only one trophy left on offer to them, Chelsea have to find a way to beat a Leeds outfit they have failed to defeat in their last two meetings. Despite their recent woes, the Blues have beaten Charlton, Hull, Wrexham and Port Vale to get to this point, and they will hope to channel their four FA Cup wins into the semi-final this weekend.