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| December 9, 2002 | Monday | Shawwal 4,1423 |
Arsenal favourites to retain FA Cup
LONDON, Dec 8: Arsenal were made 4/1 favourites to retain the English FA Cup on Sunday after being drawn at home to Oxford United of the third division in the third round.
Manchester United, who have won the trophy a record 10 times, were made 9/2 second favourites by bookmakers. United are at home to first division leaders Portsmouth.
Liverpool, the 2001 winners who play at Manchester City in the stand-out tie of the third round, are third in the betting at 15/2. City, managed by former Liverpool great Kevin Keegan, are quoted at 40/1.
Chelsea, who lost 2-0 to Arsenal in the 2002 final at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium in May, are fourth favourites at 9/1 to win the trophy for the third time since 1997 when they beat Middlesbrough, their third round opponents, 2-0 at Wembley.
Everton, who are away to third division Shrewsbury, and Newcastle United, losing finalists in 1998 and 1999 and facing a tough trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers of the first division, are both 12/1.
At the bottom end of the scale, Oxford are 5,000/1 to win the trophy if they survive their trip to Arsenal’s Highbury stronghold.
Minor league side Morecambe, who meet first division Ipswich Town for the second time in three seasons having lost to the then premier league side 3-0 in 2001, and Bristol Rovers of the third division are 2,500/1.
Two other minor league sides reached the third round. Dagenham & Redbridge, who travel to second division Plymouth Argyle, are 1,000/1 and Farnborough Town, who visit third division Darlington, 2,000/1.—Reuters
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