FA Cup final: Villa duo Sherwood and Benteke out to stop Arsenal

Rejuvenated Benteke is a 15/8 anytime chance, but if he’s worth backing then it’s surely to score net and Villa to be victorious. Coral can oblige here by offering punters a tasty 10/1 enhanced matchday special wincast with Sherwood’s side doing the business in 90 minutes and his star striker scoring (max stake £20).

If the prospect of being up to £200 better off doesn’t appeal, then there’s the safer anytime price outlined above, or odds of 13/2 for Benteke to grab the opener.

Other Villa threats could be on-loan Tom Cleverley, who has finally figured out where the goal is. He is a 6/1 anytime chance alongside now permanent acquisition Scott Sinclair, who once hit a Wembley hat-trick in the Championship play-off final.

Sherwood’s joker in the pack is young talent Jack Grealish. When taking to this hallowed turf in the semis, the occasion did the exact opposite of overawe this teenager, whose international future remains unresolved.

Grealish, a 5/1 anytime shout here, relished running at Liverpool, and his head-to-head up against Spanish starlet Hector Bellerin is undoubtedly one of this year’s FA Cup final key battles.

For all the precocious and exuberant youth on show in Villans ranks, the Gunners know they can win this cup at Wembley, but came from behind to nick it in extra time against Hull City last season.

This makes a unique 5/1 special on Arsenal going behind in 90 minutes but to lift the trophy once more (again max stake £20) an intriguing punt to consider. Another in this category is backing both Benteke and Olivier Giroud to net in normal time at a superb 7/1.

France centre forward Giroud has three in as many matches against Villa, and is thus an even-money anytime chance. Theo Walcott gave Gunners gaffer Arsene Wenger something to think about when selecting the striker spot for this encounter, after he hit a hat-trick on the final day of the Premier League season against West Bromwich Albion.

While another treble is a fanciful 28/1 chance, Walcott, who has in his previous five fixtures when facing the Villans, is well worth considering at safer odds of 8/1 for two goals or more, because his searing pace may given Ron Vlaar and company problems.

Alexis Sanchez, like Benteke, features in a 90 minutes wincast, enhanced to 5/2 (once again max stake of £20), and is yet another attacking problem for Sherwood to solve with makeshift full back Leandro Bacuna looking vulnerable.

Goals from midfield are always possible with Arsenal, and their own best of British duo Aaron Ramsey (15/8 anytime) and Jack Wilshere (superb at 5/1 after his stunning strike against the Baggies last time out) may be prudent punts.

For once, though, nobody can be on Mesut Ozil’s back. The criticism of this World Cup winner, with his native Germany last summer, is he doesn’t score enough. Ozil has netted both home and away against the Villans, so is an awesome shout at 11/4 to do so again anytime.

Like Ramsey, who grabbed the winner in last year’s final, Santi Cazorla has already had a major impact at Wembley for Arsenal before. The Spaniard is a tasty 10/3 to take another chance here.

Coral betting tip: Backing Arsenal to come from behind to scoop silverware at 5/1 (max stake £20) looks a fascinating prospect for punters!