Ospina may be given chance in Emirates Cup

ARSENAL are 17-20 to claim victory in their opening game of the Emirates Cup against Benfica on Saturday afternoon.

The Gunners are looking to recover from their surprising 1-0 defeat to New York Red Bulls in the Big Apple last week and manager Arsene Wenger is expected to introduce some of his summer signings against the Portuguese champions.

Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina is expected to play against Benfica, who lost in the final of the Europa League last season. The visitors are 7-2 for victory in north London.

Valencia and Monaco make up the quartet for the two-day Emirates tournament and the Ligue 1 runners-up are hopeful that striker Radamel Falcao could feature.

The Colombian forward has not played since January after suffering a cruciate-ligament injury but he is reported to be nearing full fitness after missing the World Cup.

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo is another player who has had his fair share of knee problems but he is expected to play a part in his team’s International Champions Cup clash against Manchester United in Michigan.

Madrid are 21-20 favourites to win the game, which is expected to be watched by a crowd of 109,000, while Louis van Gaal’s side are 12-5.

Liverpool can earn a place in Monday’s final in Miami if they can see off Milan in Charlotte. Brendan Rodgers’s side are 10-11 to win in 90 minutes.

New FA betting rules were brought in on Friday that will prevent any player, manager, club employee or match official betting on football.

The restrictions will apply to football being played anywhere in the world and cover anybody involved in the top eight tiers of English football.

The FA’s general secretary Alex Horne said: “We are proud of the integrity of the game in this country and it is really important people trust what is happening on the pitch.

“We want to keep our message as simple as possible and it cannot be more simple that as a player you cannot bet at all on football.”