Betting Update; Arsenal v AC Milan with the bookmakers making Arsenal their 11/10 favourites

Added: (Wed Feb 20 2008)

Pressbox (Press Release) - If Arsene Wenger’s side weren’t riding high at the top of the Premiership then all Arsenal fans might be once again rueing the month of February after it was at this time 12 months ago that the Gunners season fell apart. They crashed out of the Carling Cup, FA Cup and the Champions League at this stage last term and after being dumped out of the first two named competitions in recent weeks they will be hoping to stop the rot when European champions AC Milan roll into the Emirates.

The Gunners were thrashed 4-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday in the FA Cup and although they fielded several changes - so did United, and it’s rumoured that Cesc Fabregas was so upset after the defeat he spent the whole of Sunday locked away at home. Wenger will of course not be so lenient when picking his side tonight and if one thing has come out of those recent mauling against Spurs and Man Utd it’s the fact that his young defenders, that are still making a name for themselves, are simply not good enough against the big boys. He’ll welcome back Sagna and Clichy at full-back, who were both sorely missed at the weekend, and as long as Kolo Toure can put his recent run of poor form behind him, then along with captain Gallas, a lot will rest on their shoulders as they try to stop the best player in the world at present Kaka.

Arsenal will know that Milan dumped out fellow English teams Liverpool and Man Utd from this tournament last season and have in fact reached the semi-finals in five of the last six years. However, despite having this competition as their sole target each year Arsenal will be boosted by Milan’s current plight in Serie A, where they sit a lowly fifth, a massive 21 points off their neighbours Inter.

With the Gunners being at home and having a decent record in front of their home fans (unbeaten in their last 17 home Champions Lge games) then the bookmakers make them the 11/10 favourites to win this game, the draw 9/4 and Milan around the 3/1 mark. However, the betting in the ‘to qualify’ market has a much more even feel to it with both teams being offered around 10/11 before this first leg gets started.

Milan will know that if they can score then they will be favourites to progress, with that vital away goal, but Arsenal have kept 13 clean sheets in their 21 home games in all competitions this season and so at BestPrice 7/5 some punters might be tempted to have a dabble here on them shutting Milan out tonight.

The Milan rearguard is where they’ve made their name. They’ve become the stereotypical Italian side, nicking a goal and then defending it, so with a wealth of experience, especially in defence, they will make it hard for Adebayor and co, and with their four defenders having an average age of over 30 years-old then expect to see them plying every trick in the book.

The key to the game could be how they deal with Arsenal playmaker Cesc Fabregas and with Milan expected to pack the middle of the park then it will probably fall to Milan’s midfield hardman Rino Gattuso to man-mark the Spaniard.

Despite Milan having the look of a difficult team to score against Arsenal are arguably the best passing team in the world and in all their home games this season they have scored in them all, so based on this the 1-0 at 6/1 and 2-0 at 9/1 make some appeal in a game where chances are expected to be few and far between, but could be determined on whether the star names take their chances when they fall.

The final bet is in the Overs/Unders market. As said most of these 1st leg encounters are normally tight affairs with teams keen not to throw away the tie in the opening game so although the price won’t buy you that Ferrari - at 4/6 on there being under 2.5 goals this looks a banker, while for those wanting a bit more value then the 7/4 on offer on there being under 1.5 goals might appeal to you more.


Recommended Bets - 1pt - Arsenal to win 1-0
Recommended Bets - 1pt -Arsenal to win 2-0
Recommended Bets - 1pt – Under 1.5 goals

• All prices correct at time of writing.

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