Arsenal - Manchester UTD
05.05 20:45
Arsenal may trail Manchester United 1-0 after last week's first leg at Old Trafford, but in the second leg at The Emirates Stadium, Arsenal should have enough to overturn the first leg deficit and qualify for the Champions league final in Rome on 27th May.
Arsenal have been in tremendous form of late with just three defeats in 30 matches in all competitions. While Man Utd have won just one of their last 10 visits to Arsenal and The Gunners have a remarkable record at home in the Champions League, 24 matches unbeaten. For Arsenal to make it 25 matches unbeaten at home you can get 8/25 about Arsenal or draw.
The odds of 13/10 about a second-leg win for Arsenal looks good value. And the qualification odds of 5/2 for Arsenal to reach the final are even better. If you think Man Utd can come away from The Emirates with at least draw then you can get 2/7 about Sir Alex Ferguson's side qualifying for the final. A Man Utd second-leg win is priced at 7/4 with the draw at 21/10.
However, if you think Man Utd can go all the way and win the Champions League for a second year in a row, now is the time to back them in the outright market at 13/8. Although no team has ever won the competition in consecutive seasons.
Arsenal's defensive record in the Champions League at home is also very impressive as they have not conceded a goal in 514 minutes. Manuel Almunia is 7/4 to keep a clean sheet on Tuesday to extend this run.
Arsene Wenger has had his side playing some of their best fluent football in recent weeks, but Arsenal will have to do without inspirational Russian Andrei Arshavin as he is cup-tied. Arshavin will be a big miss but with Theo Walcott (10/1 to score first, 7/2 anytime), captain Cesc Fabregas (10/1 to score first, 7/2 anytime) and Samir Nasri (12/1 to score first, 5/1 anytime) all likely to be in support of Emmanuel Adebayor (6/1 favourite to score first, 11/4 anytime) then Arsenal will have enough firepower and creativity to fire themselves to the final.
French midfielder Nasri could be the pick at the odds. He scored twice against Man Utd earlier on in the season in the league game at The Emirates and is a huge 33/1 to repeat his two-goal antics.
Wenger will be boosted by the return of the fit-again Dutchman Robin van Persie who could potentially play a key role in coming off the bench to take advantage of Man Utd's tired legs. As could Danish international Nicklas Bendtner who netted a brace away at Portsmouth on Saturday.
On the other hand Man Utd will be delighted that Rio Ferdinand looks like winning his fitness race for the second leg. In the first leg Fergie sprang a surprise by starting with Carlos Tevez ahead of Dimitar Berbatov and the fact that the Bulgarian started at The Riverside against Middlesbrough on Saturday in a much-changed line-up suggests that Tevez will get the nod once again.
The Argentine is 2/1 to score at The Emirates with his fellow attackers Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney priced at 7/4 and 2/1 respectively.
Prediction: The match promises to be a cracker with a place at stake in the showpiece Champions League final.
Arsene Wenger is still gunning for his first Champions League success while if Man Utd and Sir Alex Ferguson win it again this year then Fergie could well contemplate retirement and bow out of Old Trafford on a high, being the first team to ever win it in consecutive seasons.
I have a feeling however that Arsenal are just playing that little bit better at the moment and odds of 3/1 to qualify that looks far too big.
Tip: Arsenal, Odds 2.6; Over 2.5 Goals, Odds 2.1;
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