Arsenal will look to maintain their 100% record in the league phase of the Champions League as they travel to the Jan Breydel Stadion to take on Club Brugge on Wednesday night.
Arsenal made it five wins from five in the Champions League with an impressive 3-1 over Bayern Munich at the Emirates a fortnight ago, on an evening in which two of my selections cruised in.
However, since that victory, Mikel Arteta’s men have dropped points in two of their next three Premier League matches, meaning their lead at the top of the table is reduced to two points.
The latest of which came on Saturday, as they conceded in stoppage time to lose 2-1 to third-placed Aston Villa, extending their winless run away from home to three matches.
Club Brugge began their Champions League league phase with a 4-1 thrashing of Monaco, but since then, they have taken a solitary point from their next four matches, losing 3-0 against Sporting CP last time out.
The Blauw-Zwart also head into this clash losing each of their last two and three of their past four Belgian Pro League, leaving them in third position, five points behind reigning champions Union Saint-Gilloise.
Their loss away at Saint-Truiden at the weekend proved to be Nicky Hayen’s last in charge of the Belgians, with Ivan Leno taking charge of his first game on Wednesday evening.
How the bookies view it: Arsenal clear favourites
The bookies expect Arsenal to maintain their 100% record in the Champions League, with bet365 pricing an away success at just 1/3.
Bet365 have Club Brugge as 8/1 underdogs to end their four-match winless run in the competition, whilst the draw is 17/4.
Head to head: First-ever meeting
Perhaps a little surprisingly, Wednesday night will be the first-ever meeting between these two clubs.
Players to watch: More Merino magic?
Mikel Merino has once again excelled as a make-shift striker for Arsenal in the last month or two, with the Spanish international scoring four goals and providing three assists in his previous seven appearances for the Gunners.
That includes a brace on MD4 in Arsenal’s last away game in this competition against Slavia Prague, and he is 10/11 at bet365 to Score or Assist.
Predicted line-ups:
Club Brugge will be without the injured Nordin Jackers and Zaid Abner Romero, whilst Ludovit Reis and Lynnt Audoor are doubts.
Mikel Arteta will be without centre-backs Gabriel, William Saliba and Cristhian Mosquera, as well as Kai Havertz, due to injury.
Club Brugge: Van den Heuvel, Siquet, Ordonez, Mechele, Seys, Stankovic, Onyedika, Forbs, Vanaken, Tzolis, Tresoldi
Arsenal: Raya, White, Timber, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly, Zubimendi, Odegaard, Norgaard, Madueke, Eze, Merino
Anything else catch the eye?
Both Teams to Score has paid out in five of Arsenal’s last six matches in all competitions – including their last three away from home.
Club Brugge have scored seven goals in their two home matches in this competition against Monaco and Barcelona, so the 10/11 on offer at bet365 for Both Teams to Score appeals to me here.
Interested in why both teams scoring is such a strong angle? Check out our Masterclass on BTTS and sharpen your match-reading game.
Over 2.5 Goals has also landed in all five of Club Brugge’s league phase fixtures – and given the same has landed in each of Arsenal’s last three victories in this competition against – I also like the look of the 20/23 on offer at BOYLE Sports for a Gunners victory and Over 2.5 Goals.
GambleAware