Last season’s beaten finalists Arsenal begin their Champions League campaign with a trip to Naples to take on Napoli at the Maradona on Wednesday evening.
Arsenal’s hopes of clinching their maiden Champions League crown last season were ended in agonising fashion, as they were beaten on penalties by PSG.
However, the Gunners have made a perfect start to this campaign, as they followed up their Community Shield success over Manchester City by winning each of their opening three Premier League encounters.
The latest of which came at home to London rivals Chelsea, as goals from Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard cancelled out Morgan Rogers’s early strike for the Blues.
Many eyebrows were raised when Max Allegri was appointed as Antonio Conte’s successor following a failed season on his return to Milan, and it’s not been a great start to life in Naples for the experienced Italian.
Napoli began their Serie A campaign with a 0-2 success at Genoa, but the Partenopei have lost each of their next two.
A 1-2 loss at home to Como was followed by a collapse at the San Siro on Saturday night, as they surrendered a 0-2 lead to lose 3-2 to a Lautaro Martinez-inspired Inter.
How the bookies view it: Arsenal favourites
Arsenal are favourites to begin their Champions League league phase campaign with a win, with bet365 pricing a Gunners’ success at 8/11.
Napoli are 15/4 to put a halt to their two-match losing streak, whilst the draw is 27/10.
Head to head: Gunners advantage
These two clubs have met on four occasions in competitive matches, with Arsenal winning three times and Napoli once.
The most recent of those successes came in the quarter-finals of the Europa League in the 2018/19 season.
Players to watch: Kai to convert once again?
Kai Havertz has made a strong start to the campaign, as he has already found the target on three occasions for the Gunners.
The latest of those goals was an equaliser against Chelsea on Sunday, and the German is an appealing 21/20 at bet365 to Score or Assist in Naples on Wednesday.
Backed a player to find the net? Check our Goalscorer Betting guide to see how the markets work and where to find value.
Predicted line-ups:
Napoli will be without the injured Alessandro Buongiorno, Luca Marianucci, Giovane and Scott McTominay.
Arsenal will still be without William Saliba, whilst fellow defenders Cristhian Mosquera and Jurrien Timber are doubts.
Napoli: Meret, Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Marin, Spinazzola, Lobotka, Anguissa, Vergara, Politano, Alisson, Hojlund
Arsenal: Raya, White, Gabriel, Konsa, Calafiori, Rice, Lewis-Skelly, Saka, Odegaard, Tzolis, Havertz
Anything else catch the eye?
It’s no surprise that Arsenal travel to Naples as favourites to claim three points here, but are a little short at 8/11.
10 of the Gunners’ 11 wins in the Champions League last season featured fewer than five goals, and a repeat pays a more backable 20/21 at bet365.
Mikel Arteta’s men conceded just seven goals on route to the final last season – winning to nil in eight of those victories – and that pays a juicier 7/4 at bet365.
Napoli vs Arsenal Betting Tips & Predictions
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