After their victory in Napoli, things have gone terribly wrong for the Gunners domestically. They have lost three in a row and on Thursday, they host, Valencia, another team who have lost their last two since qualifying for the Europa League semi-final. Here’s the Big Game Focus for the first leg. Bet on the game here.
Arsenal’s form has gone downhill since they beat Napoli away in the Europa League quarter-final. They have lost three successive matches and conceded three goals in all of them. The losses have left their top four hopes hanging by the thinnest of threads. They’ll seek to end that poor run when they host Spanish side Valencia at the Emirates.
Valencia, on the other hand, have lost their two matches which have also seriously dented their hopes for a Champions League spot in La Liga. However, the Spanish outfit have lost just three matches since January. Can they get a result away from home on Thursday?
Betting preview
Arsenal have lost just four times at home this season. They have a phenomenal home record which requires something special from Valencia to nick a result. The Gunners have lost just once in the Europa league in their last 13 matches. Therefore you can back a Home Win at odds of 1.95.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored 23 goals in all competitions this season with four of them coming in the Europa League. The Gabon international will play a key role in Arsenal’s attack on Thursday. Therefore you can back Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as Anytime Goalscorer at odds of 2.25.
The Gunners have scored at least two goals in three of their last five home matches in the Europa League. They’ve scored at least two goals in nine of the last ten matches at home in all competitions. Therefore odds of 2.00 for Arsenal Over 1.5 Goals looks attractive.
Team news
Mesut Ozil and Nacho Monreal are still doubtful for this clash. Aaron Ramsey and Denis Suarez are sidelined while Rob Holding, Hector Bellerin and Danny Welbeck are long-term absentees.
Denis Cheryshev and Geoffrey Kondogbia are expected to miss out again for Los Che while Francis Coquelin is suspended for them.
Possible line-ups
Arsenal: Cech, Koscielny, Monreal, Sokratis, Maitland-Niles, Kolasinac, Torreira, Xhaka, Ozil, Lacazette, Aubameyang
Valencia: Neto, Wass, Garay, Paulista, Gaya, Torres, Soler, Parejo, Guedes, Rodrigo, Mina