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The highlight of Wednesday`s Champions League matches will be played at the Emirates between Arsenal and Bayern Munchen. It should be a great clash and there are some solid betting options here as well.
Arsenal seemed to be just shy of entering a real crisis after getting just 1 win in 4 games, against lowly Crystal Palace, and losing 5-1 to Liverpool in the Premier League. However, the Gunners were brilliant (albeit also very lucky) to recover in the weekend by defeating Liverpool 2-1 in the FA Cup with a mix of regulars and substitutes in the starting 11 – while ‘Pool was at full strength. At the moment Arsenal is in questionable form, but they are expected to be at their best when they face arguably the strongest team in the world right now. However, the defense that conceded 6 from Manchester City and 5 from Liverpool should be a big motive to worry for Arsene Wenger.
Bayern is simply cruising in the Bundesliga, they are 16 points clear of the second place and have an amazing statline of 19 wins and 2 draws in 21 matches (57-9 goal difference). Guardiola has proved to be up to the difficult task of making an amazing team even better and the bavarians are also in great form right now, winning 9 competitive matches in a row. The last 4 outings for Bayern saw them winning 5-0 (twice), 4-0 and 2-0. The team is playing possession football but is also very fast, sharp and unforgiving up front, cutting the field with accurate passes for efficient finishing.
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Team news and lineups
Arsenal will have to do without Walcott, Vermaelen, Diaby, Kallstrom, Ramsey and Arteta, which is actually a decent injury report for the Gunners who are used to having 10 players at a time on the sidelines. Bayern has less squad problems but they will miss Ballon D’Or contender Ribery, as well as Badstuber and Shaqiri.
Arsenal: Szczesny – Gibbs, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Sagna – Flamini, Wilshere – Ozil, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain – Giroud
Bayern Munchen: Neuer – Alaba, Dante, Boateng, Rafinha – Lahm, Schweinsteiger – Tiago, Muller, Robben – Mandzukic
I`m really into the over 2,5 bet here, after initially considering Arsenal to cover the 0,5 handicap at some pretty good odds. I won`t insist on statistics, since everybody knows how potent these two are up front, and furthermore two high scoring teams never guarantee a high scoring match (we could see this yesterday between City and Barcelona). But in this case I really can`t see anything else than at least three goals. Arsenal`s defense will be in all sorts of trouble against Bayern`s free flowing, fast paced attacking game and there`s no way that the visitors won`t create a couple of clear cut goalscoring chances. The immobile Mertesacker could be the weak link for the hosts. On the other hand, Arsenal is such a good counterattacking team and with Bayern controling possession, the Gunners will be able to showcase their brilliant passing ability (Ozil, Cazorla, Wilshere, Rosicky) to put their frontmen in scoring positions.
Last season in the same stage of the competition, Bayern defeated Arsenal 3-1 in England before losing 2-0 at home. My tip is over 2,5 goals and I will approach this with maximum stakes. The popular bet, Bayern to win, is not an option for me at the current odds. Prediction: Arsenal – Bayern Munchen 2-2.
Pick: over 2,5 goals
Odds: 1.68 @ Sbobet
Stake: 10
Possible profit: 6.80
Event date: 19 February
