AC Milan v Arsenal: Gunners to avoid defeat in Italy
Published:Bearing in mind they were drawn against eventual winners Barcelona at this stage of the Champions League last season, Arsenal will hold no fears in their trip to AC Milan, where they are priced 11/4 for victory.
Hosts AC Milan, 21/20 for a home win in the Champions League odds, will be more cautious having been eliminated at this stage in the past three years by English opposition, and they may look to stifle their visitors rather than go all-out to triumph.
The more disciplined nature of the Italian game, coupled with the Gunners giving up home advantage for this first leg, would seem to indicate that the draw may be a tempting proposition at 9/4.
There has been three meetings of the sides in recent years, and Arsenal have avoided defeat each time, particularly impressing when winning 2-0 at the San Siro in 2008 when the Italians were the reigning European champions.
Punters can back a repeat of that scoreline at a lengthy 16/1.
A 5/4 price for Arsenal to win either half is generous, while the 11/1 for the Emirates side to win both halves is massive.
You can get 14/1 for the Gunners to be leading at half-time and drawing at full-time which also looks too big, and if you believe the North Londoners will be drawing at half-time before winning the game, as they did in 2008, that can be backed at 8/1.
Robin Van Persie is as big as you are likely to see him all season at 11/2 for the first goal of the game, and the Dutchman could very well add to his three Champions League goals of the campaign so far.
Meanwhile, Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored two against Arsenal the last time he met them when turning out for Barcelona, and he’s 4/1 for the first of this game.
Thierry Henry is in line to make the final appearance of his loan spell, and could bid the perfect farewell by scoring last at 7/1.
