Arsenal feature in top bets for first night of Champions League action
Published:Arsenal look a massive price at 5/4 to win away to Montpellier in the opening night of Champions League group stage action and this is one of the top three bets of the night’s action.
The Gunners have started the Premier League season impressively, taking eight points from their opening four fixtures and conceding just one goal in the process.
Meanwhile, French champions Montpellier have taken just four points from their opening five league games.
Arsenal have also never lost an away encounter with Ligue One opposition in eight previous attempts and have the insight of striker Olivier Giroud, who joined from Montpellier in the summer.
There may even be grounds to back Arsenal at 7/2 to overcome a one-goal handicap, but the fact they face Manchester City next in the Premier League does leave doubts over the team Arsene Wenger will pick.
At full strength, Arsenal can win by two goals, but they may opt to make some changes.
FC Porto are another away club worth siding with and 10/11 is a price worth taking that they beat Dinamo Zagreb.
Dinamo were the worst team in the group stage 12 months ago, losing all six games and ending with a negative 19 goal difference.
They do not look much better this season, beating largely weak opposition to qualify and only just scraping beyond Bulgarian outfit Ludogorets Razgrad in their opening qualifying round thanks to a goal in the eighth minute of stoppage time.
Porto may have lost Hulk, but Joao Moutinho still remains and they should prove far superior.
Our final pick is Anderlecht at 6/4 with a one-goal handicap to beat AC Milan.
Milan have lost both Serie A home games to Sampdoria and Atlanta, looking distinctively one-dimensional in midfield, lacking creativity in the final third and open to the counter attack in defence.
Anderlecht may not be able to capitalise on Milan’s frailties, but if they can keep things tight, a draw is more than possible.
Alternatively, 5/6 looks reasonable that under 2.5 goals are scored at the San Siro, alongside the 9/1 for the 0-0 draw.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
