Arsenal v BATE Tips: Gunners to recover from bashing in Belarus?
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BATE Borisov upset the odds to record a 1-0 win over Arsenal in the first leg of the pair’s Europa League tussle.
However, the Belarussians face a Gunners side who beat them 6-0 at the Emirates in 2017.
So, can Unai Emery’s men boost their confidence with another BATE battering? Or could they get stuck in the mud against the club founded by a tractor company?
Match Odds
Having won seven of their last nine at the Emirates, it’s no surprise to see Arsenal at skinny odds to win.
We go 1/8 for the Gunners to get a second-leg victory, while it’s 2/7 they qualify for the last 16.
A Draw tonight (15/2) would be good enough for Alyaksey Baha’s side to progress. They’re a huge 22/1 to do it in style with a win.
BATE were 1-0 down inside 11 minutes on their last visit here. With Arsenal strong starters – they’ve led at the quarter-hour mark nine times this season – we go 5/2 they’re ahead after 15 mins.
In their last eight home EL games, Arsenal have scored 4+ Goals three times. Fancy the same again? It’s 7/4.
Talking Tactics
Does Emery know what his favoured formation is? We’re not convinced. But the Gunners have been plumping for three at the back of late.
If it’s 3-4-3 again, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang will lead the line, with Alexandre Lacazette suspended. Chances are it’s Alex Iwobi on the left wing, and former EL winner Henrikh Mkhitaryan on the right. That would leave no room for Mesut Ozil.
Aaron Ramsey is fighting fit for this one, and could command a starting spot. Meanwhile, silky Spaniard Denis Suarez could make his first start for the Gunners.
By contrast, BATE’s tactics are the one thing more predictable than socks for Christmas. They’re always 4-3-3 – with former Gunner Aleksandr Hleb and first-leg goalscorer Stanislav Dragun in that midfield trio.
With last season’s midfield ace Mirko Ivanic having left, the supply to striker Maksim Skavysh has dried up. He’ll need to improve on his recent tally of one goal in 13 games.
Goalscorer Odds
It’s Aubameyang who leads the Anytime market at 1/2 here. However, those odds are flipped to 2/1 for him to bag Two or More Goals – which could prove a more popular pick.
Mkhitaryan loves a goal in the Europa League. He’s managed nine of them in his career, and is 23/20 to hit the double-figure mark tonight.
Fancy the hosts to nab one? Dragun is 17/2 to add some fire to BATE’s hopes with another goal.
Match Info
Where: Emirates Stadium
When: 5:55pm
How to watch: BT Sport 3 / BT Sport 4K UHD
Click here for the latest Arsenal v BATE odds.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
