Champions League betting – Arsenal vs Partizan

Arsenal vs Partizan betting preview, odds and tips

Arsenal Champions League Position: 2nd Champions League Form: WWWLL

Arsenal’s last 2 Champions League games have not exactly gone to plan, qualification looked certain after the first 3 fixtures. However big slip ups have prevented automatic qualification before Christmas. Arsene Wenger’s men showed that they were made of sterner stuff this weekend when they beat Fulham 2-1. Samir Nasri has been nothing short of inspirational this season and while Cesc Fabregas’s absence is still felt in the Arsenal camp, Nasri has been able to fill in the boots nicely. Nasri’s 8 goals this season have helped Arsenal to reach the top of the Premier League, so a bet on him to open the scoring at 5/1 at Bet 365 isn’t a bad shout.

Arsenal will again be without first-choice centre back Thomas Vermaelen and goalie Manuel Almunia and therefore will be relying on stand in keeper Lukasz Fabianski, who in all fairness has stood in very well. Arsenal also have Robin Van Persie back to full fitness and Arsene Wenger may be tempted to go with two strikers in the shape of Van Persie and Marouane Chamakh. So going forward Arsenal look strong but it is at the back that they usually suffer, so a bet on both teams to score at 13/8 on Coral looks like a promising one.

Partizan Champions League Position: 4th Champions League Form: LLLLL

Partizan have not had the best luck in the Champions League, managing to score only in one of 5 games in the Champions League. This game however was against Arsenal, again emphasising Arsenal’s defensive frailties. Partizan back home are in good form sitting at the top of the Serbian league table. Their reliance on the goals of Brazilian striker Cleo is a notable weakness though with goals coming from few other areas of the pitch.

Arsenal have a dodgy European record lately but should be expected to pull out the stops for this game, it really is make or break. This week Bacary Sagna said: ‘We don’t want our season to be over in December, we must win.’ So obviously Arsenal’s team will be satisfied with nothing less than a win.

Highlighted Bets:

First Goalscorer 5/1 Bet 365
Both Teams to Score 13/8 Coral
Arsenal Win 1/9 Paddy Power & Stan James

By John Fernandez

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