AC Milan vs Arsenal
Thursday 8th March, 2018
UEFA Europa League, Round of 16, San Siro
BT Sport – Kick-Off 18:00 GMT
AC Milan vs Arsenal – Two fallen European giants clash in the last 16 of the Europa League as Arsenal travel to Milan to end the crisis.
It has been a woeful 2018 for Arsene Wenger and his team. No English side has lost more games since the turn of the year. The misery has been particularly compiled in the last week and a half, losing the EFL Cup final and a home league match both 3-0 to Manchester City before a miserable 2-1 defeat at Brighton on Sunday.
Arsenal are now 13 points adrfit from the Champions League places. 13. To put that into context, they are only 18 away from the relegation zone. The only possible way they can get back into Europe’s elite competition next season is by winning this one.
AC Milan will provide stern competition in doing so. Perhaps less than in years gone by, but a monster £200m+ spending spree in the summer sought to change that.
Milan have struggled throughout the season, but since Genaro Gattuso has been at the helm results have dramatically improved. The Rossoneri are unbeaten in 13 games, winning the last six without conceding a single goal.
They have even booked their spot in the Coppa Italia final against long-standing rivals Juventus. So understandably the atmosphere around the club is a very positive one at present. They too are eight points away from a Champions League position in Seria A, so winning the Europa League is imperative.
Refereeing this one will be Clement Turpin, who plies his trade in Ligue 1. In his 12 league matches in charge this season the Frenchman has dished out two red cards and 45 yellows. This results in a rather low average of just four cards per match. There is every reason to believe that will change in this game, as Milan have already received a league-high six sending-offs in Seria A. Compared to Arsenal who haven’t been given a single red, booking points on Milan seems the sensible option.
The notion of two of European football’s biggest teams battling it out to clamber themselves back upwards is pulsating. It will be a fascinating watch and be a huge test to Arsenal’s character. Character which they don’t seem to have.
The lack of leadership has seen Arsenal fail to register a clean sheet in their last 11 league matches. That signifies their lack of form after earning nine in their first 18. Milan themselves have kept nine league clean sheets in total. Equally, both teams have scored two or more goals 13 times this campaign.
So this naturally lends itself to a prediction of:
Prediction:- AC Milan 2-2 Arsenal
AC Milan vs Arsenal will be televised live in the UK on BT Sport with kick-off at 18:00 GMT.
Suggested tips – AC Milan vs Arsenal – (BET365)
- Correct score, Draw 2-2 – (link no longer available).
- Half Time / Full Time – Draw / AC Milan – (link no longer available).
Suggested RequestABets – AC Milan vs Arsenal – (SKYBET)
- Popular RequestABets – AC Milan vs Arsenal – Biglia, Kessie, Koscielny & Wilshere to be carded – 150/1.
- RequestABet upto 10/1 – BTTS, 4+ corners each team and 20+ booking points each team- 11/2.
- @FootyAccums RequestABets -AC Milan vs Arsenal – Cutrone & Mkhitaryan to score and Kessie, Chambers & Xhaka to be carded – 200/1.
- RequestABet Specials 11/1 to 28/1 – AC Milan vs Arsenal – Arsenal to win, over 2.5 goals and Romagnoli to be carded – 20/1.
- @FootyAccums Specials – Europa League RequestABets – Thu 8th Mar – 6pm games – Gameiro & Batshuayi to score, ATL, DOR & ACM 5+ corners each & LOK, RBS & ARS 20+ booking pts each – 33/1.
(Note this is found in skybet within its own section/special as opposed to within the Arsenal game).
Odds updated on 8th March at 17:00 GMT.
More markets will be added over the weekend prior to the game kicking off tonight.
Keep visiting the tips and preview area for further updates and betting previews for the remainder of this weeks European games and this weekend’s domestic league fixtures from England.
