Arsenal V Standard Liege Betting

Arsenal V Standard Liege

Tuesday 24^th November – 19:45 GMT

Group H

Respective situations:

Arsenal – The Gunners will become the third English side to progress past the group stage as long as they avoid defeat at The Emirates against the travelling Belgian’s. Arsene Wenger’s side top Group H after three wins and a draw, still unbeaten in six games if you include their two qualifiers with Celtic before the group round proper. They are four points above the team in second place, Olympiakos, so a point is all that’s required for them to book their place in the last sixteen. Were they to lose then they would still only need a point to progress but would have to get that point in Greece against an Olympiakos side that would still be in the running come Match Day 6.

Standard Liege – The Belgian side are still in contention for a second place finish and with that a berth into the last sixteen. However, their dreams could be dashed if they do suffer an expected defeat at Arsenal and Olympiakos beat AZ Alkmaar in Holland. Defeat in England does look extremely likely for them so they will be hoping Alkmaar do them a massive favour elsewhere by at least earning a point against Olympiakos. Were AZ to beat the Greek outfit then Standard Liege would only need to beat the Dutch side in Belgium to progress, baring Arsenal gain at least a point in Greece against Olympiakos. However, were Liege to lose at Arsenal and AZ & Olympiakos to play out a draw, Liege would then need The Gunners to beat the Greek’s, preferably in a big scoreline, while they would need to beat AZ and beat them well back in Liege. A win for Olympiakos at AZ Alkmaar would spell the end for Standard.

Arsenal

Group H Position: 1^st

Group H Form: WWDW

It’s been an unconvincing campaign to date for the Gunners, despite their superior position within the group, a very easy group it has to be said. The same opponent caused them all sorts of problems in the reverse meeting in Belgium, with Standard taking an early 2-0 lead back in Liege. However, Arsenal did come up trumps in the end, via bit of good fortune, beating Liege 3-2, their first competitive victory over the Belgians. Now they go and hunt back-to-back wins over Standard Liege, one that would see them progress into the next round.

Arsenal appeared to be on-fire back in the league, that was until they met the seasons most improved team in Sunderland. Arsene Wenger’s side had their moments at The Stadium of Light but, to be brutally honest, they weren’t at the office and were duly dispatched for their lack of effort and endeavour. Darren bent scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win for Sunderland, a goal that ended Arsenal’s unbeaten run of fourteen games without defeat in all competitions. However, they have still yet to taste defeat at home, or drop a point at The Emirates for that matter, all season and that shouldn’t change on Tuesday.

Arsenal’s brittle display at Sunderland was specifically down to the absence of Robin Van Persie, as the Gunners simply lacked inspiration and the creative spark which Van Persie normally adds to Arsenal’s play in the final third. In the absence of the Dutch international, the mantle of lone striker was passed down to Eduardo, a role he didn’t come up trumps in. He showed very little in terms of off the ball movement, an aspect which makes the Arsenal machine work. Thomas Rosicky & Cesc Fabregas did try their utmost to add some creativity and spark into Arsenal’s play on Saturday but to no avail. With Robin Van Persie out for some time, questions will now be asked of the Gunners after their early prolific spell in front of goal.

Although Van Persie will once again be missing for Arsenal’s next outing, a home fixture with Standard Liege, Arsenal should still get the point they need to progress. They’ve been the pacesetters in the group, leading the way at the top by four points and also heading the goalscoring chart in Group H with 10 goals, conceding the 4 in return. However, Arsenal have kept just one clean sheet in the Group Stage, that coming in a 2-0 win over Olympiakos. With Liege scoring in both of their away encounters to date, perhaps the Arsenal goal could be breached once more.

Standard Liege

Group H Position: 3^rd

Group H Form: LDLW

Standard Liege shouldn’t be short of motivation as they head over to London to take on Arsene Wenger’s, Arsenal side. Not only will they be gunning for revenge after their oh so nearly success in Liege, losing 3-2 to the Gunners after previously leading 2-0, but they will also have their sights set on possibly finishing in second place, hopefully at worst – third place. Although a win for the Belgian’s is unlikely, a point would put them in a very healthy position to at least obtain a third place finish as they head into a potentially Europa League deciding game with AZ in Belgium on the final Match Day.

Back home, Standard Liege have been a difficult side to beat, and, to some extent, they have been just as difficult to beat in the Champions League, with their two defeats in Group H both coming by the slimmest of margins, losing 2-3 at home to Arsenal, and 2-1 away in Olympiakos. Their only success to date came against Olympiakos, winning 2-0, but that did come back in Belgium and not outside of their home country, Liege have yet to register an Champions League away win, with the draw in Alkmaar the best they could manage thus far.

The attacking third is where Liege are most dangerous, as Arsenal found out on Match Day 1, but their intent to play on the front foot often leaves them exposed at the back, although their goals against tally of 6 isn’t the worst I’ve seen. They’ve scored the same amount in return, two of those coming against the Gunners, but they did endure just their second league defeat of the season on Saturday when they lost away at AA Gent, 2-1, while that defeat has meant that Liege have now lost two away league fixtures in as many games. Perhaps we could excuse them for possibly having their sights set on this trip to the English capital but what any side needs heading into a fixture of this magnitude and a game of such importance is form, and Liege’s weekend slip up has left them with very little in terms of that.

The two danger men for Liege will be their forward pairing of Mbokani & Milan Jovanovic. The latter averages a goal every other game for Liege, scoring 51 in 104 first team appearances, while Mbokani betters Jovanovic’s goalscoring average with 32 goals in 62 games. The latter will pose Arsenal a few problems from set-pieces with his imposing strength and stature, standing in at just over 6 foot tall.

Match Verdict:- Arsenal to WIN – 1.33 Bet365

It’s hard to envisage the Arsenal defence conceding more then the Liege back four, what with the array of talent Arsene Wenger has it his disposal compared to his opposite number. The midfield is where this game will be settled, in Arsenal’s favour that is, as the likes of Thomas Rosicky, Samir Nasri, Arshavin & Cesc Fabregas should dominate and control the centre of the park. Liege could pose a few problems when they do stretch their legs in the Arsenal third but we expect the game to be spent mainly the Liege third. Edurado will be aiming to amend for his baron 90 minutes at Sunderland on Saturday so perhaps he could prove a beneficial punt to score during 90 minutes as alternatives punts are advised due to Arsenal’s poor price.

Match Odds:

Arsenal – 1.33 Bet365

Draw – 5.50 Skybet

Standard Liege – 12.00 PaddyPower

SoccerBetting Value Bet: Eduardo Anytime Goalscorer – 2.10 BlueSquare