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Arsenal v Valencia Betting Tips: Will Gunners make home advantage count?

| 02.05.2019
SPORTSBOOK ODDS

Odds and preview for Europa League semi-final

After their recent slip, the Europa League may be Arsenal’s best hope of securing Champions League football next season.

The Gunners face Valencia in the semi-final first leg tonight, having been knocked out at this stage by Atletico Madrid last term.

Unai Emery has masterminded three Europa League triumphs at previous clubs. He’ll know that his side’s inconsistent away form makes it vital that they get a win tonight.

It gets underway at 8:00pm on BT Sport 2 and we’ll help you warm up with all the pre-match odds…

Head-to-Head  

These sides have met five times before, with two wins for Valencia, one for Arsenal, and two 0-0 draws.

Arsenal have lost on both of their previous visits to the Mestalla, which makes a positive result tonight all the more necessary.

Likely XIs

Arsenal v Valencia teams

Arsenal: Cech; Sokratis, Koscielny, Monreal; Maitland-Niles, Xhaka, Torreira, Kolasinac; Ozil; Lacazette, Aubameyang

Valencia: Neto; Wass, Garay, Palista, Gaya; Torres, Soler, Parejo, Guedes; Gameiro, Moreno

Aaron Ramsey’s injury has prematurely ended his season, and his Arsenal career, which is a huge blow for Emery. Mesut Ozil should return in midfield, with the Gunners’ star strikers ahead of him.

Nacho Monreal could also come back into the central defensive trio, with Sead Kolasinac and Ainsley Maitland-Niles in the wing-back spots.

Former Arsenal man Francis Coquelin is suspended for the visitors, but Gabriel Paulista will make his Emirates return alongside Ezequiel Garay in defence.

Carlos Soler and Dani Parejo offer guile in midfield, with Goncalo Guedes a real threat in wide areas.

Key Battles

Without Ramsey, Arsenal will need a big display from Ozil. Valencia don’t have the most robust midfield, so there should be space for the World Cup winner to exploit.

Emery will also want to see a big defensive improvement. The Gunners have conceded three goals in each of their last three games.

They’ll need to watch Valencia’s front two carefully. Rodrigo Moreno in particular could cause problems with his runs in behind.

Maitland-Niles also has a crucial match-up against Guedes. The lively winger looks to drift inside and get into scoring positions. The Arsenal youngster will have to keep track of him.

Match Odds

Arsenal tend to win when they’re at home and we make them 19/20 favourites on the night and 4/6 to qualify.

Valencia are 3/1 here, but they can’t be counted out at 11/10 to reach the final. There’s 5/2 about the scores finishing level after 90 minutes at the Emirates.

Given Arsenal’s recent defensive record, Arsenal and Both Teams to Score is a 3/1 shot.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is 10/3 to grab the first goal, with Alexandre Lacazette at 13/10. The duo are 13/10 and 17/10 respectively to score anytime.

Parejo has nine league goals for Valencia this term and is their likeliest scorer at 11/4. Moreno stands at 16/5, with Guedes going for 9/2.

View the latest Arsenal v Valencia odds.

Big match previews, betting tips and transfer news – Coral has it all.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing

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Author

Daniel Anwar

Daniel has written about sport for Coral, Squawka, FourFourTwo and the Premier League, among others.