Arsenal On Track To Raise A Cup

Let’s be clear, being in the hunt for the third position in the Premier League and a spot in the Champions League with two weeks to go would make any team happy. Unfortunately for Arsenal and Chelsea, they aren’t just any team. With stacked rosters and high expectations year after year, these two Premier League powerhouses have fallen short yet again in their hunt for a league title, not to mention the FA Cup and not even qualifying for this year’s Champions League competition. So being able to lift the Europa League Cup would fill a big void in the hearts of the supporters for both of these teams, and lift just a little bit of the pressure off of Maurizio Sarri and Unai Emery.

Today we’ll focus on Arsenal vs Valencia to break down how both teams stack up against each other and how oddsmakers see the two legs going down.

Arsenal

Oh, Arsenal. Every year, we think, you know what, this is the year! This is the year they’re going to put everything together, and all those years of getting oh, so close will finally be rewarded. Alas, alongside Andy Carroll getting injured and Sam Allardyce somehow getting another managing position, one of the yearly rights of the Premier League is Arsenal disappointment, and this year was no exception. (And look! Big Sam may be back too!) But thanks to Emery mastery of the Europa League (as manager of Sevilla, he won it three times), they are in position to put the frustration of the league behind them and focus on some hardware.

Despite their recent form in the Premier League (they looked listless and bored on Saturday at Leicester, making it 4 losses in the past 5 league games) the Red Devils are favored to take the series against a strong team from Valencia. Why? Because, for some reason, all the strengths that make Arsenal look so good on paper, but never materialize when they’re playing in England, somehow reappear in Europa League matches. 

Alexandre Lacazette, who has been pedestrian at best in the past month against teams like Everton, Crystal Palace, and Wolves, played like a man possessed against Napoli, continually pressuring a stout defense, and rocketing a free kick into the net for the decisive away goal to seal the series. His partner up front, Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang has been equally as effective. Laurent Koscielny has led a stout defensive side that, so far, hasn’t allowed opponents to establish any rhythm, forcing the game to be played primarily in the opposite end.

Whether it’s the pressure of a two game series, or the different strategies that are involved in playing knock-out games, Arsenal under Emery look like a different team during the week than they do on the weekend. Will this work against Valencia? As a successful veteran of not only Europa League competition, but also of Spanish League football, Emery has a few tricks up his sleeve. But will it work against a new opponent? Let’s look at who he’s up against.

Valencia

Plainly stated, Valencia have had an Arsenal-like season in La Liga: maddeningly inconsistent, occasionally brilliant, and overall, frustratingly average. The beginning of their season seemed to be one draw after another (as it stands, they lead the league with 16 ties, one away from a league record), until they seemed to finally discover their form in the new year, and, as of today, have only lost 7 times in league play. But, much like their next opponent, disappointing losses to average to below-average teams have kept them from challenging for the top of the table, leaving them looking to the Europa League as a way to make this season memorable.

Their series against Villareal in the quarterfinal felt like a mirror of their entire season, as they came out flat, but put it all together late, with two goals in stoppage time in a 3-1 away win, while putting together a complete game in the home match, winning 2-0. Captain Dani Parejo and forward Goncalo Guedes, who’s late season surge has included two braces in the past 4 games, lead a solid attack, while the back line has helped keep 18 clean sheets this season over all competitions. 

Betting Thoughts

This should be a fun matchup, with Emery looking to continue his mastery of Europa League play against his old team. Arsenal are favored slightly, and having the first match at home helps set the tone for the series. Aside from the match results, there are some fun wagers to place for the entire series as well, including bets on correct scores, halftime scores, goal-scorers, and every variation of total goals. Enjoy the series, and enjoy your winning.