Monaco vs AMonaco-vs-Arsenalrsenal – Prediction

 Arsenal to win 2-1, Odds 13/10 Arsenal will have to play football out of this world if they are to overturn the 2 goal deficit against AS Monaco. They are capable of it but the question is whether they can turn up such a performance when the pressure is on them.

Monaco virtually have a 3 goal lead to protect and they know how to keep teams out and frustrate them after all it’s what they’ve been doing all season. A loss for Monaco will bring to an end their 16 game unbeaten run at home in all competitions. We expect Arsenal to show a lot of heart and fight to remain in the competition but ultimately the 2 goal deficit will prove too much for the English side.

Russo´s Picks… Arsenal to win 3-0

Our resident pro bettor Edward Russo is backing Arsenal to do the impossible. Rusi backs Arsenal to win the game 3-0. Our football experts disagree with Rusi here but with some of the sports books offering Arsenal the odds of 13/10 it may not be a bad idea. There is a high risk of not winning the bet but if you do it will pay off big, and not so often does an underdog have the chance of actually winning based on their background. Arsenal might be on a disadvantage based on one game flop but it hasn´t been flopping lately, against Manchester United they won with skill and have been on a roll since then. Will they continue to do so with Monaco? Arsenal is way a stronger club than Monaco right now, the previous game was a flop but getting Arsenal to score 3 goals more than Monaco on their turf is not that big of a feat. Ed Rusi beleive´s there is a good chance Arsenal will pull it off and the payoff is big… Didn´t Real Madrid get bashed by Schalke 04 on their home by 4 goals?

Arsenal on their day can football outta this world so if you are feeling adventurous we suggest you follow Russo’s advice.

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 Monaco

Dimitar-Berbatov

Dimitar Berbatov – The Bulgarian Striker will return to the starting line up for Monaco after being rested for Saturday’s clash with Bastia. (skysports)

Monaco come into this game on the back of a comfortable 3-0 win over Bastia in the French Ligue 1 on Saturday. The french side were clever and lethal during their first leg clash against Arsenal.

The only way Monaco won’t progress to the quarters of this years tournament is if they concede more than three goals in the 2nd leg clash at Stade Louis ll.

Monaco have turned they’r home into fortress, they’ve conceded just 7 goals at home in french league this season. A more impressive fact is that they are yet to concede at home in the Champions League this season in fact they’ve conceded just goals 2 in their 7 Champions League games so far.

Their form has been mixed since their win against Arsenal. In the four games since then they have won just twice and lost once. Two of these four games were at home and interestingly enough they didn’t concede in both those games.

Dimitar Berbatov should be back for the French side after the Bulgarian striker was rested during the weekend clash versus Bastia.

However Monaco will miss the services of Tiemoue Bakayoko, Andrea Raggia and Lacina Traore who are all out with injuries. Geoffrey Kondogbia, Yannick Ferreira-Carrasca and Jeremy Toulalan are also doubtful with injuries.

 Arsenal

Olivier-Giroud

The french striker was miserable in the 1st leg clash versus Monaco and will have a chance to make amends here (express)

Arsenal will need to score atleast 3 goals if they are to progress to the quarters and end their jinx of getting booted out of the Champions League in the round of 16’s.

They come into this match on  the back of a 3-0 win over West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday incidentally it’s by the same margin or better they need to win against Monaco if they are to go through.

Since their Champions League humiliation against AS Monaco in the 1st leg they have looked a more determined outfit winning all four matches  league and cup matches during that time.

The North London outfit are unbeaten in their 11 previous visits to France but haven’t won any of those games by more than a goal.

Arsene Wenger’s side will create history if they were to beat the French side on Tuesday, no team have overturned a 2 goal deficit in the champions league since Ajax did it way back in 1969 in the then European Cup.

Santi Cazorla will be back to the Gunners starting line-up after he was rested during their clash versus West Ham on Saturday.

Arsenal will also boosted by the returns of Gabriel Paulista and Mikel Arteta who have both returned from their respective hamstring and ankle injuries. The Gunners however will still be missing the likes of Alex Oxlade Chamberlain and Jack Wilshere.

Past Meeting

Monaco absolutely humiliated Arsenal in the first leg at the Emirates stadium. They eased to a 2-0 lead with Geoffrey Kondogbia and Dimitar Berbatov scoring in the 31st and 52nd minute respectively.

Alex Oxlade Chamberlain gave Arsenal a glimmer of hope with a goal in second half injury but Monaco restored their 2 goal lead with Yannick Ferreira Carrasco scoring in the 94th minute.

 

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