Arsenal (-1) to beat BATE – 11/10
Unfortunately for Gooners, Thursday nights are no longer Spursday nights. Now, the same Arsenal supporters who mocked Tottenham for their almost laughably frequent participation in the Europa League must face the reality of watching Arsenal ply their trade against the likes of BATE and Crvena Zvezda.
Still, the possibility of witnessing Arsenal in action in quarter-finals or semi-finals against clubs whose names appear to have come via the imagination of a 1980s D&D Dungeonmaster is at least something different for fans of Arsène Wenger’s side. Who knows, they might even win the whole thi – ahahaha, no, I can’t, sorry.
Against their Belorussian opposition tonight, you’d expect Arsenal to give the kids a run-out, but at home that should still be enough to see off BATE with relative ease. Players such as Eddie Nketiah, Reiss Nelson and Jeff Reine-Adelaide have been growing in stature, and are due an impressive performance in Europe. With progression already sealed, this could be the night.
Arsenal at a (-1) handicap holds the value here.
Everton (away) to beat Apollon Limassol – 13/5
Yes, we have seen how sh*t Everton have been this year. Yes, we know they only have one point from their first five Europa League group games. But haven’t you heard? BIG SAM IS HERE.
Ok, so he won’t actually be there in Cyprus, as a result of a prior appointment, but it’s certain that the Everton players will be Doing It For Big Sam tonight.
Besides, Apollon are rubbish. They’ve only been marginally better than the Toffees in the competition so far – and you suspect they might well be more than capable of going down by a few goals against the English side.
At 13/5, the value is on backing Everton to salvage some pride in Europe.
Odds correct at time of posting
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