Football Tips: Goals on the menu in our 3 best bets for Villarreal v Arsenal

* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

Villarreal welcome Arsenal to the Estadio de la Ceramica on Thursday night for the first leg of their Europa League semi final tie. Neither side are in the greatest of form with just two wins apiece over their last five matches but a place in the final should see both upping their game here.

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Interestingly, the furthest Villarreal have gone in European competition was a Champions League semi final appearance in 2006, Arsenal were 0-1 winners on aggregate then, can the Gunners do it again? More importantly though, let’s find the three best bets for this Europa League semi final.

Both Teams to Score

Villarreal’s home form is a wee bit better than their overall form having won three of their last five, losing the other two. Both Teams to Score landed in four of those matches. Indeed, Both Teams To Score has landed in 11 of their last 12 fixtures at home. Arsenal have won two, drawn two and lost one of their last five, however, their away form is very strong of late, winning four of their last six and drawing two.

Thursday 8pm: Villarreal v Arsenal
BT Sport 3

Both Teams To Score landed in four of their last six on their travels and the Gunners themselves have been in fine goal-scoring form on the road, netting a very healthy 17 over those six away matches. Villarreal have scored eight over their last five at home and of their six home Europa League matches this season they scored at least two in all of them. First to make the list here is Both Teams to Score.

Over 2.5 Goals

Over their six home Europa League matches so far, Over 2.5 goals has landed in five of Villarreal’s games. Arsenal share the same record over their six away matches in the competition. Villarreal have a pretty decent scoring record at home in La Liga this season, averaging 1.38 goals per game while Arsenal have been averaging 1.56 goals in their away Premier League matches.

Looking at Villarreal’s home matches, Overs has landed in four of their last five at the Estadio de la Ceramica and looking at Arsenal’s most recent away matches, Overs has occurred in five of their last six on their travels. We’re getting a decent price here with all those stats taken into consideration, we’re backing Over 2.5 Goals.

Arsenal to Score Over 1.5 Goals

Arsenal have scored at least two goals in five of their last six away matches and have also scored at least two in five of their six away matches in the Europa League. Villarreal are never going to win any awards for the way they defend, they’ve kept just one clean sheet over their 12 most recent matches at home and have conceded two in three of their last six.

Again, we’re getting some good value odds here and with Arsenal’s record on the road we’re backing the Gunners to get two or more on Thursday night in Spain.