PSV and the Draw
Cody Gakpo to Score Anytime
Over 1.5 First Half Goals
Fabio Vieira to Have 1 or More Shots on Target
*A Bet Builder with these bets pays at approximately 21/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
Thursday 6pm: Arsenal v PSV
TV: BT Sport 1 and BT Sport Ultimate
PSV and the Draw
Arsenal are passing every test put to them so far. And thankfully, they actually won at the weekend despite not playing well. This is a sign of a side who are able to grind out results and not be dependent on style points for them to win games.
Just as well given some of the clobber Mikel Arteta walks around in. But for the first time this season, it felt like they were a tad leggy. You see, it’s often a trade-off. Can they go at that pace mentally for that long?
PSV are in flying form in the league and they’ve been doing it at half-pace – it’s actually a bit like Arsenal. And those results have made their way into European action, too.
Arsenal will continue to rotate because it now feels like a policy, and with an away game on Sunday, it almost feels necessary – as much as Arteta might want to shake up the different XIs to remove any level of comfort the first team might be feeling.
PSV are not only putting it up to Ajax, they’ve scored more goals than the Dutch league leaders – and they’ve not had a side this energetic in a long time. I’ll take PSV and the Draw Double Chance.
Cody Gakpo to Score Anytime
And speaking of energy, the next big purchase that a European powerhouse will make will be this lad, Cody Gakpo. Gakpo is an enigma because he’s quick, strong, is six-foot-two and he’s ferocious in front of goal. It’s very hard to know how to play him.
He’s also quite good on his weak side. Not only has he netted three times in the Europa League so far, he’s notched 13 times in 16 Eredivisie games, too. How do you stop him? Well, ehh – it’s a fair question that I don’t think Arsenal will have an answer to. Cody Gakpo to Score Anytime is next.
Over 1.5 First Half Goals
In each of Arsenal’s last eight wins, they’ve scored in the first half. There’s a trend to how they play. However, it’s very difficult to be that open and not be caught by the one of the quickest counter-attacking sides in Europe.
Arsenal may have to adjust mid-game here, and I suspect that’s because the landscape of the match will be different by half-time with Over 1.5 First Half Goals.
Fabio Vieira to Have 1 or More Shots on Target
One of the shining lights in the Europa League for Arsenal has been Fabio Vieira. The summer signing from Porto looks set to be a top prospect and he’s shown his class in Europe’s second-tier competition. He scored in the 3-0 win over Bodo Glimt and should get another start here.
He’s currently ticking along at 1.4 shots on target per 90 minutes played with 50% of his efforts testing the keeper. With the prospect of a full 90 on offer here I think we’ll see Fabio Vieira to Have 1 or More Shots on Target.
Arsenal v PSV betting
PSV and the Draw
Cody Gakpo to Score Anytime
Over 1.5 First Half Goals
Fabio Vieira to Have 1 or More Shots on Target
*An accumulator with these bets pays at approximately 21/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
*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
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