The UEFA Europa League reaches the Round of 16 this Thursday, March 8th, 2018, and the most interesting match is certainly between AC Milan and Arsenal at San Siro in Milan, as two clubs with a great heritage will fight for the place in the Quarter-Finals. The hosts are +110 favorites to win the first leg, while the bookies fancy the visitors to win the matchup at -138, as Arsenal is a strong team, and they will surely have something to say in this clash, so the football fans can expect a tremendous battle at San Siro this Thursday.
AC Milan vs. Arsenal
3-Way: 1: AC Milan +110; X: +240 Draw; 2: Arsenal +240 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -0.5: AC Milan +105; Arsenal -130
Total +2.5: Over -112; Under -112
AC MILAN
Rossoneri are playing in a great form in the last couple of months, as they are undefeated for 13 matches in a row in all competitions, recording eight wins and five draws in the process with an 18:4 goal difference. They’ve managed to keep the clean sheet in the previous six games, and it seems like the manager Gennaro Gattuso is slowly building up his team’s form since he took the helm. Gattuso was a real fighter in his playing days, so he surely wants from his boys to play in the same manner, as a potential Europa League success could open the Champions League door for Rossoneri who are currently in the seventh spot of the Italian Serie A table, eight points behind Lazio in the fourth spot which leads to the Champions League next season.
AC Milan has easily beaten Bulgarian side Ludogorets 4-0 on aggregate in the previous round of the UEFA Europa League, winning both legs, 3-0 at Razgrad, and 1-0 in front of the home fans. The 20-year old promising striker Patrick Cutrone has bagged the opening goal in the first leg against Ludogorets, and he is the team’s leading scorer this season with 14 goals in 33 matches, while the forwards Andre Silva and Suso both added eight goals each so far. Suso is the team’s top assist-maker with 11 dishes in 36 appearances, and a playmaker Hakan Calhanoglu is right behind him with eight dishes in 32 matches this season. Gennaro Gattuso doesn’t have serious injury worries ahead of the clash with Arsenal, but the experienced full-back Ignazio Abate will probably miss the first leg due to a muscle injury.
ARSENAL
The Gunners are struggling throughout the season, as they are in the sixth spot of the English Premier League table at the moment, 13 points behind Tottenham in the fourth spot which leads to the UEFA Champions League next season, so it seems like they can reach the Champions League only through the UEFA Europa League. First, they will need to beat AC Milan, but the Gunners are playing in a terrible form recently, losing four consecutive matches in all competitions, against Ostersunds 2-1, Manchester City 3-0 twice, and Brighton 2-1, while they’ve also lost four out of their last five Premier League tilts. The manager Arsene Wenger is having massive problems to set his team in motion, and the new arrivals are still adapting to the team’s style of play.
Arsenal has beaten Swedish side Ostersunds 4-2 on aggregate in the previous round of the UEFA Europa League, winning 3-0 on the road, and upsetting the fans with a 2-1 defeat in the second leg at Emirates Stadium, as the visitors had a two-goal lead after just 23 minutes in the first half. For the clash with AC Milan, Arsene Wenger will have certain issues to field his best eleven, as the team’s leading scorer Alexandre Lacazette (nine goals in 29 apps) is out due to an arthroscopy, while the striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (two goals in five games) is still settling after he arrived from Borussia Dortmund this January. Likewise, the defender Nacho Monreal is recovering from the wound, and he is listed as doubtful for the first leg. The 27-year old forward Danny Welbeck, who scored five goals in 28 appearances thus far, will probably lead the frontline, while Mesut Ozil (five goals and seven assists in 27 matches) and Henrikh Mkhitaryan (five dishes in seven apps) will orchestrate the Gunners’ play.
Betting Trends and Match Prediction
- AC Milan is unbeaten for 13 matches in a row overall
- AC Milan won five out of the last six games, keeping the clean sheet on all six occasions
- AC Milan conceded just once in the previous five tilts at home
- Arsenal lost four matches in a row overall
- Arsenal lost four out of their last five away games
- Arsenal won just two out of their last ten matches away from home
The bookmakers favor AC Milan in this match for a reason, as they are playing in a much better form than their rivals from London, while Arsenal is having huge problems with their defensive work and injured players. However, this is probably the best opportunity for both teams to play on the highest level next season (the winner of the Europa League will qualify for the Champions League), so the stake will be huge, and we’ll see which team will stand the pressure. Arsene Wenger is an experienced tactician, so don’t underestimate the Gunners in this one.
MY PICK: Draw (+240)
