Arsenal host Atletico Madrid later this evening in a blockbuster Champions League clash.
It is a meeting between two of the biggest clubs in the world, and two of the finest managers in Mikel Arteta and Diego Simeone.
The Emirates Stadium is the stage for a potential Champions League classic, and below we have previewed the exciting contest in full, providing you with some sports betting tips featuring the latest football odds.
Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid Preview
Arsenal really are a team in form right now, with three consecutive Premier League wins over Newcastle (1-2), West Ham (2-0) and Fulham (0-1) seeing them open up a three-point gap at the top of the table.
The Gunners have conceded only three times in the English top flight thus far, and David Raya is yet to be beaten in this competition.
Arsenal beat Athletic Bilbao 2-0 away from home on Matchday 1, before defeating Olympiacos by the same scoreline at the Emirates.
However, Arteta will know that this match is the biggest European test of the season so far, with Atleti claiming a 5-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on Matchday 2.
Simeone’s side also famously beat Real Madrid 5-2 at the Wanda Metropolitano last month, though the goals have dried up of late.
A 1-1 draw at Celta Vigo was followed by last Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Osasuna, with Thiago Almada scoring the only goal of the game.
This will be the first contest between these two sides in the Champions League, though the pair did meet in the semi-finals of the 2017-18 Europa League.
The match at the Emirates finished 1-1 following a late equaliser from Antoine Griezmann, with Atletico winning 1-0 at home and reaching the final.
Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid Odds
*All odds are subject to change
Arsenal are the big favourites here at a price of 1.61. A win for Atletico is at odds of 5.40, while the draw is 4.10.
Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid Betting Tips
Julian Alvarez to have over 0.5 shots on target @ 1.80
Yes, we know Arsenal are the masters of shutting down an opponent’s forward line, but it is still a tad surprising to see how the good the odds are here. After all, Alvarez has registered 14 shots on target in nine La Liga appearances this season, an average of 1.8 per match. He has also scored seven goals across all competitions!
Riccardo Calafiori to have over 1.5 shots @ 3.00
Playing almost a free role at times, Calafiori has been a standout performer for Arsenal this season, and his unpredictability from the left could be key to unlocking Atletico’s defence. Furthermore, the Italian has taken 16 shots on goal in the Premier League this season at a rate of two per game.
Half-time/Full-time – Draw/Arsenal @ 3.47
We would be a little bit shocked to see anything close to an open game in the first half, but expect things to improve in the second period. And with a home crowd cheering them on, as well as squad depth to be envied, Arsenal should have just enough to make it three wins from three in the Champions League.
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