STAR PREVIEW: Arsenal v Dinamo Zagreb

[dropcap]C[/dropcap]ouldn’t have got last night much more wrong I’m afraid. Although, in fairness to Sunderland, they deserved their win.

Hopefully more luck in Europe, or more specifically the Emirates Stadium tonight for Arsenal’s must-win Champions League match against Dinamo Zagreb.

Star Sports have the home win priced up at 1/5 which, although understandable, is a little insulting to their rivals who beat the Gunners 2-1 in the reverse leg. Add to that Arsenal’s confidence being shaken by a defeat at the hands of West Brom in the Premier League on Saturday (despite taking the lead) and I am not sure I can be steaming in at short odds.

On the positive side for Arsenal, their rivals tonight were beaten home and away by Olympiakos and had the advantage of Olivier Giroud’s red card in the reverse match. Dinamo Zagreb have not won any of their last 11 away games in the Champions League (D2, L9) and have failed to score in eight of those games. Mind you, I seem to recall trotting out some similarly dismissive stats about Sunderland 24 hours ago 🙁

The math of Group F is straighforward(ish). Arsenal need a win but also need Olympiakos to lose to stand any chance of progression. Olympiakos play Bayern Munich – the pair are currently locked at the top on nine points each.

Arsenal maybe boosted by the return of Aaron Ramsey after a hamstring injury but will be without Francis Coquelin and Mikel Arteta who were both injured in the West Brom game. Also missing will be Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who are not match fit.

Arsenal v Dinamo Zagreb
UEFA Champions League Group Stage
19:45 BT Sport Showcase / BT Sport Europe / BT Sport Europe HD / BT Sport Ultra HD

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Maximum 10 matches)
Sep 2015 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Din Zagreb 2-1 Arsenal
Aug 2006 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Arsenal 2-1 Din Zagreb
Aug 2006 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Din Zagreb 0-3 Arsenal

It’s not a match I want to get too heavily involved in, but for something a little different I am backing 2 AND 3 match goals at 4/1 and 3/1 respectively with Star Sports.

RECOMMENDED BETS (scale of 1-50 points)

BACK 2 and 3 MATCH GOALS for 3 points each at 4/1 and 3/1 respectively with Star Sports

RETURN SINCE START OF WORLD CUP: PROFIT 85.41 POINTS

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