It's semi finals week in the Uefa Champions League and on Tuesday night Arsenal have home advantage for the first leg of their match up with PSG.
Odds quoted from Sportingbet are correct at the time of writing but subject to change.
Arsenal
Arsenal came through the quarter finals with a 5-1 aggregate victory over Real Madrid. They took control with a 3-0 win in the first leg in London (Declan Rice 2 and Mikel Moreno) and although Saka missed a penalty early in the return he opened the scoring in the second half and after Real equalised a late Martinelli goal made it 2-1 on the night.
Arsenal's 7-1 win away from home in the first leg of the Ro16 match up with PSV put the tie to bed and the return finished 2-2 on the night and the Gunners sailed through. Arsenal finished third in the league phase, winning 6, drawing 1 and losing 1 of their matches and they won all 4 home games without conceding. One of those home wins came against PSG with Havertz and Saka on target in a 2-0 Arsenal victory.
In the EPL Liverpool sealed the title at the weekend, Arsenal are in second place5 points clear of third placed Newcastle with Man City, Chelsea, Forest and possibly Villaalso looking for a top 5 finish and UCL football next season.
PSG
PSG also met English opposition in the quarter finals and their match up with Aston Villa was a cracker. They won the first leg in Paris 3-1 with goals from Doué. Kvaratskhelia and Nuno Medes. They were 2-0 and seemingly coasting less than half an hour into the return at Villa Park but a terrific fightback saw Villa eventually win 3-2 on the night and PSG had to withstand tremendous pressure.
PSG were involved in another titanic battle in the Round of 16. Their clash with Liverpool went all the way to penalty kicks with Liverpool winning 1-0 in Paris and PSG were 1-0 winners in the second leg at Anfield before holding their nerve in the shoot out. PSG had looked in trouble at one stage in the league phase but they rallied to finish 14th with a record of 4 wins, 1 draw and 3 defeats. They won each of their last 3 in the new format to set up a play off with Brest. That proved to be the most one sided of match ups with PSG winning 10-0 on aggregate.
PSG are 20 points clear at the top of Ligue 1, they have already clinched the title and had looked likely to go through the domestic league unbeaten until they tripped up 3-1 at home to Nice at the weekend.
The Betting
Arsenal are 11/10 to win the first leg with the draw at 24/10 and PSG are also 24/10.
A game of 3 goals or more is 17/20 and its 8/11 for both teams to score.
To qualify for the final Arsenal are even money and 5/2 to go on and lift the trophy
PSG are 15/20 to reach the final and 24/10 to win the UCL outright
The Verdict
PSG are in much better form now than they were when they came to the Emirates in the league phase and lost 2-0. However Arsenal's better displays this season have largely been seen in the UCL where home form is rock solid.
In the EPL the Gunners have led and finished all square too often this season and I can see that scenario happening here. I'm going to have a nibble at Arsenal to lead at half time and the game to finish all square.
Bets: HT/FT Arsenal/Draw at 11.5/1 with Sportingbet
Note, prices quoted are subject to change
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