Champions League Betting: Arsenal v Celtic

Champions League / Feizal Rahman / 25 August 2009 / Leave a Comment

William Gallas is in a rich vein of goalscoring form and may be worth considering in the "to score" market for tonight's match against Celtic.

This will be Arsenal's fourth successive season that they've had to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League but each time they have passed the test with consummate ease, winning all six previous qualifying fixtures, home and away

Arsenal take what should be an unassailable 2-0 lead into the second-leg of this tie and will look to transfer their super Premier League form into this match. Talking you through everything you need to know about the game is Feizal Rahmann....

Were this current Celtic side to be part of the English Premier League, then perhaps their odds of winning at Arsenal on Wednesday night give us some idea of where they might finish in the table. At [11.0] to win over 90 minutes, with the Gunners around [1.35], the Glasgow giants are not expected to fare much better than a Championship-standard outfit battling relegation.

With a formidable home record in Europe and the vociferous Parkhead support behind them, the Bhoys had aimed to give Arsenal a torrid time in last Tuesday night's first leg encounter but, for all their efforts, they were undone by two very fortuitous away goals. Regardless, the chasm in class was plain to see but stronger sides have travelled to Celtic Park and come away with nothing, which suggests that this particular collective, now managed by Tony Mowbray, is one on the wane rather than ascendency.

Overhauling a 2-0 deficit against a top Premier League side is by no means an impossible task but with Arsenal as short as [1.01] to qualify, the market suggests it's literally a one in a hundred shot and you have to wonder whether Celtic themselves believe they have any greater chance than that. Mowbray's tactical dilemma then will be whether to send his team out gung-ho style to attack from the outset and risk being hit on the counter or simply sit back and look to frustrate the home side, hoping for a similar slice of luck that their opponents received last week.

An early goal for the visitors would certainly make things interesting with Arsenal's mental fortitude yet to be tested this season (First Goal between 0-10 mins and 11-20 mins both around [4.5]). But Celtic's record on the road in European competition can give their manager little comfort, with the away win at Dynamo Moscow in the previous round their first in 23 attempts dating back to August 2003.

This will be Arsenal's fourth successive season that they've had to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League but each time they have passed the test with consummate ease, winning all six previous qualifying fixtures, home and away. It took six games and a rampant Manchester United before the Gunners conceded a single goal at the Emirates in last season's competition and that defeat to the Premier League champions remains their only European loss at their new home.

Both sides go into this fixture on the back of high-scoring league wins at the weekend and, as a consequence, Over 2.5 goals is trading at just [1.74] while Over 3.5 goals is available at [2.96]. Celtic eased past St. Johnstone 5-2, with a brace from new signing Marc-Antoine Fortune, who played half of last season under Mowbray at West Brom.

The French-Guyanan (likely to be around [5.0] to score anytime) is sure to retain his place up front alongside Australian international Scott McDonald, though Cameroonian midfielder, Landry N'Guemo misses out owing to suspension. Tricky left-winger, Aiden McGeady, has drawn attention from Arsenal's North London rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, over recent weeks and along with former Aston Villa attacker Shaun Maloney will provide the main creative threat for Celtic should they see enough of the ball.

Arsenal, meanwhile, cruised to a 4-1 victory over a hapless Portsmouth on Saturday but paid a hefty price with an injury picked up to captain Cesc Fabregas - who is almost certain to join Theo Walcott, Tomas Rosicky and Samir Nasri on the sideline. Aaron Ramsey, who scored the fourth against Pompey is likely to be drafted in to replace the diminutive Spaniard but manager Arsene Wenger may choose to shuffle his starting eleven around more extensively to keep his key personnel fresh at the beginning of what has already been a fixture-packed season.

Robin van Persie - who netted five times in the Champions League last term - hasn't executed any of Arsenal's 12 competitive goals so far this season though is still likely to be favourite to open the scoring at around [6.0]. But considering that only one of those Arsenal finishes has come from the boot of a striker, better value may be had with midfielder, Abou Diaby (around [15.0] to be first goalscorer), whose surging runs against Portsmouth on Saturday resulted in two strikes to his name.

Should Arsenal be forced to play on the break in the early stages of this game, then the athleticism of the Frenchman may be a potent weapon on the counter-attack once again. Compatriot William Gallas, meanwhile, has scored in all three appearances this season and having popped up with three Champions League goals last season, can be backed at around [8.0] to score anytime.

In terms of a spectacle, one sincerely hopes Celtic can provide for an evenly-matched contest but it's prohibitive seeing past another comfortable Arsenal victory. Yet, with one eye on the weekend's Premier League clash with Manchester United, the Gunners may take their foot off the gas should they go on to hold a lead and this could let Celtic in to nick what would be a mere consolation goal.

The correct score market has a 2-1 Arsenal win trading at around [10.0], with a more comprehensive 3-1 home victory backable at [13.0]. The home side can also be taken to win the half time/full time result at a shade under even money [1.97].

Best Bets:

Arsenal HT/FT @ [1.97]
Over 3.5 Goals @ [2.96]
William Gallas to score anytime @ around [8.0]