Andy's Wednesday tips - Arsenal will draw
I've spoken before about how Arsenal's win over Shakhtar Donetsk a couple of weeks ago was one of the most one-sided contests I've seen in a while, not just in terms of the scoreline but the way the game was played. Whether it was that Shakhtar were intimidated by the atmosphere, got their team selection or tactics wrong on the night or just never got going, I don't know. But I do know they can't possibly play as badly as they did then, nor do I expect them to, as the home side.
Then there's the small matter of Arsenal being effectively through already and with matches coming thick and fast in several competitions we may see an Arsenal team more similar to the one that played Newcastle in the Carling Cup than the one who left it so very late against West Ham in the league. That could mean starts for the likes of Nicklas Bendtner, Theo Walcott and Tomas Rosicky.
I've already said that Shakhtar's performance at the Emirates must be put down to a one-off anomaly because they're a good side who not so long ago were winning the UEFA Cup. With the hosts desperate to make amends and the Gunners seeing this match as more of an inconvenience in tough conditions than anything, I think they'll share the points this time.
Over in Milan, that winning machine called Real Madrid are in town. Real are one of the teams with a 100 per cent record in this competition so far and Jose Mourinho will be keen to keep that record intact. We know from his time at Chelsea and Inter that he doesn't really believe in squad rotation and that his tried and tested players don't often get a rest, so don't be too surprised if we see a starting eleven that's very close to his best, even though this is a match they don't really need to win.
That man Cristiano Ronaldo is in ridiculous goalscoring form, grabbing just the six goals in his last two league matches, so to say AC Milan's defence have their work cut out is a bit of an understatement. I'm backing Real to win once again.
Recommended Bets:
Back Shakhtar Donetsk and Arsenal to draw at [3.4]
Back Shakhtar Donetsk and Arsenal to draw 1-1 at [8.0]
Back Real Madrid to beat AC Milan at [2.46]
Back over 2.5 goals at the San Siro at [2.0]
Andy Gray is now on Twitter so follow him for his exclusive tips and his take on the biggest stories in football each week.
Published: 3 Nov 2010
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