Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid Prediction, Betting Tips and Preview

Arsenal take on Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Europa League semi final on Thursday. Read the match predictions to find out why we make Arsenal the football betting tip to beat Atletico Madrid at the Emirates.

Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid Preview

Arsene Wenger announced he will retire at the end of the season and the Europa league is the last chance for the Frenchman to bow out of management with a trophy.

He’ll have to do it without the services of Arsenal’s record signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as the 28-year-old striker is ineligible to play in the competition. His mantle falls to Alexandre Lacazette who has scored twice in two appearances in the competition and has netted 13 times in 20 league appearances since signing for the Gunners in the summer.

The former Lyon striker will have assistance from Danny Welbeck who is expected to retain his place in the side. Jack Wilshere is struggling for fitness after missing the last two games and with Mohamed Elneny picking up an injury on Sunday, Ainsley Maitland-Niles is on standby to make his first appearance in the competition. Petr Cech is hopeful of recovering from a knock which kept him out at the weekend and Mesut Ozil is hopeful of a recovering fr the illness which kept him out of action against West Ham.  

Diego Costa has missed the last three games and his absence has been reflected in poor results for Atletico. It’s unlikely the former Chelsea striker will recover in tone for the first leg and Kevin Gameiro, who has score two in two in the Europa League, will partner leading scorer Antoine Griezmann.

Diego Simeone is expected to call on Sime Vrsaljko to replace the injured Juanfran at right back, while Thomas Partey could be given the nod ahead of Gabi in midfield. Diego Godin and Koke were rested for the 0-0 draw against Real Betis at the weekend and will return to the lineup at the Emirates.

Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid Betting Tips

• Arsenal have won 7 drawn 1 and lost 2 of their last 10 matches
• Atletico Madrid have won 5 drawn 2 and lost 3 of their last 10 matches
• Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Arsenal have scored an average of 2.6 goals and conceded an average of 1.1 goals per game
• Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Atletico Madrid have scored an average of 1.6 goals and conceded an average of 0.8 goals per game
• There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 9 of Arsenal’s previous 10 matches
• There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 5 of Atletico Madrid’s previous 10 matches

Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid Prediction

Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat at Newcastle nine days ago was their first in seven matches which included six wins and a draw in all competitions. The Gunners bounced back with an emphatic 4-1 win against West Ham on Sunday and go into the Europa League semi final first leg showing their best form of the season.

They’ve breezed through this competition and, save for a half-hearted display in the dead rubber against Ostersunds, have been solid at home. The came from behind to beat Milan 3-1 at the Emirates in the last-16 and had wrapped up the 4-1 home victory against CSKA Moscow before half time in the quarter final.

Atletico’s recent form has been patchy to say the least. They’ve only won one of the last five games in all competitions and have lost three of the last four away games, laying a draw in the other.

Arsenal have scored in each of their last ten games and Aubameyang’s stand in, Lacazette has hit three in the last games to ensure the goals have kept flowing.

Griezmann and Gameiro have found chances hard to come by recently with Atletico failing to score three of the last four games. Simeone’s game plan will be to frustrate Arsenal and opportunities may be limited again for the attacking duo.

Arsenal 4-2-3-1 formation: Cech; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Ramsey, Xhaka; Welbeck, Wilshere, Ozil; Lacazette

Atletico Madrid 4-4-2 formation: Oblak; Vrsaljko, Savic, Godin, Hernandez; Correa, Partey, Saul, Koke; Gameiro, Griezmann

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