After an uncharacteristic tie against Dutch club
AZ Alkmaar,
Arsenal will be looking to win this return match convincingly at the Emirates Stadium. The last time these teams met on Dutch soil and
Arsenal looked to have it in the bag before
Mendes Da Silva scored in the 90' to make the final score 1-1.
Arsenal are only 1 point clear of
Olympiakos in Group H and with a win here against
Alkmaar, they will have advanced to the knockout stages in good position. This should not be too difficult as their home form in the Champions League has been near-perfect (4-1-0).
Arsene Wenger should start a strong lineup with the likes of
Robin Van Persie and
Andrei Arshavin starting up front. Coming off a 3-0 derby win against
Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend has spirits soaring, and the team will be ready to replicate this feat on Wednesday.
AZ Alkmaar, despite being huge underdogs, are remaining optimistic.
"It's going to be very difficult in London. We still have a chance to get a result there, however, and we will certainly work hard," said AZ striker Mounir El Hamdaoui. He went on to say that
"You learn to play for the whole 90 or 93 minutes. You have to concentrate because one chance or one mistake can lead to a goal against you or a goal for you - that's what we have learned." AZ are 3rd in Group H with 2 points. A win here would put them just 1 point behind 2nd placed
Olympiakos and they may have a chance at qualifying for the knockout stages that are due to start in February. After winning the Eredivisie last year they have gotten off to a slower start and are currently placed 7th. The manager will surely have the weekend match against top club
Feyenoord in the back of his mind as he makes his squad selection.
Arsenal are huge favorites here and the odds reflect that. It wouldn't be prudent to take them on an Asian Handicap or 1x2 because of the unpredictability of how
AZ will perform. However, do expect that many goals will be scored by a talented
Arsenal team (and maybe by
AZ), and betting on over 2.5 is a safe bet.
Arsenal vs. AZ Alkmaar
Wednesday October 4, 2009
Kickoff: 20:45 CET
Tip: Over 2.5
Best Odds: 1.55 @ Expekt
