Arsenal v Montpellier: Attacking stars set to dazzle

The French visitors may already be out of this competition but are good enough to contribute to an entertaining game, writes James Eastham.

Arsenal v Montpellier, 19:45 KO, Live on Sky Sports 4, Match Odds: Arsenal 1.35, Montpellier 11.5, The Draw 5.8.

 

At this stage of the Champions League, motivation becomes a major consideration in many games, and that's certainly the case when Arsenal host Montpellier at the  Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night.

 

The Gunners will go through to the knockout phase if they win, whereas the visiting French champions are already out of the competition. Montpellier could still claim  a place in the Europa League, but it's a stretch - to do so they would have to win both remaining games and hope Olympiacos lose both of theirs.

 

Given Montpellier have collected only one point from four games when there was everything to play for it would be asking a lot for them to get a point in north London  against highly-motivated hosts. The longer-term European stats suggest it will be too tall an order for Rene Girard's visitors - they have won just one of their last  12 European games, losing seven, while Arsenal have an excellent home record, having kept clean sheets in 16 of their last 30 Champions League matches (stats courtesy  of Opta).

 

While Montpellier's overall points tally may be unimpressive, anybody who watched their performances will have noted they have the ability to trouble all teams they  have faced. Their two defeats against Olympiacos will be a source of frustration for many months to come. In the first meeting, at home, Montpellier dominated for 70  minutes only to concede two late goals to lose 2-1. They were outclassed in the second encounter (a 3-1 defeat), but it would have been different if they had gone into  that second game confident after winning the first clash.

 

Arsenal fans will also remember the tough time Montpellier gave the Gunners at Stade de la Mosson on matchday 1. The hosts lost 2-1 but deserved at least a point from  a stirring second-half performance. The other thing to note about Montpellier is that, while they may have lost three of four games, they have scored in all four  matches.

 

All of which points you towards the smartest wager on this match. While Arsenal are a short 1.34 to win, and odds-on 1.5 at -1.0 on the Asian Handicap (with  this bet you would get your stakes back if Arsenal win by a single goal and make a profit if they win by two or more), backing both teams to score could prove more  profitable.

 

The stats show Montpellier have the ability to find the net, and their finest attacking individuals - playmaker Younes Belhanda, France U21 star Remi Cabella and the  increasingly impressive Gaetan Charbonnier, a €1.5m summer signing from Ligue 2 Angers - will want to impress against this most French of Premier League clubs. Then  there's Arsenal's defensive record - they have conceded in 14 of their last 15 games in all competitions.

 

Best Bet

'Yes' in Both Teams to Score? market @ 1.92

 

Bet HERE !

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