Arsenal kicked off a great seven-day run with a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby on Sunday, but there are still two crucial games ahead for the Gunners in the coming days.
First up is a trip to Atalanta in the Champions League, but a clash with Manchester City looms over the weekend.
Will the Gunners be left looking ahead in Bergamo on Thursday afternoon?
Champions League: Arsenal vs. Atalanta, odds, prediction
Sometimes it’s almost detrimental to take a step back and look at the bigger picture when handicapping football matches, but in this case, it seems like a good idea to take into account this tricky time in Arsenal’s calendar.
Not only are the Gunners coming off an emotional win over their bitter rivals, but Mikel Arteta will have to keep his side’s game with Manchester City in mind as he prepares for their match against Atalanta on Thursday.
Of course, Arsenal will want to start the game with a Champions League win, but it is only the first of eight games and it is not a must-win scenario by any means, so getting out of Bergamo in one piece is vital for Arteta.
With that in mind, it’s fair to expect Arsenal, a team that values control above all else, to do everything in their power to keep this match orderly and predictable.
That won’t exactly fit with the way Atalanta want to play, but Arsenal are one of the best teams in the world at controlling the tempo of a game, so it will be difficult for the home side to make this game more open and chaotic.
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The contrast in styles, the schedule and the fact that both clubs are missing key attacking players make for a tight and low-level contest.
That gives value to the draw, and a pinch to finish 0-0 at +1300 isn’t a bad idea either.
The Bet: Tie (+280, DraftKings)
Why trust the New York Post’s bets?
Michael Leboff places bets on the English Premier League, NHL, golf and any other sport that is not the NFL or NBA for the NY Post. He has won 49.73 units betting on the English Premier League with a ROI of 7.17%.
