A splendid performance in the mid-week fixture gave Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal a thumping victory in their first ever game against Bulgarian opponents in the Champions League. The Gunners have been in sublime form early this season and are in the middle of a 6-match winning streak in the Premier League. They will look to make it 7 when they face Aitor Karanka’s Middlesbrough side this weekend. The visitors are fresh from a loss to Watford and will have to work really hard to take anything from this game.
Here is the preview of this clash along with the team news, predicted line-ups, stats and betting odds.
22nd of October, 2016. KO: 7:30 pm BST
The Emirates Stadium, London.
Arsene Wenger will miss the services of midfielder Granit Xhaka, who is serving a ban for the red card he picked up against Swansea. However, Francis Coquelin is expected to start in the midfield for the Gunners for this game. Per Mertesacker, Danny Welbeck and Chuba Akpom are all sidelined while Aaron Ramsey and Carl Jenkinson are not fit enough to start this game.
Karanka might miss the likes of Grant Leadbitter, James Husband and Fabio for this trip to London. The trio are nursing injuries ahead of this game and will undergo late scans to prove their fitness. Defender Calum Chambers is ineligible to play this game against his parent club and is the only other player missing for the visitors.
Cech; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Cazorla; Iwobi, Ozil, Walcott; Alexis
Valdes; Barragan, Ayala, Gibson, Friend; Forshaw, Roon; Traore, Ramirez, Downing; Negredo
The German international has been in sublime form in this season and is fresh from the first hat trick of his career. He will play a decent role for the side in this game against Boro and will be up against Daniel Ayala who has not had too much of game time this season. He will have to be at his best to stop Ozil and give his team a shot at even a point from this game.
Key Stats:
Arsenal: 1/4
Draw: 19/4
Middlesbrough: 11/1
Playing at home and with their current form, Arsenal are firm favorites to take all three points from this game but Karanka’s side have been decent at times this season and will put in a tough fight on the night.
Our Prediction: Arsenal 3-1 Middlesbrough
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