Udinese v Arsenal

Reports of Arsenal’s demise have been increasingly widespread but with the bookies making Udinese favourites to win on the night, this could be the night when Arsene Wenger can prove a few doubters wrong. The Italians currently trail 1-0, but they are 11/8 to win on the night with Victor Chandler. Perplexingly, the Serie A side are a best price of 5/2 to qualify with PaddyPower, despite their second leg favouritism and the slender deficit. The two statisitics don’t seem to entirely correlate; the only explanation would be that everyone thinks Arsenal will progress on away goals or after extra time/penalties.

I take the view that Arsenal, for all their problems, are good enough to go to Italy and win narrowly on the night. I’m attracted to the odds on a one goal margin of victory for the Gunners at 15/4 with Bet365.

After missing the defeat to Liverpool, Alex Song returns to add steel in front of the back four. Gervinho was also suspended on Saturday, but he will partner Robin van Persie who missed the first leg against the Italians. Although Laurent Koscielny will be missing, John Djourou should be fit to fill that void after a hamstring complaint. All and all, the team news is positive.

Furthermore, it’s too soon to write off a side who have reached the knockout stages of the Champions League year in, year out for many seasons. Yes, there have been struggles in the Premier League, but the standard is that much higher than Serie A can generally boast. Udinese finished fourth in that league, Arsenal were fourth in England, which frankly makes them a much better side.

Van Persie is exactly the sort of player who could be the difference between the sides on the night. The Dutch star broke a Premier League record by scoring in nine consecutive away matches to end the 2010-11 campaign. His 18 league goals from the turn of the year through to May also equalled the record held jointly by Ronaldo and Henry. For all Arsenal’s woes, they still have a world class striker who can dig them out of some tough spots. At 6/1 with VictorChandler, he is worth serious consideration to be first goalscorer at the Stadio Friuli. I also think he will be influential in securing Arsenal a victory by a one goal margin on the night, at odds of 15/4.