12 Jun 2019
This is a huge week for Arsenal. Saturday’s north London derby draw against Tottenham, whilst a good point that could so easily have been turned into three, was welcome, but it meant they slipped out of the Premier League top four.
Manchester United leapt above the Gunners into the Champions League qualification places and Arsenal face United on Sunday at the Emirates in a clash that could determine both teams’ top-four fate. It is worth noting that fifth-placed Arsenal are now out to 15/8 for a top four finish, while United are in to 11/10. Chelsea, who are a point behind Arsenal and two behind United in sixth, but with a game in hand on both, are 4/5 to finish in the top four.
But first, the Gunners must travel to France to face Rennes in the first leg of their Europa League last 16 tie.
Rennes currently sit 10th in Ligue 1, but the appointment of Julien Stephan, who replaced struggling Sabri Lamouchi, has seen a major upturn in their fortunes.
The French side disposed of Real Betis in the Round of 32, drawing 3-3 at home, before producing one of the shocks of the competition when going to southern Spain for the second leg and coming away with a 3-1 victory.
They are yet to lose a home game since the managerial change and have won nine of their 12, with three draws on their own patch. They have scored at least twice in nine of those games.
Rennes are on offer at 13/5 to win the first leg and 80/1 to win the Europa League.
Arsenal will be on their guard, having lost the first leg of their last-32 game away 1-0 at BATE, but the Gunners will have plenty of support following their confident display at Wembley on Saturday and are available at 21/20 to beat Le Rouges et Noir on their own ground. The draw is on offer at 12/5.
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Rennes will be without suspended right-back Haman Traore, although midfielder Benjamin Andre returns from a ban.
The Genting Casino Europa League odds have Arsenal at 5/1 third favourites to win the competition behind Napoli and Chelsea, but the Gunners will miss Alexandre Lacazette, who remains suspended in Europe. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang should therefore lead the line and he is 11/10 to score at any time and 10/3 to score the first goal.
With Lucas Torreira suspended domestically, the midfielder will likely start in the centre. The Gunners will not be at full strength, though, as Hector Bellerin (knee), Danny Welbeck (ankle) and Rob Holding (knee) are still sidelined.
Mesut Ozil could start, having only made the bench at Tottenham and he is 10/3 to score at any time.
RESTED RENNES OFFER VALUE?
Rennes have been excellent at home and they are rested after the postponement of their Ligue 1 clash with Nimes. No doubt Arsenal won’t thank the French authorities for making that decision.
And the hosts will not go into this tie with any fear, having seen off Betis in style.
Unai Emery’s side may well progress to the quarter-finals over two legs, but it must be remembered that the Gunners have won just two of their last 10 away games in all competitions and it is no surprise to see them as big as 23/10 to emulate Tottenham’s feat in Dortmund on Tuesday by winning to nil.
Rennes are a free-scoring side, with plenty of creative midfielders such as Hatem Ben Arfa and tricky wide man Ismaila Sarr. They also boast a useful striker and excellent link-up man in Adrien Hanou, who has scored three goals in his last five appearances. Hanou is 4/1 to score at any time and 11/1 to score the first goal.
Yet the hosts are not great defensively and five of their last nine games in all competitions produced three goals or more. That was the same case in six of their last 10 home games. The Genting Casino football odds have both teams to score at 8/11 and over 2.5 total goals at 17/20.
Arsenal have looked very sharp on the counter-attack at times this season and have the pace to trouble the home side, but this looks a tough call for punters.
Goals look set to flow and some may find value in either backing Rennes to either win or draw the match on the Double Chance market at odds of 7/10 or both teams to score and either team to win at 8/5.
For all the odds on this big game, click here.
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