Arsenal v Dinamo Zagreb Betting Tip Over 3.5 goals, 2015-11-24

Goals should be present at the Emirates

Champions League Tips

Tuesday 24th November Kickoff: 1945hrs
Arsenal v Dinamo Zagreb
Football – Europe – Champions League

With just two games to go in the Champions League group stage, things are beginning to heat up and the pressure is building on some big clubs as they look to qualify for the last-16. One of the clubs in massive danger of failing to reach that stage is Arsenal, who currently sit on three points after their four games. Anything less than a win against Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday and the Gunners will miss out on reaching the knockout stage for the first time in 13 seasons.

Defeats to Dinamo, in Zagreb, and at home to Olympiakos, got Arsenal’s Champions League campaign off to the worst possible start and left them with a mountain to climb in the back-to-back games with Bayern Munich. To their credit, Arsene Wenger’s men negotiated the first of those challenges when winning 2-0 at the Emirates, but Arsenal were unable to follow that up and lost the return match in Munich, heavily, going down 5-1. It now means that they have to win at home to Dinamo and in Greece to have any chance of qualifying.

Following that surprising win over Arsenal on match day one, Zagreb would have been hoping it was a sign of things to come and that they could possibly mount a challenge for one of the two qualification places. Unfortunately, that’s not been the case and those three points remain the only thing they have to show thus far. Defeat away to Bayern Munich was probably to be expected but being unable to take anything from the double header against Olympiakos (losing out by a one goal margin in both) would have been disappointing. Third place looks the best they can hope for now and even that looks a remote possibility.

It’s no secret that injuries have started to take their toll on Arsenal over the last month or so, and that’s something that appears unlikely to stop anytime soon. Francis Coquelin, who has been so important in that defensive midfield role, will be out for at least two months after picking up an injury in the defeat to West Brom. He joins the likes of Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the sidelines. Wenger will be pleased that Aaron Ramsey is nearing a return as he is becoming stretched in the middle of the park.

Dinamo have been at the centre of a lot of controversy over the past few days after it was revealed that Arijan Ademi failed a drug test after the 2-1 over Arsenal in September. Ademi has been handed a four-year ban from football but UEFA stopped short of overturning the result despite Arsenal’s protestations. Wenger has already commented on this, as you would expect, claiming the European Governing body is basically condoning doping in the sport. There’s no doubt Dinamo have benefited from one of their players breaks the rules but if Arsenal do not qualify for the knockout stage, they will only have themselves to blame.

Arsenal v Dinamo Zagreb Betting Tips

Arsenal could run out comfortable winners here and still be eliminated from this year’s Champions League if Olympiakos can take a point from their clash with Bayern in Germany. That may well be a tall order for the Greeks, and the more likely scenario is for Group F to go down to the final game in Athens when Arsenal make that journey in a fortnight’s time.

In order to take it to the last game the Gunners will have to do something they have not managed since 2010, and that’s win consecutive home games in the Champions League group stage. It is an incredible statistic but one that highlights the struggles Arsenal have had at this level. They come into this game having managed only one win in their last five games in all competitions. It is no coincidence that it has came at the same time as injuries have began to mount up – but they need to find a way to win this game.

Zagreb may consider themselves slightly unfortunate not to have taken something from the games against Olympiakos but they may well just be a spent force approaching the final two games in this group. Arsenal may be short on some midfielders but they have the likes of Oliver Giroud and Alexis Sanchez who will be smarting from recent disappointments, both at home and in Europe. With a constant supply from Mesut Ozil and Santiago Cazorla, the home side can get the better of their guests and run out convincing winners. Olympiakos, Monaco, Anderlecht and Galatasaray have all scored on their trips to the Emirates over the last year or so, and Zagreb will feel they can cause some problems of their own. Rather than side with over 2.5 Arsenal team goals, take the better odds on over 3.5 goals in total.

Over 3.5 goals 23/20 @ Betvictor