Arsenal v SC Braga Champions League Betting Preview, Odds & Tips

Arsenal v SC Braga Betting Odds

Arsenal to win: 2/7 at Bet365
Draw: 9/2 at Totesport
SC Braga to win: 12/1 at Victor Chandler

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Arsenal v SC Braga Betting Statistics

• Arsenal have a 100% win percentage at home this season
• SC Braga have a 0% win percentage away from home this season
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• Arsenal Champions League Record (including qualification matches): P139 W67 D35 L37
• SC Braga Champions League Record (including qualification matches): P4 W3 D0 L1
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• Arsenal have scored 10 goals, and conceded just 1 at home this season
• SC Braga have scored 2 and conceded 3 goals in their away matches this season
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• Arsenal 2010/11 Season Form: DWWW
• SC Braga 2010/11 Season Form: WDWL

Arsenal v SC Braga Betting and Match Preview:

Just an interesting fact for this one, although it has no bearings on the match or football betting, but Braga are otherwise known as the Arsenalistas. Why? Because their kit resembles that of the Gunners (and the president deliberately changed their kit to resemble Arsenal’s after seeing how cool the Gunners looked). So there you go. That’s as far as the similarities go though as there is yawning gap in quality between the two sides. Arsenal have a good Champions league history, and are respected amongst Europe’s elite, while Braga are relatively unknown to the major powers in the tournament. For your Champions League Betting on this one, naturally the strong instinct is to go with Arsenal, and it is hard to see anything other than a good home win happening. Therefore, even though the price isn’t too tempting on Arsenal because they are strong favourites for the match, take some time at your online bookmaker to find some good submarket betting, such as Winning Margin, Anytime Goalscorer, Asian Handicap betting or Half Time/Full Time bets. There are plenty more options on the Gunners than just the fixed odds outright such as Marouane Chamakh Anytime Scorer for 11/10 at Boylesports.

Arsenal v SC Braga Betting Tip: Arsenal to win by two goals 3/1 at Bet365

Arsenal Betting:

The Gunners will be missing both Theo Walcott and Robin Van Persie from the start of their Champions League campaign this year. Boss Arsene Wenger saw Walcott pick up an ankle injury while on international duty with England, while star striker Van Persie will probably miss the first two group matches after picking up an ankle injury as well. Those are big blows to Arsenal, as they look to improve on last year’s Champions League run, where they lost 6-3 on aggregate to Barcelona in the quarter finals. Arsenal are always good for a bet in the Champions League, especially at home. Their brand of football is perfectly suited for European competition, as they can keep the ball patiently and knock it around the park with ease. They will be welcoming this first test against newcomers Braga from Portugal, as it is the perfect opportunity to get maximum points in the bag safely from the start. Arsenal have received a good draw in the group stage, being drawn alongside Braga, Shakhtar Donetsk and Partizan Belgrade. You wouldn’t expect too many problems from any of those to one of England’s top sides. Arsenal are unbeaten in the early stages of the Premier League so far, winning three and drawing one of their matches. Once again though, they are showing that they know where the goal is, having scored thirteen times in those four matches. What Arsene Wenger has done, is add a little reinforcement at the back, where they looked shaky at times last season, having to rely upon Sol Campbell for more work than was probably ideal. Wenger has drafted in Laurent Koscielny and Sebastien Squillaci to strengthen things a little bit, but it is always the midfield and attack which impress so much about Arsenal. They know how to break teams down with creative endeavour and this is the ideal game in which they should stretch their legs. They won four of their six group matches last time, and that included tricky away ties. They have good experience and should be a sure fire bet for the last 16 at the very least. If they can get through these early tests without Van Persie, then they will be all the much stronger for it come the business end of the tournament. They still don’t have the top quality goalkeeper which they need, especially in the latter stages of the tournament, but that won’t come into play just yet. There is still plenty of attacking power to call upon, in Andrei Arshavin, Marouane Chamakh and Nicklas Bendtner. Arsenal will be alright on the night, and expect something of an exhibition match, especially as the second half wears on, as the Gunners run out comfortable winners.

SC Braga Betting:

The Portuguese club are one of five making their Champions League debuts this year. This is the side who knocked out Scotland’s Celtic in the qualification round so impressively, as well as Sevilla, with the latter triumph being very impressive. So they will take on Arsenal in their first ever Champions League proper match, and they will rely on the speedy Brazilian striker Matheus to cause the Arsenal back line some problem. He scored against Celtic and Sevilla to fire Braga into the group stage and will be the one to look to, if there is a crucial goal to be grabbed. After finishing second in the Portugal Liga last year, which was their best ever finish, Braga have started strongly again, winning two, drawing one and losing one of their opening four matches. To be fair, Braga probably will be one of the stronger new faces on the block, and Arsenal will just have to show a little bit of caution, because after coming through their qualification test against Sevilla, who are a great Spanish side, Braga will be confident. If this fixture was at home for the Portuguese then you would probably look at them a bit stronger to raise their game and nick a draw or something. But not at the Emirates where Arsenal are so strong on European nights. Braga will get their chances in the group, just not here.

Arsenal v SC Braga Football Betting Prediction: Home win