The UK and Russia may not be the best of friends right now, but the world of sport continues unaffected.
CSKA Moscow will visit The Emirates on Thursday in the first leg of the quarter-finals of the Europa League Cup. The return leg will be played in Moscow a week later.
Much has been made of the fact that this is now Arsenal’s best hope of qualifying for the Champions League next year, which devalues the competition immensely. The Europa League may not have the prestige of the Champions League, but it is a European trophy in its own right.
Arsene Wenger has yet to win a European cup with Arsenal, and despite the considerable problems he has faced all year, this piece of silverware would surely go some way to making amends.
Speculation about the future of the Frenchman continues to grow and there’s a general feeling that come what may this will be his last season in the dugout. How dearly would he love to finish on a high?
If that is to happen there are some fairly stern challenges ahead, not least in the in the form of CSKA Moscow.
The Russian club has long associations with the Russian military, being known as the “Red Army” team during the Soviet era. There might be a major battle ahead for the London outfit, but Arsenal will have little intention of being out-gunned on home turf.
William Hill have priced Arsenal at 4/11, CSKA Moskva at 7/1 and the draw at 7/2.
Europa League Record
Of the two teams, Arsenal have the more impressive record in the Europa League competition this season. Out of a total of 10 matches played, they have won 7, drawn 1 and lost 2 with the losses coming against Koln and Ostersunds FK.
Arsenal’s biggest victory in the tournament thus far was against BATE when they put 6 past the Belarusian side to no reply. Arsenal also looked convincing enough in two encounters with Milan.
CSKA Moscow took the ridiculous parachute route into the Europa League, qualifying for the competition by virtue of not playing well in the Champions League and being knocked out of the competition. In the previous competition they won 3 and lost 3. In the Europa League they have won 2, lost 1 and managed 1 draw.
Arsenal last six Europa League
Koln 1-0 Arsenal
Arsenal 6-0 BATE
Ostersunds FK 0-3 Arsenal
Arsenal 1-2 Ostersunds FK
Milan 0-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 3-1 Milan
CSKA Moscow last six Europa League
CSKA Moscow 2-0 Benfica (Champions League)
Man Utd 2-1 CSKA Moscow (Champions League)
Crvena Zvezda 0-0 CSKA Moscow
CSKA Moscow 1-0 Crvena Zvezda
CSKA Moscow 0-1 Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais 2-3 CSKA Moskva
Goalscorers
Now that Alexandre Lacazette has returned from injury, Arsenal have more options up front. Certainly, the Frenchman made a big difference in the Easter Sunday 3-0 victory against Stoke. Lacazette scored one from the penalty spot while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang got a double.
In any case if Lacazette can stay fit he should play on Thursday and is priced 10/3 for the first goal and EVS for any time. Danny Welbeck is priced the same, but a back injury may keep him out.
For a value bet, Mesut Ozil is priced at 13/2 as first goalscorer and 21/10 for any time. Ozil has just been declared the most creative player in Premier League history, taking only 141 games to reach 50 assists. By comparison Eric Cantona took 143 games, Dennis Bergkamp 146, David Silva 166 and David Beckham 170.
Not only is Ozil one of the most creative players ever to grace English football, he is dangerous in front of goal as well and could grab himself something against the Moscow side.
For CSKA, the main strike threats are in the form of Vitinho 10/1 for the first goal and 3/1 any time and Ahmed Musa 11/1 first goal and 10/3 any time.
Arsenal to win: There’s little doubt that Arsenal have been the more consistent of the sides going into this tie and should have the skill and firepower to defeat CSKA Moscow at home. The Russian side don’t travel well and having already been knocked out of one European competition it’s past overdue for them to go home and stay home.
