Ludogorets v Arsenal Betting Tips

Much like Basel v PSG, this match is important for both teams despite their vastly different aims.

Ludogorets are no doubt the minnows of this group yet, thanks to a good draw against Europa League contenders FC Basel on match-day one, the Bulgarians have a half decent chance of securing third spot in Group A. However, after losing their last two matches by an aggregate score of 8-1, goal difference is not on their side and they will be hoping PSG can do a job on Basel and hope that they can play for damage limitation against Arsenal on Tuesday.

If PSG win against Basel then Ludogorets will feel quietly confident of sneaking into that third spot if they can beat the Swiss side in Bulgaria in the penultimate group fixture. A match in which they have achieved victory before back in 2014.

Like Basel, it is impossible to predict how Ludogorets will do in the Champions League based on their league form due to the disparity in opposition when playing in Bulgaria. When they come into Champions League fixtures they know it will take an immense amount of luck to see themselves earn a point, never mind a win.

As previously mentioned, this match will surely be a case of damage limitation for Georgi Dermendzhiev’s men but, they have taken points off some of the bigger teams in the past so who knows.

Arsenal have been on an excellent run all season and have not lost a match in any competition since the opening day defeat against Liverpool. Whilst they were incredibly lucky to take a point back from Paris on Champions League match-day one, it is those sorts of results that could see them progress as the seeded team from Group A.

Last time out they battered this week’s opponents Ludogorets by a 6-0 scoreline. I imagine they will be aiming to do a similar job on the Bulgarians in Razgrad as they look to increase their overall goal difference in the group in case they fail to win their home match against PSG in the penultimate fixture.

The Gunners had a pretty poor away record in the Premier League towards the back end of last season with just two wins in 10 matches on the road. However, they have been superb away from the Emirates Stadium so far this year, especially in their last five league matches where they have picked up maximum points. They will expect to continue this impressive run against Ludogorets on Tuesday.

With this being such a one-sided match, it is somewhat difficult to find any realistic value on the market. Of course you really can only look at the pro-Arsenal bets as anything against them would be rather foolhardy.

Firstly, ‘Arsenal to Score Over 2.5 Goals’, at 11/10, is hard to avoid. The gunners have been in fine scoring form of late and it shouldn’t take too much of an effort for them to put three goals past a side who they scored six against just a fortnight ago.

With the Gunners likely to find the back of the net numerous times, you can really pick and choose on the goalscorer options offered, however, I have gone with ‘Alexis Sanchez & Mesut Ozil to Score Anytime’ at a more-than trebling 18/5.

Both of these players scored in the 6-0 routing of Ludogorets in the last Champions League match, with Ozil netting a hat trick. These two are probably the only world class players that Arsenal have and they should really come to the fore against inferior opposition.

Chilean international Sanchez scored two in Arsenal’s last game against Sunderland and also scored the equaliser in that vital 1-1 draw away at PSG.

Despite being known as the ‘King of Assists’, Ozil is partial to a goal or two himself, particularly against lesser opposition and I expect him to get on the score-sheet here. At 18/5, the pair are too hard to resist.

See more Champions League tips here.