Arsenal vs. FC Zurich Betting Tips: Gunners bid win Group A

Arsenal go looking for the important win that will secure top spot in Group A when they host FC Zurich at the Emirates on Thursday night.  

We previous the clash, and provide two tips...

Arsenal have already confirmed a top-two finish and lead the way at the top of Group A with 12 points from five matches. However, their perfect record in the Europa League was punctured last week by PSV, whose 2-0 win ensured the battle for top spot - and automatic progression through to the knockout stages - goes into the final gameweek.

Simply put, a win at home to rock-bottom FC Zurich will guarantee the prized 1st spot for Mikel Arteta’s men, who have won 14 of their 17 matches in all competitions so far this season, which includes 12 points from a possible 15 so far in Europe.

Arsenal can afford to draw, or even lose, should PSV fail to beat Bodo/Glimt in Norway. If PSV win and Arsenal draw then the clubs will both finish on 13 points, but it’s the Dutch side who would then progress through as winners due to their superior head-to-head goal difference record across the two games against Arsenal.

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Despite suffering a rare defeat last week, Arsenal will be expected to bounce back on Thursday, with a win priced at just 1/9. 

Zurich are unable to finish in the top two but they can still prolong their European journey in the form of the Europa Conference League knockout round play-offs should they win (19/1) and Bodø/Glimt fail to beat PSV. 

Alternatively, if Zurich draw (8/1) and Bodø/Glimt lose it will come down to goal difference in regards to which team will finish 3rd.

Arsenal are averaging 16.6 shots per game in the Europa League season, second only to Man Utd.

Back on home soil, The Gunners will be expected to dominate possession and launch wave after wave of attacks as they bid to bag the win that will confirm their spot in the last-16.

With this in mind, I like the look of their opponents, FC Zurich, to have over 10.5 goals kicks which is priced at 4/5 with bet365.

In Arsenal's five Europa League matches so far their opponents' goal-kick counts have been 12, 9, 14, 14 and 12, clearing this line four times.

Arsenal youngster Reiss Nelson should be confident of a start following his superb performance off the bench in the 5-0 rout of Nottingham Forest last weekend.

The 22-year-old, who replaced the injured Bukayo Saka during the first-half, scored twice and set up another as the Gunners returned to the top of the Premier League table.

Nelson, along with the rest of Arsenal's attacking assemble, will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing a Zurich defence that's conceded 15 goals in five group stage games.

Arsenal have won all eight of their home matches this term, averaging 2.75 goals per game, while Zurich's matches have averaged four goals per game.

As a result, I'm taking the 14/5 for Nelson to score anytime with over 3.5 goals in the game.