Champions League betting tips: Arsenal vs PSV Eindhoven

IMAGO PSV star Ivan Perisic on the ball as Arsenal's Leandro Trossard defends — *IMAGO* PSV star Ivan Perisic on the ball as Arsenal's Leandro Trossard defends

Arsenal state of play

Arsenal’s rather weak push for the Premier League essentially came to an end on Sunday, with them drawing away to Manchester United, leaving them 15 points behind league leaders Liverpool. Even with a game in hand, such a mountain looks far too steep for Mikel Arteta’s men to climb.

Therefore, the remainder of the season is pretty much all about the Champions League.

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Can the Gunners go all the way in Europe? It’s certainly not out of the question, and as everything they touched turned to gold in Eindhoven last week, they’re already in the final eight.

You can read quick-fire Arsenal vs PSV tips and betting predictions of all eight matches via our Champions League last 16 betting preview - will Liverpool have it easier against Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield?

PSV Eindhoven state of play

Having edged their way beyond Juventus in the play-off round, the men from Eindhoven would’ve surely fancied themselves to do the business at home against Arsenal last week, though they sadly failed to deliver in that sense.

Perhaps they were complacent after triumphing against the Old Lady, because they certainly didn’t compete like a team ready to go far in this competition, losing by seven goals to one in front of a shocked home crowd.

Last Wednesday’s Dutch visitors bounced back with a league win at the weekend, but will that pave the way for them to turn things around here? Definitely not.

The best they can hope for is to perform with more credit than last week, which, let’s face it, shouldn’t be that hard.

Key talking point: Aggregate score favours a lack of goals

Having smashed their opponents to pieces away from home in the first leg, scoring seven goals on their way to what was a hugely convincing win against a team that folded rather tamely, it would be easy to assume that another glut of Arsenal goals is on the way.

However, the job is done for Mikel Arteta, who will almost certainly rest key players here. I mean, why not take advantage of what is a fine opportunity to preserve the fitness of important personnel at this stage of the campaign?

What’s more, the visitors aren’t exactly going to head to the Emirates Stadium with their sights set on turning this one around. It’s done and dusted, so they, too, may be looking to leave something in the tank ahead of more important tasks.

In other words, we really shouldn’t expect to see two teams going all guns blazing, given the wholly pointless nature of this second leg. So don’t be too surprised if, in terms of goals, we see the opposite of what happened last week.

FIRST’s top tip for Arsenal vs PSV

Under 2.5 Goals - 6/5 (BetMGM)

Let’s face it, there’s really no need for either team to give this their all, so we do have a set-up that favours a relatively low-soring affair.

Both are expected to rest key players, while the tie is completely over as a contest, and I’m not entirely sure that the early market reflects that accurately enough.

Extra tips

Noah Lang over 0.5 shots on target - 31/20 (BetMGM)

If plumping for a lack of goals doesn’t excite you, then take a punt on visiting forward Noah Lang to register at least one shot on target.

Lang looks likely to start this game, especially with Ricardo Pepi and Mallik Tilman out, while he’s not exactly unfamiliar with testing opposition keepers, hitting the target five times in his last four games, including twice against Juventus in this competition.

Team news

Arsenal will be without Gariel Jesus, who is carrying a knee injury, while Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka both continue to be sidelined. Takehiro Tomiyasu is another home-team absentee.

Mallik Tilman is not yet ready to return for PSV, nor is Ricardo Pepi. Fode Fofana remains out, while there are doubts over the fitness of Wessel Kuhn too.