Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

The end of an era is looming large at The Emirates, with Arsene Wenger announcing his intention to leave Arsenal at the end of the season after a 22 year stint at the club. The fans may have been clamouring for his exit for the past few seasons, but now he has made his intentions clear they are sure to get behind the Frenchman for his remaining month in charge.

The players are getting behind him too, as they showed at the weekend with a 4-1 hammering of West Ham at The Emirates. This was the perfect response to their defeat at Newcastle the weekend before, and it will put them in high spirits ahead of this crucial tie on Thursday.

The Gunners’ race for a top four finish is all but over now. They are 11 points adrift of their North London rivals Tottenham in 4th, and with just 12 games left to play and Chelsea sitting between the sides it would take a miracle for them to make it to the top four. However, a win in the Europa League would see them return to the Champions League next season, and picking up this trophy at the first time of asking would be a fitting way for Wenger to depart.

Atletico Madrid are continental football specialists though, although admittedly they haven’t had the best of seasons. They shockingly went out in the group stages of the Champions League, but Diego Simeone is definitely taking the Europa League seriously.

The La Liga giants may be 2nd in the table and still in with a slim chance of lifting their domestic title, but their recent form isn’t overly promising for them. They have won just one of their last five games in all competitions, losing twice. One of these defeats was in the second leg of their quarter final tie with Sporting Lisbon, so Arsenal will feel they have a decent chance here.

Despite Atletico Madrid often being seen as a rather defensive side, we’re not expecting any clean sheets here. Arsenal’s defence is a much maligned outfit, and the fact they have conceded in 12 of their last 14 competitive games shows that the criticism is justified. They have scored in 12 of these games though, and now face a visiting side who have conceded in each of their last eight trips away.

Atletico Madrid have scored in nine of their 12 trips away in 2018 though, so we think backing Both Teams to Score offers a lot of value here along with a 2-1 win for the hosts.