UEFA Champions League: AC Milan vs Arsenal Odds and Betting Preview

MILAN, ITALY - With the Champions League finally back underway, we get a first look at an English side in the knockout stages, with Arsenal facing a tough trip to AC Milan. Arsenal are currently occupying fourth place in the Premier League, having just got their noses in front of Chelsea, and the Gunners are in decent form, having scored eleven goals in their last three games.

The Italian champions are currently leading the way in Serie A again this season, sitting two points ahead of second placed Juventus, and the Italian side are favourites to win the match tonight, best priced at 23/20 with Stan James (bet £20 to make £23 profit). Arsenal are a top-priced 3/1 with Betvictor, and the draw is at 12/5 with Totesport.

Milan are not currently in the best of form, with only two wins in their last five games, including two disappointing losses to Lazio and Juventus. The last time these two sides met in the Champions League was in 2008, when Arsenal triumphed over the two legs thanks to a 2-0 away win, and Arsene Wenger's side would be delighted to come away with a similar result.

In the correct score market, a 1-1 draw is the favourite result, priced at 6/1 with William Hill, while a 1-0 win for Milan is at 13/2 with Blue Square. Milan are general 8/1 shots to win 2-1, and can be backed at 9/1 with William Hill to win 2-0. Arsenal are 10/1 with Coral to win the match 1-0, and a goalless draw is at the same price with Skybet. The Gunners are 12/1 with bet365 to come away with a 2-0 win, and a 2-2 draw is at 16/1 with Betvictor.

On the half time / full time market, Milan / Milan is the favourite spot, priced at 12/5 with Stan James, while draw / Milan is at a general 4/1. Draw / draw can be backed at 5/1 with Ladbrokes and Arsenal are 6/1 with Betfred to be leading at half time and full time. Draw / Arsenal is at 8/1 with Ladbrokes, and both sides are 16/1 with Skybet to be winning at half time but drawing after ninety minutes.

Arsenal will be without centre back Per Mertesacker after he picked up an ankle injury, but he could be replaced with Kieron Gibbs after his recovery from groin surgery. Milan will welcome back forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic after he served a ban, and will also be able to call on former Arsenal man Mathieu Flamini who has recovered from a knock.

Ibrahimovic is favourite to open the scoring tonight, best priced at 5/1 with Stan James, while Alexandre Pato is at 13/2 with Skybet. Robinho is at 7/1 with Stan James, who also offer the same price about Arsenal's bang-in-form frontman Robin van Persie. Thierry Henry will be playing his last match in his loan spell tonight, and the Frenchman is a 10/1 shot to end his spell in the perfect way by scoring first.

Despite being fairly comfortable favourites to win this leg, Milan just shade favouritism to qualify from the tie, priced at 10/11 with Ladbrokes. Arsenal are at evens with Betvictor to make the quarter-finals. Neither team is particularly well fancied to lift the trophy however, with both sides available at 25/1 with Sportingbet to win.

The match kicks off at 1945, and will be live on ITV1.

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