Free Europa League betting tips: Preview of BATE Borisov v Arsenal and Everton v Apollon Limassol
David John has some anytime goalscorer advice for Arsenal's trip to BATE Borisov in the Europa League on Thursday with tips at 3/1 and 8/1.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is cutting a more content figure with a couple of decent results under his belt but he is getting his excuses in early ahead of their next challenge against BATE Borisov on Thursday.
After beating West Brom 2-0 on Monday night, it is a very quick turnaround for the 2,400-mile round trip to Belarus before facing Brighton at 1200 BST on Sunday, a schedule which Wenger has labelled "cruel".
We will find out then whether a team that has never been the most physically robust can suck it up in eastern Europe as punters will be hoping their undoubted additional class will make the difference at prohibitive-looking win odds of 1/2.
Whilst belly-aching about why his team have been forced to play late Monday rather than switch back to the Sunday slot, Wenger also said his squad had "room to be different" which suggests some shuffling of the pack while the Frenchman decides whether this competition is worth some effort or is just a troublesome distraction.
That could mean a further chance for peripheral figure Jack Wilshere to catch the gaffer’s eye after a sound cameo display in the 3-1 victory against Cologne but the two players who do interest me in this one are Alex Iwobi and Mohamed Elneny.
The former has been challenged by Wenger to stake a more permanent claim for a berth in the first team. After a very bright start to his Arsenal career, the Nigerian seems to have reached a little bit of a crossroads.
Iwobi needs to deliver more both in terms of assists and goals from his attacking-midfield position and he certainly looks capable of having more to give judged on a very good performance in the battling 0-0 draw at Chelsea.
Perhaps Wenger going public about that extra push required from Iwobi can inspire the 21-year-old to start delivering on a more consistent basis, starting here with a contribution in the anytime scorer market at 3/1.
Elneny has raised his own game so far this season and put in an excellent shift against the Baggies. He will play more of an anchor role in the centre of a park but his energetic demeanour might not stop him roaming forward and is also worth a dart at 8/1 for a goal at some stage.
Arsenal’s revival since the international break has been built on a four victories at the Emirates Stadium but their away record still reads loss, loss and draw.
They were more the part at Stamford Bridge and take on a Belarusian outfit that has only lost once at home all season – a campaign that is now 23 matches down the road due to its usual early start.
They have been rather dismissed in the betting at 13/2 and warmed up with a 6-0 drubbing of FC Slutsk at the weekend but I think the visitors have some goals in them with the two mentioned above well worth an investment as potential sources.
While Arsenal dust off their passports, Goodison Park is the venue in the next chapter of the Everton revival story as they play host to Cypriots Apollon Limassol.
Ronald Koeman and his side hit rock-bottom in a dreadful 3-0 reverse at Atalanta in the first round of group fixtures but back-to-back victories against Sunderland and Bournemouth have given the Dutchman some much-needed breathing space.
Alas, both those displays were to a decent extent inspired by striker Oumar Niasse being tentatively welcomed back into the fold but his absence from the Europa League squad leaves Koeman without an in-form player capable of turning the course of a game.
You won’t get any bigger than 30/100 for the hosts to pick up three points and defender Ashley Williams made a very valid point earlier in the week in terms of how important it is for the Toffees to keep up the momentum as any confidence being built remains very fragile.
A very limited knowledge when it comes to the visitors outside of the fact they have drawn a lot of matches lately, including a last-gasp leveller at home to Lyon in this competition, leads me to leave this one well alone when it comes to suggesting a bet.
Recommended bet
1pt Alex Iwobi to score anytime v BATE Borisov at 3/1
1pt Mohamed Elneny to score anytime v BATE Borisov at 8/1
Click here for our transparent tipping record.
Posted at 1325 BST on 27/09/17.