UEFA Europa League Preview – Arsenal vs BATE Borisov/Chelsea vs Malmo, Thursday 21st February 2019

After their lifeless loss in Belarus, can Arsenal best BATE Borisov and reach the Europa League last-16?

The Gunners have lost their way in the last couple of months. Since their unbeaten streak was broken at Southampton in mid-December, whatever fragile confidence they had built up has dissipated entirely, with the period that followed seeing losses against Tottenham, Liverpool, West Ham, Man City and Man United.

Worst of all was the corpselike display put on last Thursday, a 1-0 defeat to a BATE side that hadn’t played competitively for 2 months, one capped off with the ignominy of a late red card for Alexandre Lacazette.

Now, a one goal deficit is more of a hill than a mountain to climb, and, on paper at least, Arsenal are the better side. However, it would be very on-brand for the club to exit at this stage, and without Lacazette they are going to be reliant on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who, despite sitting at a colossal Super Mega PGM of 101-121, has seen his hot run of form peter out in 2019.

Nevertheless, Unai Emery made his name in this competition, and Spreadex are offering an Arsenal/BATE Borisov Goal Supremacy spread of 2.45-2.65, alongside a Total Goals spread of 3.65-3.85 and a Bookings spread of 42-46.

Barely clinging onto his job, will Maurizio Sarri at least be able to shepherd Chelsea into the next round with a result against Malmo? Having looked like title contenders for a while there, the Blues have had a miserable time of it in 2019, losing 5 out of their last 12 games, including that 6-0 spanking at Man City and an FA Cup-exiting defeat at home to Man United.

Even with an EFL Cup final this Sunday, Sarri is hanging on by the skin of his teeth, and failure on Thursday night would likely be enough for him to get the chop. At least Chelsea have the upper hand over their visitors, beating them 2-1 in Sweden in the 1st leg.

With that trip to Wembley this weekend, the London club won’t want to overexert themselves. Still, Spreadex are offering a Chelsea/Malmo Goal Supremacy spread of 1.6-1.8 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.9-3.1.