Arsenal v Rapid Vienna Bet Builder – Brett Curtis with Europa League Predictions
Arsenal host Rapid Vienna in the Europa League on Thursday in a 8pm kick-off at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners have already progressed to the knockout stages with two games to spare, and will wrap up top spot in Group B should they avoid defeat on Thursday.
The Austrian outfit, meanwhile, are level on points with Molde, who host Dundalk in the other match in the group. Should the Norwegian side win as expected, Rapid Vienna will have to beat Molde in their final match of the group to join Arsenal in the knockout stages.
Arsenal are 2/5 to beat Rapid Vienna, with the draw 17/4 and an away win 11/2.
Mikel Arteta will almost certainly heavily rotate his side ahead of the north London derby against Tottenham on Sunday.
That could mean starts for Alexandre Lacazette, Eddie Nketiah, Reiss Nelson and Nicolas Pepe, who is currently serving a domestic suspension, in attack.
That front line is surely still one of the stronger ones in this season’s competition, and should be enough to score at least once against a Rapid Vienna side who have conceded in all four group stage matches this season.
All four of Arsenal’s matches in this competition have seen three or more goals scored at either end, meanwhile, with three of Vienna’s four passing this mark.
As such, I am going to add Over 1 Goals for Both Teams Combined and back Arsenal on the double chance market. This way we are covered by a score draw in case a weakened Arsenal side does not win, especially as they are not in any great need of one.
A draw may suit Vienna, too, as it would guarantee a win against Molde on the final matchday being enough to progress regardless of how the Norwegians fare against Dundalk.
The Austrians, meanwhile, have picked up 11 yellow cards in four matches, and are likely to be scrappy once again with any result they can get in London helping their cause in terms of progressing.
Referee Radu Petrescu averages over 5 cards per game in Romania, but this figure does drop to 3.25 in his 8 career Europa League matches.
The Romanian has presided over three this season, interestingly showing the away side two or more cards in each of them. Adding Over 1 Card for Rapid Vienna takes our Bet Builder to an even-money shot:
In terms of player cards, Maximilian Hoffman looks a great price at 5/2 (bet365). The central defender was booked at the weekend for the fifth time in nine domestic matches this season, while he picked up three yellow cards in only four matches in this competition in the 2018/19 season. His potential direct opponent Lacazette is often regularly fouled, too.
Filip Stojkovic would definitely appeal at 11/4 (Sky Bet), but he is one booking away from being suspended in the crucial clash with Molde next week so may be on his best behaviour.
Lacazette looks huge odds to be booked himself at 7/1 (Betfair), having already picked up one yellow card in his two matches in this competition this season. The Arsenal striker is averaging 1.7 fouls per game this season and is often a gnarly character, with Betfair’s price double the odds of bet365’s.
Mohamed Elneny is likely to start for the first time in almost a month after testing positive for coronavirus, and is priced at 15/2 to be carded with Betfair. The Egyptian picked up eight bookings in 33 appearances for Besiktas last season – including one in this competition – with those odds big for any holding midfielder to be honest. Like Lacazette, his price is double bet365’s, but go easy with stakes should you back them as I’m not sure I’d expect too many Arsenal cards tonight.
