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Champions League: Round 4 (Wednesday)

utorok, 2. november 2010 12:39 | Autor: Dr-Bet.com

Champions League: Round 4 (Wednesday)
Champions League: Round 4 (Wednesday) | zdroj: sportinglife.com

Arsenal and Chelsea are back in Champions League action on Wednesday, and for both sides the qualification job is almost done.

Both have 100 per cent records after three games, while Arsenal have netted an astonishing 14 goals already.

And both sides will be confident of picking up a fourth win to cement their customary place in the knockout rounds.

Arsenal face the tougher task on paper, travelling to Ukraine to face Shakhtar Donetsk.

But such was the ease with which Arsene Wenger's side dispatched the 2009 UEFA Cup winners at the Emirates a fortnight ago it is not a trip they will approach with trepidation.

They eventually ran out 5-1 winners in that one and the Shakhtar defence had no answer to Arsenal's snappy, intricate passing football.

Arsenal will therefore have their backers at 2.40 (Betsson), but Shakhtar should be a different proposition on home soil.

While they obviously don't face opposition of Arsenal's class every week, they have won nine out of nine at home this season conceding just one goal in the process. That record demands respect and is enough to put us off - especially as a draw would in no way spell disaster for Arsenal and would see them safely into the last 16 ahead of clashes against the group's weaker teams.

Instead, we'll look elsewhere for value and like the look of Alex Song to continue his recent scoring run. He's netted in each of his last three games - opening the scoring in two of those - and in all has four goals in 13 appearances this season.

That means bet365's 23.00 on him to be first goalscorer has massive each-way appeal and we're happy to get involved.

Chelsea's progress has been just as serene as Arsenal's thus far, if not quite as goal-laden.

Carlo Ancelotti's side have the happy knack of getting the job done early in Champions League nights before cruising through to collect the three points without over-extending themselves.

A home win at 1.25 looks perfectly fair but not a price to get excited about, and handicap betting is fraught with danger given Chelsea's tendency to take the foot off the gas once the points are secure, so the better value surely lies in Chelsea to be leading at half-time and full-time at extrabet's 1.78.

It fits with Chelsea's blueprint of getting their noses in front early, and Saturday's win at Blackburn was the first of their 11 wins this season in which they haven't led at the break.

A confident bet is advised.

PICKS:
Alex Song to score first in Shakhtar v Arsenal at 23.00
at Bet365.
Chelsea/Chelsea HT/FT v Spartak Moscow at 1.78
at Bwin.