PSV vs Arsenal: Betting preview with odds and predictions

Arsenal will look to secure top spot in Europa League Group A when they take on PSV Eindhoven in Holland on Thursday night. The Gunners continued their excellent early season form with a comfortable 1-0 win over PSV at the Emirates Stadium last week. That victory came after wins home and away against Bodo Glimt while Arsenal also eased past Zurich on matchday 1, so they sit five points clear at the top of the group with just two games remaining.

Mikel Arteta’s side have already guaranteed safe passage to the knockout stages, however, if they finish top they bypass the first knockout round and go straight to the last-16. Avoiding another two games in an already packed campaign is vital for Arteta, so the Spaniard will be keen to come away with a positive result from PSV Eindhoven to wrap-up top spot with a game to spare.

Betting odds

There is likely to be plenty of interest in this game on the betting markets and if you head to an Exchange Betting Site you’ll see that Arsenal are the favourites to win this match. Some bookmakers are pricing the Gunners at 13/10 to claim all three points on Thursday night. The hosts can be backed at 7/4 to inflict defeat on Arsenal for the first time in the group stages while the draw is available at 13/5.

This won’t be an easy game for Arsenal as PSV usually play well in front of their passionate fans but the north Londoners are favourites for a reason. Another 1-0 win can be backed at odds of 10/1 but a 2-1 Arsenal victory looks tempting at 8/1.

Both teams to score at 1/2 could be a solid bet but if we back both teams to score in an Arsenal win, we get odds of 3/1.

Rotation

Arteta is expected to rotate his team as they need just one point from their last two matches to guarantee top spot. Arsenal have a Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest to worry about next Sunday so Arteta will want his key men fresh. The Gunners looked tired during the second half of Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Southampton so we could see some players rested for the trip to Holland.

Thomas Partey, William Saliba, Aaron Ramsdale, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Granit Xhaka could all drop out of the starting eleven. Gabriel Jesus has also looked little jaded recently so the Brazilian is likely to be rested.

Matt Turner, Kieran Tierney, Rob Holding, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Fabio Vieira, Reiss Nelson, Marquinhos and Eddie Nketiah are all expected to be recalled on Thursday night.

Prediction

Arteta is set to field a weakened side so this won’t be a straightforward game for Arsenal’s second string. However, they dominated the reverse fixture at the Emirates and should have eased to a more convincing win so they’ll be confident of winning at the Philips Stadion.

Nketiah has looked dangerous when he’s played in the Europa League this season and he’ll be looking to show he’s capable of filling Jesus’ boots up front. PSV are expected to give a good account of themselves, but we predict Arsenal to edge it. PSV 1-2 Arsenal