Prediction and odds for the game: Arsenal (5/6) vs Villarreal (3/1)

We are backing both teams to score at odds of 3/4

When: Thursday, 6th May 2021, Kick-off 20:00

Where: The Emirates Stadium

On Thursday night, Arsenal and Villarreal meet at the Emirates Stadium, in the second leg of the Europa League semi-finals. The visitors head into this game 2-1 up from the first leg.

Arsenal

For Arsenal winning the Europa League still looks like their best hope of playing European football next season, despite a 2-0 win at Newcastle last time out. The Gunners remain five points behind seventh-place Liverpool, who have a game in hand on Mikel Arteta’s team.

The win against Newcastle at least ended a three-game winless run for Arsenal in all competitions. It may just give them the boost of confidence they will need to overcome the first-leg deficit.

The loss in the first leg means that Arsenal have now won just once in four outings in the Europa League. However, the team from north London have lost just two of their previous 13 games in European football’s secondary competition.

Arsenal have a rather patchy recent home record in the competition, as they have won four of their last eight matches in the Europa League at the Emirates Stadium. They have also failed to win in two previous games in the competition on home soil.

Villarreal

The Yellow Submarine followed up that first leg win by recording a 1-0 home win against Getafe, which means that Unai Emery’s team occupy one of the Europa League qualification spots. In truth, though the visitors recent form has been inconsistent in La Liga.

However, they seem to have found great consistency in the Europa League, as the Spanish outfit are unbeaten in 13 outings in the competition, having recorded 12 wins. They have also won their last nine matches in European football’s secondary competition.

One of the main reasons for Villarreal’s recent good record in the Europa League has been their potency in front of goal, as they have scored at least two goals in seven of their last eight matches in the competition.

The visitors are unbeaten in six away games in the Europa League, having recorded five wins in the process. In contrary to their general good results, their away form has been built on four straight clean sheets on their travels. The recent clean sheets have contributed to their last five away matches in the Europa League producing under 2.5 goals.

Conclusion

Arsenal have been inconsistent and unpredictable of late, while Villarreal look to be going in the right direction. This is a tough one to call. Like rabbits in the headlights, we are going to move to the goals market instead. Despite Villarreal’s recent strong defensive record on their travels in the Europa League, we recommend both teams to score.

Both teams have potent attacks, so we expect this one to be relatively high-scoring. We are also taking a punt on Villarreal’s Gerard Moreno to be anytime goalscorer. Although he is going through a slight drought, the Spanish international is enjoying the most prolific campaign of his career and we fancy him to get back on the scoresheet in this clash.

Verdict: We are backing both teams to score at odds of 3/4 and/or Gerard Moreno as an anytime goalscorer at odds of 21/10. (All odds are taken from Bet365).

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