Europa League Matchday 5 preview: Knockout stages beckon for United and Arsenal

The fifth matchday in this year’s Europa League Group Stage looks to see the English teams going from strength to strength and closing in on qualification for the knockout stages.

We preview Thursday’s games below.

Business as usual for high-flying Arsenal?

Following an impressive season so far, it’s expected to be business as usual for in-form Arsenal in the Europa League on Thursday when they play away against PSV, who they defeated 1-0 last week at The Emirates.

That win took The Gunners’ European record this season to a perfect four wins from four and they remain on course to qualify comfortably from Group A.

Never failing to pose a goal threat, Arsenal’s midfield are particularly strong currently, with recent goals from Granit Xhaka, and Bukayo Saka.

However, their main goal-getter remains Gabriel Jesus, who is favourite to score here (17/10), and has scored five times (alongside three assists) for the side in just eleven games since leaving Manchester City.

Not a million miles away in betting terms, however, is the home side’s Cody Gakpo, who has scored an impressive nine goals in 11 starts in the Eredivisie this season, while also netting three times in Europe. The winger is priced at 19/10 for an anytime goal.

PSV, who conceded four goals against Groningen on Sunday, are expected to come up short again against Arsenal though, and are priced at 7/4 for the win, as opposed to the visitor’s 11/8.

As was the case last week, PSV may struggle to get the ball past an Arsenal defence that had upheld a clean sheet of three consecutive games before conceding against Southampton on Monday in the Premier League.

It’s likely Arsenal will have enough firepower to once again get past the Dutch side, but don’t be surprised to see a wiser PSV this week.

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A Ronaldo return to inspire United?  

Manchester United may not have been as consistent as Arsenal lately, but things look to be beginning to click into place under the stewardship of Erik ten Hag.

Since losing their opening fixture in the competition, they have won three in a row, including a comfortable 2-0 win over Sheriff Tiraspol on Matchday two. The chances of them achieving a comfortable victory against the same opponents at home on Thursday look significant, with their price for the game as short as 1/12, versus 28/1 for the opposition.

The chances of a draw sit at 17/2, and considering that Sheriff Tiraspol have lost all but one of their four Group Stage games thus far in the Europa League, it is not surprising that these odds are long. In comparison, Manchester United have won three of four games of this stage in the League, losing to Real Sociedad in their first Group Stage game in September by just one second half goal.

The formidable Cristiano Ronaldo could return to the side and is favourite to score a goal for the home side, priced at 8/15. If he does so this time, he’ll have scored 27 goals for Manchester United in total since re-joining them last year. Far longer priced is the favourite goalscorer for Sheriff, Ibrahim Rasheed Akanbi at 17/2.

Clearly there’s overwhelming confidence behind United going into this, and they are likely to be the safest bet of the day.

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