Gunners too good for Monaco

[sake]

Our tipster Andy Schooler expects Arsenal and Atletico Madrid to pick up wins in the first legs of their Champions League last-16 ties on Wednesday night.


2pts Arsenal and Atletico both to win

Arsenal v Monaco (1945 GMT)

When Arsenal were paired with Monaco back in December, it looked a good draw. Two months on and it looks even better for the Gunners. For not only do the hosts arrive in fine form - they have won eight of their last nine games and nine in a row at the Emirates - their visitors have several key men missing for the clash. Ricardo Carvalho and fellow defender Andrea Raggi are both nursing injuries, as are Tiemoue Bakayoko and Lacina Traore, who had a loan spell at Everton last season. They join suspended midfielder Jeremy Toulalan in the stands. Monaco's strength has been at the back - they have conceded just 19 goals in 25 Ligue 1 games this season and let in just one in the group stage. However, the stats suggest balance has yet to be found in their side with the equivalent figures at the other end being 26 and four (just one of those four coming away from home). To their credit, they have managed to eke out plenty of wins in low-scoring games but they face a step up in class here and a weakened side does not bode well. The experience of Carvalho and Raggi will surely be missed at the back where the in-form Olivier Giroud will be a handful, while the runs from midfield of Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil, both of whom are buzzing right now, will give a true test of how solid Monaco really are. In the other penalty box, the giant Traore will not pose the unusual threat which might just have been able to shake the home defence back to old ways and familiar errors. Keeper David Ospina is fit to play for the Gunners, which is a major boost, and while the reputation of Arsenal's backline is that it's not to be trusted, the facts are that of those nine home wins, six have come without conceding. That makes a win to nil worthy of consideration at 5/4. It is also worth noting that Monaco's strong defence and weak attack has led to just two of their last 19 games featuring both sides scoring. It's 7/10 that such a run continues. However, Arsenal aren't kept out at home too often so it's the win to nil which makes more appeal at a bigger price. Arsenal are also very much worth putting in any multiples for the evening - more on that below.