Chelsea a better bet than Arsenal to top Champions League group
Published:Arsenal rightly deserve the plaudits for a masterful display in beating Napoli in the Champions League, however, after banishing that Basel embarrassment with a 4-0 win over Steaua, Chelsea still have the easier path to their group summit.
Ladbrokes are now offering 4/6 that Arsenal top their Champions League group after an impressive win on matchday two of Europe’s premier club competition, while 4/6 says Chelsea can do the same.
And having forged a three-point gap over the other teams in Group F, punters would be forgiven for thinking the Gunners will now cruise home to victory, as their odds-on price would suggest.
After all, Arsene Wenger’s side not only reduced a much lauded Napoli side to looking decidedly clueless, they also sit proudly atop of the early Premier League table.
However, Arsenal’s ‘Group of Death’ is still laden with potential minefields, which could yet see them relinquish their grip.
The Gunners now have a double-header against last year’s beaten finalists Borussia Dortmund, who recovered from their opening day defeat to Napoli by thumping Marseille 3-0, and a trip to the hostile atmosphere of Naples also beckons.
Meanwhile, Chelsea may have started poorly with defeat, but a thumping win on the road at Steaua and Basel’s unexpected defeat to Schalke, means Jose Mourinho’s men can now make serious headway over their double-header with the German group leaders.
Schalke may have won both openers, though their domestic form gives clues that an improving Chelsea side can get at least four points against them, which would mean they would technically be ahead of them under the competitions head-to-head rules, governing teams on the same points.
Schalke have only won two of their seven Bundesliga games to date and currently reside two places above the relegation zone, while Chelsea have topped their group in seven of their last 10 Champions League campaigns.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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