Arsenal vs Sevilla prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-11-07 20:00.
The form of Arsenal and Sevilla has travelled in different directions since they met in matchday three of the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League (UCL) two weeks ago. Arsenal won that encounter in Spain 2-1, before a rotated squad followed it up with a dominant 5-0 Premier League success against Sheffield United. But two defeats since have put Mikel Arteta’s men in their first sticky spell of this campaign.
In the most recent of those losses against Newcastle United, Arteta labelled the decision by VAR officials to award the opposition a goal as “embarrassing”. It ultimately proved decisive as the Gunners would go on and fail to score in a competitive game for the first time this season, ending a run of 16 matches. They’ll be desperate to get back on track here and tighten their grip on top spot in Group B, but just two wins in their last six home European games against Spanish opposition (D3, L1) highlights how this task won’t necessarily be straightforward despite the recent H2H win.
Sevilla are unbeaten in their three matches since the reverse H2H (W1, D2). The most recent two matches in that period saw them concede just one goal, which is something that new boss Diego Alonso, appointed just last month, will be keen to celebrate. His team have struggled defensively all season, managing just three competitive clean sheets while falling 2-0 behind in three of the four matches prior to that two-game run.
Alonso will hope Sevilla’s recent improvement in form can play a role in securing a crucial positive result here, especially as they come into the game already three points behind second-placed Lens. But a record of just one UCL win on English soil from seven attempts (D2, L4), which includes a 3-0 defeat away to the Gunners back in 2007, indicates they have historically struggled on these shores.
Players to watch: Gabriel Jesus scored in all three of Arsenal's UCL games so far, but will miss this one through injury. Eddie Nketiah has been getting the nod in his absence, and has repaid the faith by becoming the Gunners’ top league scorer of the season (G5). Youssef En-Nesyri is Sevilla’s top domestic league goalscorer (G4), whilst he also netted in their last UCL away game against PSV.
Hot streak: Despite being the current Europa League holders, Sevilla are winless in 14 European away games (D8, L6).