PREVIEW & PREDICTION – Ostersunds vs Arsenal 15/02/2018

PREVIEW & PREDICTION – Ostersunds vs Arsenal 15/02/2018

Östersunds FK and Arsenal meet at Jämtkraft Arena, in a match for this phase of the UEFA Europa League (16th Finals). This will be the first direct confrontation between these two teams, as they have never faced each other before. Particular attention is required for the home / away condition, since both teams present significantly different results at home and abroad.

The home team reaches this stage of the UEFA Europa League (16th Finals) after having finished the group stage in the 2nd position of Group J, with 11 points won. This is a team that usually makes good use of the home advantage, stronger with the help of its supporters, since in the last 30 matches they register 6 wins, 5 draws and 4 losses in away matches; against 10 wins, 4 draws and 1 loss at their stadium. In their last match, for Svenska Cupen, they beat Trelleborg at home (3-0). In the last 6 home matches for the UEFA Europa League, Östersunds FK have won 5 and tied 1.

For this competition, he does not lose in his stadium 6 games ago. Their attack has scored regularly, since they have scored goals in 9 of the last 10 matches for this competition. The team usually has no problem opening the scoring: it scored the first goal in 9 of the last 12 matches for the UEFA Europa League, of these 9 came to the break in advantage in 2 and managed to maintain the advantage until the end of the 90 ‘in 6. There is 1 period highlighted in the last 9 home matches for all competitions: he scored 6 of his 17 goals between the minutes (16’-30 ‘).

The good campaign made in the first phase of the Europa League has allowed Östersunds to play the final phase of the competition. But then in the 16-year-old final will be ahead of the traditionally strong Arsenal, which indicates that it will have great difficulties. Of course if it is eliminated it will not be anything abnormal and certainly will not be able to claim from his campaign, but because he has a bit of hope he will try to use the local factor as an ally in search of victory, since he knows that if he goes for the second leg in advantage you will have more chances to qualify.

The visiting team got access to this phase of the UEFA Europa League (16th Finals) after the 1st place won in Group H, with a total of 13 points. This is a team that usually makes good use of the home advantage, stronger with the help of its supporters, since in the last 30 matches they register 4 wins, 4 draws and 7 losses in away matches; against 10 wins, 4 draws and 1 loss at their stadium. In their last match, for the Premier League, they got an away loss against Tottenham Hotspur by (1-0). In the last 10 away matches Arsenal has won 2, tied 4 and lost 4. In 15 matches, they suffered the first goal 4 times and only managed 1 comeback.

Despite having used some alternative players during the group stage of the Europa League, Arsenal ended up being in the first position and that shows that it is a strong candidate to keep the title of the competition. To face a lesser-known adversary, he hopes not to go through so many difficulties, so his idea is to have a good performance in both games and to take advantage already in the first match, since in England he would have more peace to control the match.


PREDICTION: Arsenal to win @ 1.48

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