Arsenal are looking for an 11th straight victory in all competitions when they travel to Sporting CP on Thursday evening in the Europa League.
Not since October 2007 have the Gunners enjoyed a longer run, when they won 12 in a row, and Unai Emery will be hoping that he can continue to endear himself to fans with another victory here.
Latest odds
Indeed, Arsenal are bet365’s 11/10 (2.10) favourites to make it three wins from three in the Europa League this season.
Having also won both their continental games this season, Sporting are no pushovers and can be backed at 14/5 (3.80), whilst the draw is available at 5/2 (3.50).
Team news
Emery has taken a leaf out of predecessor Arsene Wenger’s book in this competition so far by opting to rotate, so the likes of Danny Welbeck and Rob Holding could be set for starts.
Star striker Bas Dost is injured for the hosts along with Jeremy Mathieu. Ex-Manchester United winger Nani scored two goals against Arsenal during his time in the Premier League and will be Sporting’s main threat here.
Preview
Arsenal’s terrific run of form has almost certainly dispelled the notion that Emery would struggle in his first season in English football, and the length of it means it cannot be attributed to a new manager bounce.
However, Sporting have not lost a competitive home match since September 2017 when they were beaten 1-0 by Barcelona and will certainly fancy their chances of coming away with something from this game.
As well, Jose Peseiro’s men have shipped just 10 goals in that time – a sequence of 29 home games – but it is worth noting that they have conceded in six of their last 10 home European clashes.
Prediction
Arsenal look almost certain to score, having found the net seven times in Europe this term and 10 times in their last three Premier League matches.
The likes of Olympiakos and Astana have found the net at Estadio Jose Alvalade in the last 12 months, and so it is the 10/11 (1.91) quote on over 2.5 goals that looks the best play here.
Over 2.5 goals at 10/11 (1.91) for a 1pt stake with bet365