The Big Wednesday Multiple: Arsenal to keep Monaco at bay

Monaco will find it tough to find a way past Arsenal

It's that time of the week where Paul Robinson selects a home win, an away win, a match to go over 2.5 goals and a match to go under 2.5 goals. Here are his selections...

Bet 1: Atletico MG (HOME) @ 1.36 (4/11) - Available on Betfair Live Video at 22:45 GMT

After losing their opening group game away at Colo Colo, Atletico Mineiro need to win tonight to get their Copa Libertadores campaign back on track. 

It should be a straightforward victory as opponents, Atlas, are a weak team that are making their first appearance in this competition since 2008.

Levir Culpi's side also have home advantage and their record in front of their own fans is fantastic. They only lost once at home last season and that was at the end of the campaign when there was nothing really to play for. 

There isn't much else to say about this one, as it's an absolute home banker.

Bet 2: Cruzeiro (AWAY) @ 2.05 (21/20)  

Staying in the Libertadores, we have Brazilian champions, Cruzeiro, at odds-against for their trip to Bolivia's, Club Universitario.

The visitors have started this campaign how they left the last as they are already top of the Mineiro 1 table. I am not suggesting that it's going to be an easy task to take all three points tonight, but they are a class above their opponents, and in this competition last year, they recorded away wins at both Universidad Chile and Cerro Porteno.

The hosts had a taste of intercontinental football last year in the Copa Sudamericana but they couldn't make it past the second round. After drawing the first leg at home, 'Los Doctos' went on to lose 3-0 at Cesar Vallejo. That kind of sums up their standard and their recent form isn't great either as they've taken just eight points from eight league outings.

Bet 3: Nottingham Forest v Bournemouth (Over 2.5 goals) @ 1.66 (4/6)  

This week's goal-fest comes from the City Ground as Nottingham Forest take on Bournemouth in the Championship.

Forest's results have improved since Dougie Freedman arrived at the club and while they are now back up to ninth in the league, they are 15 points adrift of the play-off places.

Bournemouth on the other hand are up in fourth place, but their form has tailed off lately as two points from a possible nine has seen them drop out of the automatic promotion places.

It's the goal stats that we're concerned with here though and with 51 scored and 47 conceded so far this term, Forest's matches are averaging 3.06 goals each time. That's the fourth highest in the division, with 21 of their 32 fixtures rewarding over 2.5 goal backers- including six of their last seven.

Eddie Howe's men have even more impressive stats than that as their games have averaged 3.16 goals per 90 minutes - bettered only by Watford - and three of their last four have had three goals or more.

Bet 4: Arsenal v Monaco (Under 2.5 goals) @ 1.72 (8/11) - Live on Sky Sports 5 at 19:45 GMT

We conclude in club football's most prestigious competition as Arsenal host Monaco in the Champions League.

This is usually the time in the season where things start going wrong for Arsene Wenger. A European exit and dropping out of contention for the Premier League title, to name but two.

Things could be different this year though as they are already out of the title race and despite only finishing second in their group, they have been afforded an easier Champions League draw than usual.

I fully expect Arsenal to knock out Monaco and I can see them keeping a clean sheet this evening. The French outfit struggle for goals and their top scorer this year is Dimitar Berbatov, and he only has seven to his name. Clearly their success has been built on a strong defence, so while I see The Gunners winning, it should only be a narrow victory.

Recommended Multiple
Back Atletico MG @ 1.36 (4/11)
Back Cruzeiro @ 2.05 (21/20)
Back Over 2.5 Goals in Nottingham Forest v Bournemouth @ 1.66 (4/6)
Back Under 2.5 Goals in Arsenal v Monaco @ 1.72 (8/11)

The Multiple pays approximately 7.96 (7/1)

Multiple prices are based on our Sportsbook product, so any winnings are exempt from commission.

2015 P/L (1pt each bet)

Wagered: 7 pts
Returned: 22.38 pts
P/L: + 15.38 pts
(2014 P/L: + 48.57pts)
(2013 P/L: - 15.49 pts)