Europa League: Can Arsenal Break Bodo/Glimt’s Home Win Streak?

Bodo/Glimt vs Arsenal

Arsenal are on quite a roll at the moment. They’re still atop the Premier League thanks to three wins on the bounce, including two against top rivals. And the Gunners will be aiming for their third straight win in the Europa League when they face Bodo/Glimt, whom they dispatched 3-0 last week.

Another victory against Bodo/Glimt would further strengthen Arsenal’s grip on top spot in Group A as they seek to advance to the Europa League round of 16.

However, the Norwegian champions have been on an amazing winning run at home in European competitions, and they will be confident they can defy the Europa League 2022 betting odds against the Premier League leaders.

Talking Points

Arsenal attack firing on all cylinders

There’s no doubt that Arsenal are among the form teams in Europe at the moment. Since suffering their first – and thus far only – loss of the season against Manchester United, Arsenal have reeled off five straight wins, including their first two Europa League group games.

Mikel Arteta has his side humming along, particularly in attack. They have scored three goals in each of their last four games, which includes their 3-0 rout of Bodo/Glimt at the Emirates.

Gabriel Jesus, who has turned out to be a phenomenal signing, has played his part in the Gunners’ current purple patch. The Brazilian has scored two goals – one in big their 3-1 derby win over Spurs – and provided an assist during that four-game winning streak.

But the beauty of Arsenal at the moment is that everybody seems to be contributing. They have had nine different goalscorers over their last four games. Fabio Vieira is tied with Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka with two goals during that time as the young Portuguese midfielder is settling well to life in London.

Vieira provided plenty of Europa League 2022 highlights in Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Bodo/Glimt last week as he got a goal and provided an assist. He has started both of the Gunners’ Europa League games thus far and will almost surely keep his place.

Arteta has fielded the same starting XI in each of the team’s first two Europa League games as he’s given fringe players like Eddie Nketiah, Marquinhos, and Rob Holding a run out. And given how effective that eleven has played, expect Arteta to stick with that winning formula.

Bodo/Glimt still battling

After two years at the top of the Eliteserien, Bodo/Glimt’s reign as Norwegian champions looks set to come to an end. They are 15 points behind runaway leaders Molde with five rounds remaining.

Nevertheless, the Norwegian champions are still giving it their all. They beat Sandefjord 4-1 over the weekend, their second 4-1 win in a row.

Forward Amahl Pellegrino and midfielder Hugo Vetlesen are both in fine form at the moment. Pellegrino, the Eliteserien’s leading scorer with 21 goals, has two in his last two league games, while Vetlesen has three in his last two.

Pellegrino was instrumental in Bodo/Glimt’s terrific run to the Europa Conference League quarter-finals last season as he scored five goals. And he also did all he could to fire Bodo/Glimt to the Champions League this season as he scored four goals in seven qualifying matches. Although, he has yet to find the back of the net in this Europa League campaign.

History

Arsenal and Bodo/Glimt met for the very first time last week, and it did not go too well for the Norwegian champions. The Gunners ran out 3-0 winners thanks to goals from Eddie Nketiah, Rob Holding, and Fabio Vieira.

However, Bodo/Glimt are a different proposition at the Aspmyra Stadium. They have won 14 straight home games in European competition, the longest run in Europe since Barcelona’s 15-game win streak which ended in March 2017.

Bodo/Glimt famously beat Jose Mourinho’s Roma twice at home in last season’s Conference League. The first was Bodo/Glimt’s famous 6-1 win during the group stage, and the second was a 2-1 win in their quarter-final first leg.

Betting Tip 

SBOTOP odds have Arsenal installed as 1.43 favourites to end Bodo/Glimt’s impressive winning run at home. The hosts are priced at 4.90 to extend their home win streak to 15, while a draw is similarly priced at 4.70.

Despite Arsenal’s dominance in their first meeting, don’t underestimate Bodo/Glimt. As their impressive win streak shows, they are quite a tough out at home, so Arsenal’s second-stringers will not have it their own way.

I expect that the hosts will be able to keep it relatively tight for the first half, although Arsenal’s ability to bring on their stars as second-half substitutes could see them squeak out a win in the end.

 

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