AC Milan's ageing side may find it impossible to stop Robin van Persie
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The Champions League is back in focus and this week sees the first leg of four of the eight last-16 ties. Defending champions Barcelona are the favourites again but Real Madrid, riding high at the top of the Spanish league, will be looking to upstage their big rivals.
Two British sides, two German sides, two Russian sides, two Italians and one each from France, Portugal, Switzerland and Cyprus complete the line-up with Basle and CSKA Moscow the rank outsiders.
The two biggest matches, on paper at least, involve Italian and British opposition. AC Milan take on Arsenal at San Siro and Napoli welcome Chelsea in two encounters that could be very, very tough for the British sides to win.
Arsenal won in Milan in 2008 in what many at the club feel was their best win in the competition and they will go into Wednesday's game there feeling pretty good about themselves after moving into the top four in the Premier League.
Betting bullets
- Arsenal to win at AC Milan - 11/4 bet365
- Napoli to beat Chelsea - 13/8 bet365
- Arsenal to win Champions League - E/W 20/1 bet365
It's been a real struggle for the Gunners this season after the departures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri but the form of Robin van Persie has lifted everyone's spirits and in recent weeks, with almost all their players back, they have looked a really good side again.
Milan are on top of Serie A once more and have a fearsome home record this season and strikers like Pato, Robinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to call on.
However, I like Arsenal's chances of winning this one. They love playing on the counter-attack and with the speed of Theo Walcott and now Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, they could give Milan's ageing legs a real run around.
It is also Thierry Henry's last game before his loan spell from the MLS ends and I can certainly see Arsenal scoring. Arsene Wenger has promised to attack, with away goals worth double and at 11/4 with bet365 they look a big price to win on the night.
The other British side left in, Chelsea, could be in for a tough time though. Napoli may be sitting a few places off the top in Italy but when they play at home it really is as if the whole crowd is sucking the ball into the net.
This match will be played next week, when Chelsea will have Didier Drogba back from African Nations Cup duty. But there is something not quite right about the Blues and though they are still good enough on their day, playing in Naples is a task for which you need to be on top of your game.
I watched Napoli pretty closely in the group stages and they are a decent side, and one who seem to rise to the big occasions. This is a golden chance for them to put one foot in the quarter-finals and at 13/8 with bet365, they are good value.
In the outright betting, it's hard to look beyond the two Spanish sides but at 20/1 Arsenal could be worth a dabble. Things are coming right for them at the right stage of the season and it would be a massive feather in the Wenger cap should he manage to do it.
Please note that odds are correct at time of publication and are subject to change.
Simon Cambers is ESPN.co.uk's betting correspondent
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Simon Cambers
Simon Cambers is ESPN.co.uk's betting correspondant Simon Cambers is ESPN.co.uk's betting correspondant
