Arsenal vs Fiorentina
The International Champions Cup is back and that means high-profile friendly matches in various countries and various continents, as well as a chance for SBOBET followers to see many of the game’s biggest stars in action.
I would temper that with a word of warning, however, that little should be read into the results this pre-season gathering provides.
Last year’s tournament saw Barcelona finish rock bottom with Manchester City and Paris St Germain also in the bottom five – and we all know how 2018/19 panned out.
They won their respective titles in Spain, England and Germany of course with City completing an unprecedented English treble for good measure.
That’s not to say we shouldn’t expect International Champions Cup highlights over the next fortnight.
Talking Points
Arsenal made an encouraging start to their pre-season earlier this week with a late victory over Bayern Munich in Los Angeles.
After the victory over Colorado Rapids, it was a good opener to their ICC campaign as the Gunners looked sharp, pressing from the front in what will surely have been a pleasing performance for manager Unai Emery.
The coach this week stared his desire to buy big and, if they do, with the likes of Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Henrikh Mkhitaryan already in place, Emery will expect improvements on last season.
Of course, this is against the backdrop of comments from the son of club owner Stan Kroenke who warned Arsenal supporters they will not be competing for the top trophies next season and who admitted criticism of the club’s leadership has been ‘hard to take’.
That could mean more pressure, eventually, is heaped on the shoulders of former midfielder Edu, who has returned to the club as technical director and is to be responsible for coordinating the first-team coaching group, the academy and scouting and recruitment.
Ordeals over transfers and Laurent Koscielny’s refusal to travel may have overshadowed displays on the pitch so far but some new blood may at least lift spirits and expectations.
Expectations are also few and far between with Arsenal’s opponents this weekend, Serie A side Fiorentina, as they prepare to clash in Charlotte, North Carolina at the Bank of America Stadium, home to the Carolina Panthers NFL team.
Incredibly, they finished just two places and three points above the relegation zone last season in 16th place and were still not mathematically safe from the drop going into the final match of the campaign.
Their lowest position since 2001 (when they were relegated) – they were also 16th in 2005 – it was a rapid decline for the Tuscany club which had previously enjoyed six successive top eight placings, including three fourth-place finishes.
Yet it is easy to forget just what a turbulent time the club has endured over the past 16 months.
Popular club captain Davide Astori died suddenly at the age of 31 in March last year.
The club subsequently retired Astori’s kit number, 13, as the emotion was felt by all connected with Viola.
Despite the team’s poor end to last season, hope springs eternal this is the start of a new era.
Last month, the club was sold to Italian-American billionaire Rocco Commisso for around 160 million euros. That marked the end of the Della Valle family’s 17 association with the club, while Vincenzo Montella has held onto his position as coach and the influential services of Federico Chiesa have also been retained.
The club has also reportedly opened talks with Fernando Llorente over a possible free transfer.
The 34-year-old ex-Juventus man is currently available after his Tottenham Hotspur contract expired, although he could be offered an extension by last season’s Champions League finalists.
He spent two seasons with Juventus from 2013 to 2015, scoring 27 goals in 92 appearances and winning two Scudetto titles.
Viola certainly need to strengthen. This contest, while only a friendly, could be a good indicator of what is required.
History
These sides have actually only met twice before competitively.
That was at the turn of the millennium when they were paired in the Champions League group stages.
The clash in Florence finished goalless before a goal from hero Gabriel Batistuta won the return tie in a match played at Wembley in October 1999 – Arsenal played their European matches there instead of Highbury that season.
Betting Tip
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Arsenal vs Fiorentina | Total Goal 4-6 @ 2.89 |
| July 21, 06:00 (GMT+8) |
International Champions Cup betting odds have Arsenal as clear favourites – 1X2 @ 2.05 and Asian Handicap -0.50 @ 2.07.
Fiorentina are 1X2 @ 3.30 and +0.25 @ 2.17.
The draw is available @ 3.45.
| A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR () BETS ARE WORTH: |
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|---|---|---|---|
 = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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