Arsenal vs Fiorentina Predictions

After drawing 3-3 with Boreham Wood in their opening pre-season fixture, Arsenal have steadily improved. They first got the better of Colorado Rapids, while they come into this game off the back of a 2-1 win over German giants Bayern. Such a win will mean that Unai Emery’s men go to Bank of America Stadium feeling confident.

Compared to several Premier League teams, who’ve only just played their first friendly of the warm-up campaign, Arsenal have had a busy pre-season. First time out, they were unable to beat Boreham Wood, though they fielded an entire youth side, so too much shouldn’t be read into that. Since entering the United States, the Gunners have hit their stride, especially in the final third.

They made light work of scoring three goals against MLS side Colorado Rapids at the start of the week, but it was their efforts against Bayern Munich just a few days ago that really impressed. On that occasion, they held their own against Germany’s best by looking especially threatening on the break. If they can repeat such antics on Saturday, then Fiorentina should be in for a tough 90 minutes.

Fiorentina have also had a busy few weeks. They began pre-season by beating inferior lower division side Val di Fassa 21-0, while they progressed a few days later by beating Real Vicenza 6-1. Such games were never going to test La Viola, but they did lay the foundations, foundations that Vincenzo Montella’s men built on last time out by winning their opening ICC game against Mexican outfit Guadalajara.

In the betting, ‘Over 2.5 Goals & Both Teams to Score’ appears to be a solid option. During the first round of ICC matches, both Arsenal and Fiorentina, as they notched four goals between them, looked good in the final third, though neither covered themselves in glory.

Against the Mexicans, Fiorentina struggled at the back. They did manage to shut up shop after falling behind early on, though it’s not as if they held their opponents at bay. Guadalajara missed a penalty and were afforded other scoring opportunities, so it’s easy to envisage an Arsenal forward-line that has warmed up nicely over the last week or so doing well. Likewise, although the Gunners impressed going forward, they didn’t look overly sharp at the back against Bayern, as was almost always the case in the Premier League last season.

All things considered, the overall efforts of both on match-day one don’t exactly point towards this being a low-scoring game, so those looking for a punt can get involved by backing the goals to arrive in no small number at Bank of America Stadium.