Charlie Nicholas’ Europa League prediction: CSKA Moscow v Arsenal

Charlie Nicholas provides us with his prediction as Arsenal travel to CSKA Moscow in the Europa League.

The Gunners have a commanding advantage in their quarter-final tie, but are they at risk of letting their 4-1 lead slip?

Here’s what the Soccer Saturday expert is saying…

CSKA Moscow (1) – (4) Arsenal (Thursday, 8.05pm)

CSKA Moscow had a Monday game so they are getting squeezed a bit, whereas Arsene Wenger has kept plenty of his best players fresh.

I was very surprised with the amount of changes he made at the weekend, but it obviously shows that Wenger is taking this seriously – not that he has much of an option with the top-four race done and dusted.

I never trust this defence and have no idea who the best defensive partnership are, but Arsenal should have enough to get the job done.

Then hopefully they can avoid Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals. Either way, they need to show character until the end of the season and build momentum because confidence isn’t a tap you can just turn on and off.

Charlie predicts: 2-2 and Ramsey to score first (70/1 with Sky Bet)

(c) Sky News 2018: Charlie Nicholas’ Europa League prediction: CSKA Moscow v Arsenal