2016 MLS Soccer All-Star Game – MLS All-Stars vs. Arsenal Preview and Prediction

MLS All-Stars vs. Arsenal Preview

Where: Avaya Stadium – San Jose, California

When: Thursday, July 28, 7:30 PM ET

Line: MLS All-Stars vs. Arsenal – view all soccer lines

TV Broadcast: ESPN

Writer’s Pick: MLS All-Stars

Cash In on the Best Online Sportsbook Offers Now at TopBet!

Special Deposit Bonuses

Exclusive Betting Props

$250 Welcome Bonus

Tiered Deposit Bonuses

Offensive Edge – MLS All-Stars

This might come as a surprise to some, but the MLS All-Stars likely have the edge over Arsenal in terms of offense. That’s in large part because of all the Gunners’ key absentees. Four of their top attacking players – Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsay, and Olivier Giroud – are all sitting out Arsenal’s preseason tour after playing through the summer with their respective national teams.

With those four missing, the Gunners will have to rely on the likes of Joel Campbell, Theo Walcott, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to lead the attack, which isn’t exactly the most ideal scenario.

On the other side, the MLS All-Stars can call on European superstars like David Villa, who has scored a league-high 13 goals for NYCFC, as well as reigning MLS MVP Sebastian Giovinco (11 goals this season). Kaka will captain the side and will likely have Andrea Pirlo and Sacha Kljiestan (MLS’s leading assist man) with him in the team’s midfield. Veterans Didier Drogba and Clint Dempsey can also supply firepower off the bench.

Villa and Kaka led the MLS All-Stars to a 2-1 win over Arsenal’s North London rivals Tottenham last year. It was the MLS’s third win in the last four All-Star Games.

Defensive Edge – Arsenal

Even with the absence of their first-choice central defensive partnership of Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker, Arsenal should still have the defensive edge in this matchup. Calum Chambers should be a capable deputy in the center of that defense. Meanwhile, full-backs Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal/Kieran Gibbs will be miles better than their counterparts on the MLS’s squad.

U.S. men’s national team member Matt Besler and former Premier League player Liam Ridgewell are both unavailable for the MLS All-Stars, which has severely limited their options in the center of defense. The likes of Steve Birnbaum, Andrew Farrell, and Laurent Ciman are in line to get the start, which aren’t particularly impressive options.

Writer’s Prediction: The MLS All-Stars have too much firepower, and come away with a 3-1 win.

Create a betting account now and get in on some MLS soccer action today.

2,886 total views