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Arsenal only English club not favourites to qualify
by Dan Childs
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A positive week for English Champions League clubs has left three of the four Premier League entrants in a strong position, and Coral are going evens about an English winner in 2008.

Arsenal are the only English side to be regarded as outsiders to reach the last eight – the Gunners are a best-priced evens to find a way past Milan – but Manchester Utd, Liverpool and Chelsea are all hot favourites (2-9, 1-3 and 2-9 respectively) to advance.

There is a strong possibility that half the quarter-final berths could be filled by English clubs and that is borne out by Coral's odds of 5-2 about all four Premier League teams qualifying.

Ladbrokes offer odds of 5-6 that three English clubs advance.

The biggest surprise was delivered by Liverpool, who were 5-4 to reach the last eight before their 2-0 win over Inter.

The fate of both Liverpool and Arsenal will be decided at the San Siro Stadium.

The Gunners get the first chance to shine in Milan, and they may have to go into battle without centre-back Kolo Toure, who has sustained a thigh injury.

Toure was initially expected to be ruled out for up to a month but the latest prognosis suggests that he has a chance of being fit in the next fortnight.

If he fails to recover in time, it would be good news for Hills, who are eager for Arsenal to be eliminated.

Spokesman Graham Sharpe said: “Arsenal are six-figure losers for us. We have taken one bet of £5,000 at 12-1 on the Gunners.”

The firm would have been in a worse position if Emmanuel Adebayor had not headed against the crossbar in injury-time.
The Togan striker is still looking for his first Champions League goal of the season, and Skybet offer 10-11 that he fails to score in any of the remaining rounds.

Ladbrokes offer100-1 about five British teams reaching the quarter-finals but backers would require a dramatic turnaround in Celtic's tie with Barcelona.

The Bhoys, who lost 3-2 to Barca at Parkhead, are a best-priced 25-1 to reach the quarter-finals and even their manager, Gordon Strachan, admits their game could be up.

He said: “I wouldn't put my house on it – it took me 35 years to get it.”

“I don't know if they are the best team in the world but they have the best side in the world.”

Lionel Messi was Celtic's chief destroyer, notching his team's first and last goals. Messi has increased his tournament goals tally to six – one more than Steven Gerrard, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo – and layers now make him a best-priced 10-3 to end the seasonas top Champions League marksman.

Boyles – British teams to reach Champions League quarter-finals: Evs three, 5-2 two, four, 14 one, 80 five, 150 none. British teams in final: 11-10 one, 13-8 none, 11-4 two.

Coral – Champions League specials: 5-2 all four English teams to reach quarter-finals, 5 all-English final. Winning nation: Evs England, 11-8 Spain, 9-2 Italy, 40 France, Germany, 50 Portugal, 80 Greece, Turkey, 400 Scotland.

Lads – British teams to reachChampions League quarter-finals: 5-4 three, 2 two, 5-2 four, 12 one, 100 none, five.

Skybet – E Adebayor's next Champions League goal: 10-11 not this season, 2 away leg against Milan, 5 quarter-finals, 12 semi-finals, 25 final. Progress the furthest: 2-5 Man Utd, 7-4 Arsenal.

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