Arsenal and Chelsea's odds drift after Champions League draw

By Tim Clement

Monday 14 December 2015 13:22, UK

Arsenal and Chelsea have drifted out to 33/1 and 25/1 to win the Champions League after both being handed the toughest possible final 16 draws.

The Gunners have been paired with Sky Bet's 5/2 favourites Barcelona, prompting their price to more than double, from 16/1 to 33/1, while they are odds-against to make the quarter-finals for the first time since 2009/10.

The odds have also changed significantly for Chelsea, who are 20/1 from 18/1, after being paired with the shortest-priced side from the second seeds in PSG (16/1), who are marginal favourites to reach the last eight.

Meanwhile, Manchester City have been cut from 12/1 to 10/1 to win Europe's top-tier tournament as they face 1000/1 outsiders Dynamo Kiev, and short odds to be Champions League quarter finalists for the first time in their history.

Sky Bet have also priced up the chances of all three Premier League sides qualifying at 12/1, with the trio to all fail to make the quarter-finals for a second successive season considered more likely at 7/1.

Sky Bet's Sandro Di Michele said: "It simply couldn't have gone any worse for the two London clubs and while Chelsea's task looks difficult, especially given the way their season has gone, Arsenal have the biggest challenge in world football ahead of them.

"As for Manchester City, they are certainly favourites to make the quarter-finals, but we're not getting too carried away given their previous struggles in the competition, keeping them at double-figure odds."