The final group-stage fixtures in this season’s EFL Trophy take place on Tuesday night and there are some intriguing games for punters to assess.

Colchester and Arsenal U21, the top two in Group E of the Southern Section, meet on matchday three while Aston Villa U21 are aiming to seal their place in the last 32 with a victory at Barrow and we have selected three eye-catching bets on Tuesday’s action.

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Bet of the day

Over 3.5 goals in Colchester v Arsenal U21 @ 11/8

Arsenal U21 have already been involved in a couple of entertaining EFL Trophy ties this season, winning 2-1 at Leyton Orient before a 2-2 draw away to MK Dons.

The young Gunners lost the penalty shootout against the Dons so they are level on points at the top of the group with Tuesday’s hosts Colchester.

The teams have a two-point cushion over their section rivals so they should be able to play with a degree of freedom at the Colchester Community Stadium.

Arsenal have struggled defensively in the Premier League 2 this season and over 3.5 goals looks a tempting bet on their trip to Essex.

The Gunners won 4-3 away to Blackburn at the end of October but lost 5-2 to Tottenham and 2-1 to Chelsea either side of that victory and both teams have scored in Colchester’s last six games in all competitions.   

Special of the day

Salford City to draw with Wolves U21 @ 10/3 

The Wolves first team claimed a long-awaited first Premier League win of the season on Saturday and the club’s youngsters are worth backing to frustrate EFL Trophy hosts Salford City.

Wolves U21 drew 2-2 at Port Vale in their opening game before a 3-0 defeat at Wrexham but Salford, bottom of the group, may not be at full strength on Tuesday.

A late own goal from Josh Austerfield condemned Salford to a 2-1 loss at Wrexham in their last EFL Trophy game and the Ammies conceded in the 88th minute of Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat to Carlisle in League Two.

Only two of Salford’s last 15 matches in all competitions were settled by a margin of more than one goal and the draw looks a big price when they face Wolves U21. 

Long shot of the day

Aston Villa U21 to win first half v Barrow @ 27/10 

Aston Villa U21 are top of Group D of the Northern Section and they should be backed to be leading at half-time on their trip to League Two side Barrow.

Villa’s young guns were 1-0 up at the break in their 3-2 win at Fleetwood on matchday one and Trai-Varn Mulley’s 33rd-minute goal gave them the same half-time advantage in a 1-1 draw at Bolton last time out.

Barrow are in poor goalscoring form, losing to nil in seven of their last 11 fixtures including a 3-0 EFL Trophy loss at Fleetwood, who scored twice in the first half. 

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