%20rotate(-8.06)%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22336.19%20136.81%20330.16%2094.25%20326.06%2071.19%20326.44%2071.13%20335.22%2093.54%20352.29%20134.52%20373.95%20131.46%20362.7%2052.01%20350.02%2053.8%20356.05%2096.36%20360.15%20119.42%20359.77%20119.48%20350.99%2097.08%20333.91%2056.09%20312.25%2059.15%20323.51%20138.6%20336.19%20136.81%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22402.91%2059.3%20412.36%20126.02%20427.17%20123.92%20417.72%2057.21%20431.59%2055.24%20429.79%2042.51%20387.23%2048.53%20389.04%2061.27%20402.91%2059.3%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22463.51%20118.77%20458.69%2084.71%20474.68%2082.44%20479.51%20116.5%20494.36%20114.4%20483.11%2034.95%20468.26%2037.06%20472.96%2070.25%20456.96%2072.52%20452.26%2039.32%20437.4%2041.43%20448.65%20120.88%20463.51%20118.77%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22540.5%20107.87%20538.77%2095.68%20518.91%2098.49%20515.77%2076.29%20535.63%2073.47%20533.93%2061.5%20514.07%2064.32%20511.11%2043.42%20530.98%2040.61%20529.25%2028.42%20494.53%2033.34%20505.78%20112.78%20540.5%20107.87%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22299.03%20155.17%20301.29%20171.58%20542.78%20138.39%20540.5%20121.97%20299.03%20155.17%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Arsenal’s Six UCL Group Games Analyzed
Match Day 2 – London vs. Olympiakos
New head coach Marco Silva will be hoping to take Olympiakos further than the round of 16 for the first time in over fifteen years in the Champions League following the departure of long-serving manager Michel.
The irony about saying that Olympiakos are a favorable team for Arsenal to be drawn against is that the Greek giants have been somewhat of a bogey team for the Gunners in recent years.
More from Pain in the Arsenal
- 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
- 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
- 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
- Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
- 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
Similar to Dinamo Zagreb, the red and whites are dominant in the Greek Superleague, but their performances in Europe do not reflect the same success.
Arsenal have learned this the hard way. Since 2009-10, Olympiakos have been drawn in Arsenal’s group three times. On all three occasions, the Greeks have beaten them in the away leg in Athens, though the games in London have been two wins and a draw for Arsenal.
There is no question about whether or not Arsenal have to be at their best if they want to win these two matches. Olympiakos do not have an outstanding record away from home, but they are still good enough to beat you if you take the game for granted.
Tactical Change?
Olympiakos have played just one game in Greece so far, so it remains to be seen who the stars of the team will be. On paper, the key players look like central attacking midfielder Alvaro Dominguez and defensive midfielder Esteban Cambiasso.
Arsenal must try to exploit the weaknesses of the Olympiakos side in the first match, and remember the fact that their midfield is also the strongest part of their team.
If the Gunners play a midfield four, with Mesut Ozil at the top, for example, the three behind Ozil will occupy the Greek central players while the No. 10 is able to poke holes in the defense.
The midfield four is not one hundred percent necessary, however. The midfield battle, as is usual in a football match, will decide the flow of the game. It is Arsenal’s attacking players that will make an impact on the game, if given the sufficient service.
Olympiakos Player To Watch: Alfred Finnbogason
Alfred Finnbogason is currently spending a year on loan in Athens after failing to impress at Real Sociedad. Although he didn’t have the best of times in Spain, he scored 29 goals for Herenveen the year before he joined them, and is a serious threat when he is in the six-yard box.
Athens is yet to see what he can do when playing up front, and he may well get his chance due to a lack of quality up front for them at the moment. If he hits some form in the early part of the season, and Arsenal fall asleep on defense, there is the possibility of a counter-attack goal finished off by the Icelandic poacher on match day 2.
Arsenal Player To Watch: Mesut Ozil
The German playmaker’s matchup for the Olympiakos matches will undoubtedly be new arrival Esteban Cambiasso. Marco Silva will tell Cambiasso pre-match that Ozil cannot be allowed to pull the strings, and he is completely right.
Ozil looks like he is more settled in London so far this year, and has been providing passes for his team mates that Premier League defenses look incapable of stopping. Olympiakos’ defense is not the strongest point of their team, and if given the opportunity to cut them open, he will cut through them like a samurai.
If Ozil is on form and able to out-think Cambiasso, the Gunners will win at home. If he is stymied by the Argentinian, we could be in for a nervy ninety minutes.
PREDICTION FOR MATCH DAY 2: Arsenal 2-0 Olympiakos
Sorry Thrylos fans, but I just cannot see past the Gunners for this game. While there are potentially dangerous players in the Greek side, the Gunners look like they could blast them away in terms of quality for their first match.
Match day six in Athens may well be a different story, but in London, Arsenal look strong. Six points on the board.
Next: Match Day 3 - London vs. Bayern Munich