Arsenal Predicted Starters To Face Olympiakos

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Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel Paulista

Again I question, has Arsene Wenger learned? Olympiakos is going to sit deep. They have no need to score goals. But they still have to maintain a relevant counter-attacking threat or they are going to quiver and die. That sounded rather morbid. Anyway, Arsenal is going to have to keep an extra high line, with the defense pushing way up the pitch. That sounds like Per Mertesacker’s worst nightmare.

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The big German is good sitting back and absorbing pressure. He is not good at tracking back to apprehend escaping pressure. Gabriel Paulista is. The Brazilian has been ignored for too long. Not only is he more athletic and pacier, but he is more of a threat from set pieces, both friendly and not.

Gabriel Paulista is absolutely crucial to Arsenal’s success. I fear that if Mertesacker is to start, then Arsenal might as well be playing with ten men.

Laurent Koscielny should start too. It is a match day after all.

Next up, that tricky, tricky midfield.

Next: Midfield