Arsenal to face Olympiacos in Europa League last 16

The draw for the Europa League last 16 has been made with Arsenal set to face Olympiacos over two legs.

Crashing out at the round of 32 stage last season, Mikel Arteta’s side were three minutes away from suffering a similar fate in Athens as Benfica held the away goals advantage in the second leg.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had delicately put the Gunners in front after a gorgeous ball through from Bukayo Saka, before Diogo Goncalves’ sublime free-kick on the stroke of half-time pulled Benfica level.

A calamitous moment from Dani Ceballos gifted Rafa Silva a second goal for his side, pouncing on the Spaniard’s weak header back to put Jorge Jesus’ men in firm control of the tie.

Arsenal draw Olympiacos in Europa League last 16 after beating Benfica 4-3 on aggregate

Kieran Tierney came up with a clutch moment six minutes later as he rifled in an effort to equalise on the night, with Aubameyang sealing progression to the last 16 with a point-blank header in the dying embers to spark ecstasy for all those in red and white ahead of Sunday’s clash with Leicester.

That dramatic finish has now set up an enticing tie with Olympiacos, who knocked the Gunners out of the competition in the round of 32 stage last season.

Arsenal have a knack of facing Olympiacos seemingly every year, whether it is the Champions League or Europa League, and Arsenal will be back on the same ground where they faced Benfica for the ‘home’ leg of their round of 32 victory last time out. Home comforts, I suppose.

One bonus is knowing that there will be no neutral venues for this clash. Having played in the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium already this season, at least the Emirates will be hosting the ‘home’ leg.

This is now the sixth time Arsenal have drawn Olympiacos in European competition. Winning five of the legs and losing just as many. The Gunners have lost their last two at home against the famous Greek outfit.

The first leg is set to take place on March 11, with Arsenal facing Tottenham in the Premier League three days later, before the second leg is penciled in for March 18.