Pain in the Arsenal
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Olympiacos vs Arsenal preview: How to watch, predicted lineups, score prediction & injury updates

By Ross Kennerley

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 27:Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates scoring his teams first goal during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between Arsenal FC and Olympiacos FC at Emirates Stadium on February 27, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Chloe Knott - Danehouse/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 27:Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates scoring his teams first goal during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between Arsenal FC and Olympiacos FC at Emirates Stadium on February 27, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Chloe Knott - Danehouse/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Emile Smith Rowe
LEICESTER, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 28: Emile Smith Rowe of Arsenal receives medical attention during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Arsenal at The King Power Stadium on February 28, 2021 in Leicester, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Tim Keeton – Pool/Getty Images) /

Arsenal Team News vs Olympiacos

Frustration remains. As with other results this season, Arsenal were the victims of their own downfall at Turf Moor and even when you take the game at face value in that they created numerous chances to score, hit the woodwork twice, were the better side and had a stonewall penalty turned down, nobody can argue the result was a surprise.

Arteta made changes to his side by bringing in Calum Chambers at right-back for his first Premier League start since December 2019. Chambers was one of the Gunners’ better players on the day but despite that will be replaced by one of Hector Bellerin or Cedric Soares. Both are fit an available.

At centre-back all of his options are in line for a start, with David Luiz, Rob Holding, Pablo Mari and Gabriel set to battle it out for a starting berth. Based on previous Europa League outings, it could be a Brazilian duo.

https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1368943559680856067

Emile Smith Rowe is the only concern having suffered a muscle problem against Leicester and not making the journey to Lancashire on the weekend. He mustn’t be rushed back and a spot on the bench is the most logical.

Up front, it looks like a straight battle between Willian and Nicolas Pepe for the left-wing slot. Arteta opted for the 32-year-old against the Clarets as he is deemed the better choice when there is less space in behind, but at what point do you play the more threatening of the two? The one who has a ‘moment’ in him? An interesting choice awaits.

As for the hosts, they find themselves in a central defensive crisis at the wrong time. Pedro Martins’ side are without Ruben Semedo, Ousseynou Ba and Avraam Papadopoulos, their three first-choice centre-backs. That leaves only Sokratis(!) as their fit option, and he has barely played this season.

Marios Vrousai is the other absentee with the winger missing out through a torn meniscus.