Pain in the Arsenal
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
Arsenal, Willian
Arsenal’s Brazilian midfielder Willian is pictured during the English Premier League football match between Leicester City and Arsenal at King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on February 28, 2021. (Photo by RUI VIEIRA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Arsenal Predicted Lineup

Arsenal: Leno; Bellerin, Luiz, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard; Saka, Aubameyang, Willian

Olympiacos: Sa; Lala, Sokratis, Silva, Reabciuk; M’Vila, Bouchalakis, Valbuena, Fortounis, Bruma; El-Arabi

Olympiacos vs Arsenal Score Prediction

Arsenal can’t look at Olympiacos’ league form as a indicator of what is to come. Not really. They’re breezing their way to another Greek Super League title with just one defeat in 25 games, conceding a lowly 12 goals in the division this campaign.

Looking solely at that and the Gunners will arrive with their tails in between their legs. So, as a fairer reflection, how have they fared in the Europa League?

Coincidentally, Arsenal and Olympiacos were both two minutes from not even being in this round. Much like Aubameyang, Ahmed Mahgoub saved his side’s skin with an 88th minute strike at the far-post to send them into the last-16 at the expense of PSV Eindhoven. In the Champions League they were humbled in their group with two goals scored and just one win, but Arsenal aren’t Champions League quality, so that needn’t matter.

https://twitter.com/MathieuVal8/status/1368582718511079425

The centre-back situation is a worrying one for the hosts, who only have Sokratis fit and even he has barely featured in top-flight football this campaign. However, the rest of the side is littered with danger men. Their 34-year-old striker Youssef El-Arabi is in electric form while the hugely experienced Mathieu Valbuena is joined by underrated central midfielder Andreas Bouchalakis in knowing how to control matches. Kostas Fortounis is their creator and biggest threat of all.

Olympiacos are a better side than Benfica, simply put. They like to get their opposing full-backs isolated and switch play quickly, favouring early crosses and swift attacking moves up the pitch. And they do so well.

Most…annoying, shall we say, of all is that Arsenal will create goalscoring opportunities, it’s just whether they take them. But, with a fully fit squad, Olympiacos’ defensive issues and familiarity with a stadium that’s their away venue, this may be the best time to face the Greek outfit.

Arsenal are progressing on the pitch, but there is only so far we can claim that to be so if they’re knocked out by the same opposition from last season. At least in some eyes, anyway. Which is why it’s a good thing they’ll get their away goal and keep the tie alive.

Next. Decision made on Mat Ryan future. dark

Score Prediction: Olympiacos 1-1 Arsenal