Played
September 28, 2011 7:45 PM BST
Emirates Stadium — London
Referee: Carlos Velasco
Attendance: 59676
September 28, 2011 7:45 PM BST
Emirates Stadium — London
Referee: Carlos Velasco
Attendance: 59676
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| Arsenal | 1.06 | 1.02 | 1.57 | 1.55 | 1.03 | 1.64 |
| Draw | 9.00 | 15.00 | 3.75 | 3.80 | 9.50 | 3.80 |
| Olympiakos | 81.00 | 71.00 | 6.50 | 6.50 | 80.00 | 6.30 |
Arsenal - Olympiakos Preview: Arsene Wenger's side look to continue upturn in form against Greek team
The Gunners look to have shaken off their poor start to the Premier League season and will host a team who are notoriously poor travellers in European competition
By David Lynch
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PROBABLE LINEUPS |
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ARSENAL
 Szczesny Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs Arteta, Ramsey, Song Arshavin, Van Persie, Gervinho |
OLYMPIAKOS
 Costanzo Torosidis, Mellberg, Papadopolous, Holebas Abdoun, Fejsa, Fuster, Modesto, Yeste Mirallas |
Kieran Gibbs scored his first goal for the Gunners against Shrewsbury and may well be picked over fellow left-back Andre Santos, who hasn’t enjoyed the quickest of starts.
It has been reported that Theo Walcott has been ruled out with a knee problem, and Andrey Arshavin is likely to come in if that is the case.
Olympiakos favoured a 4-5-1 formation in their first Champions League tie of the season and given the pedigree of their opponents and the location of the game, it is likely they will do the same again.
Striker Kevin Mirallas is the only forward to start each of the Greek side’s three games so far this season and so is most likely to lead the line.
Defender Olof Mellberg will be familiar to Premier League fans having spent seven years of his career at Aston Villa.
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DID YOU KNOW? |
- These two sides met in the group stage of the Champions League in 2009, each winning their home tie.
- Neither of these clubs has ever lifted the Champions League in its new or old format. Arsenal were beaten finalists in 2006 and Olympiakos furthest progression was to the quarter-finals.
- Olympiakos have never gained a single point playing in England and have scored only one goal.
- That goal was scored by Brazilian Rivaldo at Anfield in 2004/05 but sparked the comeback which eventually led to a famous Liverpool victory in the competition.
- Arsene Wenger (right) celebrates 15 years as the Gunners’ manager this week. His counterpart Ernesto Valverde has been at Olympiakos just over a year.
- Both managers have suffered the dubious honour of finishing runner-up in a European final. Wenger in the 2006 Champions League final and Valverde in the 2007 Uefa Cup final with Espanyol.
- Arsenal captain Robin van Persie’s second goal against Bolton was his 100th for the club.
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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
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Arsenal FC 2-0 Olympiakos
- 24.18 %
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Arsenal FC 3-0 Olympiakos
- 21.48 %
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Arsenal FC 3-1 Olympiakos
- 13.82 %
| UEFA Champions League (UCL) | 4 Dec 2012 | Olympiakos 2 - Arsenal FC 1 |
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| UEFA Champions League (UCL) | 3 Oct 2012 | Arsenal FC 3 - Olympiakos 1 |
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| UEFA Champions League (UCL) | 6 Dec 2011 | Olympiakos 3 - Arsenal FC 1 |
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| UEFA Champions League (UCL) | 28 Sep 2011 | Arsenal FC 2 - Olympiakos 1 |
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| UEFA Champions League (UCL) | 9 Dec 2009 | Olympiakos 1 - Arsenal FC 0 |
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Arsenal FC
   |
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| 14 May 2013 | Arsenal FC 4 - Wigan Athletic 1 | EPL |
| 4 May 2013 | QPR 0 - Arsenal FC 1 | EPL |
| 28 Apr 2013 | Arsenal FC 1 - Manchester United 1 | EPL |
| 20 Apr 2013 | Fulham 0 - Arsenal FC 1 | EPL |
| 16 Apr 2013 | Arsenal FC 0 - Everton 0 | EPL |
Olympiakos
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| 21 Apr 2013 | Olympiakos 2 - Panionios 1 | GRE1 |
| 14 Apr 2013 | Olympiakos 1 - Panathinaikos 1 | GRE1 |
| 7 Apr 2013 | Platanias 0 - Olympiakos 4 | GRE1 |
| 31 Mar 2013 | Olympiakos 0 - PAOK 0 | GRE1 |
| 17 Mar 2013 | Kerkyra 0 - Olympiakos 1 | GRE1 |
| Returns: | Arsenal £15.70 |
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| Returns: | Draw £150.00 |
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| Returns: | Olympiakos £810.00 |
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Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET! |
| 13 | Wojciech Szczesny | Goalkeeper |
| 3 | Bacary Sagna | Defender |
| 4 | Per Mertesacker | Defender |
| 27 | Andre Santos | Defender |
| 7 | Tomas Rosicky | Midfielder |
| 8 | Mikel Arteta | Midfielder |
| 25 | Alex Song | Midfielder |
| 35 | Emmanuel Frimpong | Midfielder |
| 23 | Andrey Arshavin | Midfielder |
| 15 | Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain | Striker |
| 29 | Marouane Chamakh | Striker |
| 21 | Lukasz Fabianski | Goalkeeper |
| 25 | Carl Jenkinson | Defender |
| 28 | Kieran Gibbs | Defender |
| 16 | Aaron Ramsey | Midfielder |
| 35 | Francis Coquelin | Midfielder |
| 18 | Chu-Young Park | Striker |
| 20 | Robin van Persie | Striker |
| - | Franco Costanzo | Goalkeeper |
| 4 | Olof Mellberg | Defender |
| 20 | Jose Holebas | Defender |
| 25 | Marcano | Defender |
| - | Vasilis Torosidis | Defender |
| 7 | Ariel Miguel Ibagaza | Midfielder |
| 8 | Ljubomir Fejsa | Midfielder |
| 19 | David Fuster | Midfielder |
| 6 | Orbaiz | Midfielder |
| 10 | Rafik Zoheir Djebbour | Striker |
| 11 | Kevin Mirallas | Striker |
| 42 | Balasz Megyeri | Goalkeeper |
| 3 | François Modesto | Defender |
| 21 | Avraam Papadopoulos | Defender |
| 92 | Giannis Potouridis | Defender |
| 17 | Jean II Makoun | Midfielder |
| 93 | Djamel Abdoun | Midfielder |
| 9 | Marko Pantelic | Striker |
| Robin van Persie | |
| Position: | Striker |
| Squad Number: | 20 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
After bagging his 100th goal, the new captain will hope to continue his form and skipper his side to another Champions League victory.
His biggest aim this season will be to avoid injuries as there is no doubt that when on a run of games such as he is enjoying currently, he is one of the world’s deadliest forwards.
His biggest aim this season will be to avoid injuries as there is no doubt that when on a run of games such as he is enjoying currently, he is one of the world’s deadliest forwards.
| Olof Mellberg | |
| Position: | Defender |
| Squad Number: | 4 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The Swedish centre-half has plenty of experience of playing against Premier League sides and will have to produce a heroic performance to gain even a point for his side.
He will have to use all of his nous gained over a long career to prevent Arsenal’s free-flowing attacking triumvirate from getting behind the Olympiakos defence.
He will have to use all of his nous gained over a long career to prevent Arsenal’s free-flowing attacking triumvirate from getting behind the Olympiakos defence.
Given Arsenal’s improving form and Olympiakos’ appalling European away record, it would seem there is only one way for this tie to go.
Van Persie should continue to provide the goals given the impressive service of Gervinho and Walcott and the defensive solidarity supplied by a returning Song should provide enough cover.
It would be a small miracle for the Greek side to pull off a victory here but given the experience in their defence, a draw might not be unthinkable.
That said, all things remaining equal, Arsenal should have too much on the night.
Van Persie should continue to provide the goals given the impressive service of Gervinho and Walcott and the defensive solidarity supplied by a returning Song should provide enough cover.
It would be a small miracle for the Greek side to pull off a victory here but given the experience in their defence, a draw might not be unthinkable.
That said, all things remaining equal, Arsenal should have too much on the night.
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Cristiano Ronaldo Striker Real Madrid |
12 | 0 |
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Robert Lewandowski Striker Borussia Dortmund |
10 | 1 |
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Thomas Müller Striker Bayern Munich |
8 | 1 |
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Lionel Messi Striker Barcelona |
8 | 0 |
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Burak Yılmaz Striker Galatasaray |
8 | 0 |
