In the last 7 days the Gunners have done a grand job of putting the horrible previous week to bed by knocking the old enemy out of the league cup before dispatching Leicester, the only unbeaten team in the league, 5-2 away from home. If they can win tomorrow night in the CL then they’ll too banish the ghost of the loss to Zagreb.
Once again, I’m going into this preview with little to no knowledge of the team we face so please bare with me as I struggle awkwardly through this piece.
Vital Quotes:
Wenger – ‘You have to win your home games if you want to qualify from the group stage. It’s as simple as that.’
‘We can’t afford to drop points against anybody at home. We are in a position where we have to win our games and I am confident we will.’
Arsenal Team News:
The Gunners face a bit of a defensive midfielder crisis as Mathieu Flamini and Mikel Arteta were both injured in the win over Leicester, however Francis Coquelin could return, however with United coming to town on Sunday I’m not sure if Arsene will risk him in what should be a very winnable match.
Giroud is suspended after his red card in Zagreb.
Player to watch: The Ox
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been a huge focus in the media leading up to this game and I think given how Arsenal have presented him he’s going to start the game tomorrow.
Aaron Ramsey playing out wide hasn’t worked (ever) so I reckon The Ox will take up that position with the possibility of Rambo playing the holding role should the gaffer choose not to risk Le Coq.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has huge potential and is an incredibly positive influence on the side going forward however he does need to address his decision making as on a number of occasions recently he’s given the ball away in extremely dangerous positions.
Of course all this speculation could be massively wide of the mark and he could be on the bench tomorrow meaning I’ve just wasted my … and everybody else’s … time.
Olympiacos Team News:
Milivojevic is missing for the Greek’s following a red card (presumably for violent conduct) in last season Europa League whilst their defender, Manuel da Costa, misses the tie through injury.
Player to watch: Errrrmmmm
Once again I can not offer any insight on the players of Olympiacos, in fact the only player in their team I’ve even heard of is Esteban Cambiasso, and at 35 years old I’m not sure he’s going to be the one to watch (or if he’ll even play).
Watch him go and bang in a hat-trick now.
Match Facts & Stats
Olympiacos have won every league game so far this season with 5 wins out of 5.
Every time Arsenal and Olympiacos have met in the CL, the home team has always won the game.
Match Prediction:
I’m going to be bold this week, I’ve had a few score lines right, my player to watch for the Leicester game was Sanchez so I feel I’m on a run.
3-1 to the Gunners, Walcott with a brace and Cazorla with a free-kick.
Cambiasso for the Greeks?
Next Fixtures:
Sunday 4th October – Man Utd (h) – 4pm