Two sides who both grabbed dramatic 96th-minute winners over the weekend now turn their attention to the Champions League, as Arsenal welcome Olympiacos to the Emirates on Wednesday night for their second group-stage outing of the campaign.
Arsenal began their European journey in style with a 2-0 win away at Athletic Bilbao, while Olympiacos stumbled at home, frustrated by debutants Pafos in a goalless draw.
Mikel Arteta’s team have already developed a reputation for late fireworks this season. In each of their last four games, Arsenal’s substitutes have turned the tide. Against Athletic Bilbao, it was Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli who stepped off the bench to combine for two late goals. The pattern continued against Manchester City, Port Vale, and most recently Newcastle, where Mikel Merino and Gabriel Magalhaes completed a stirring comeback at St James’ Park.
That victory not only ended a long-standing curse on Tyneside but also allowed the Gunners to close the gap on the defending Premier League champions, with Liverpool, Chelsea, and Tottenham all slipping up. With confidence high, Arsenal are targeting another deep run in Europe. Their record at home in the competition is intimidating: 13 straight wins in the group stage, 10 of those without conceding.
For Jose Luis Mendilibar and Olympiacos, the story is far less inspiring. Their opening draw with Pafos highlighted familiar frustrations. Despite dominating possession and firing 18 shots, they could not break down a team reduced to 10 men in the first half. That result leaves Olympiacos with just two wins from their last 21 group-stage matches, and they have lost their last 10 away games in this phase of the tournament.
Still, the Greek champions travel to London unbeaten domestically and buoyed by their own late heroics, edging Levadiakos 3-2 thanks to Chiquinho’s 96th-minute strike. History also offers them some encouragement: Olympiacos have beaten Arsenal six times in European competition and, remarkably, won on their last three visits to the Emirates.
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
Arsenal welcomed their captain back at the weekend, and he wasted no time making an impact. Martin Odegaard, returning from a shoulder injury, delivered the corner that set up Gabriel’s match-winning header against Newcastle. His comeback is a huge boost for Mikel Arteta, though the manager still has four players unavailable.
Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke, and Gabriel Jesus are all sidelined with serious knee injuries and are not expected back until the winter months. Defender Piero Hincapié is also struggling with a groin issue that continues to trouble him, ruling him out of contention for now.
Sunday was a forgettable outing for young centre-back Cristhian Mosquera, who conceded the corner for Newcastle’s opener before being substituted at half-time. With William Saliba ready to step back in, Arteta is likely to make that change as he tweaks his lineup for the midweek clash.
Olympiacos, meanwhile, have far fewer injury concerns. Ukrainian forward Roman Yaremchuk and young midfielder Lorenzo Scipioni are both out, the latter with a knee problem. Yet the bigger absences are two creative names that Mendilibar cannot even select. Neither Remy Cabella nor Yusuf Yazici — a Ligue 1 winner with Lille were registered in the squad for this phase of the competition, leaving the Greek side without two potential game-changers.
That said, Chiquinho’s form makes him undroppable. Fresh from his brace at the weekend, capped by a stoppage-time winner, the 30-year-old is certain to keep his role in the number 10 position. On the flanks, former Wolves winger Daniel Podence should provide the width from the left as Olympiacos look to cause an upset in London.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Merino; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli
Olympiacos possible starting lineup:
Paschalakis; Rodinei, Retsos, Pirola, Ortega; Garcia, Hezze; Strefezza, Chiquinho, Podence; El Kaabi
EXPERT PREDICTIONS
Arsenal 3-0 Olympiacos
