Arsenal face a massive night as they travel to take on Olympiacos hoping to avoid elimination at the Champions League group stage for the first time since the 1998/1999 season.
The Gunners, who are third in Group F and three points behind their hosts, will need to win by two-clear goals, 3-2 or better in order to qualify courtesy of a better head-to-head record.
Arsene Wenger’s side are in the tough position they’re in after losing 3-2 to the Greek side in September and suffering a 2-1 defeat away to Dinamo Zagreb on the opening night.
Olympiacos stunned Arsenal at the Emirates in September
Their 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Bayern Munich last time out was a more expected result, so home victories against Zagreb and Bayern are the only time they’ve recorded points from their five matches.
As well as a host of injuries to key players, past results and Olympiakos’ home form also predict it will be an extremely big ask for the Premier League side to qualify.
The Gunners have yet to win in five previous visits to Greece, while the hosts, who are looking to reach the last-16 for the second time in three years, have lost just five of their last 77 matches in all competitions at the Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis.
However, Wenger and his team will take some heart from the fact that Bayern managed to win 3-0 in Piraeus on Matchday one; a similar scoreline would obviously see the the North London outfit progress.
Arsene Wenger will be hoping his injury-hit side can pull of a magnificent result in Greece
Team News:
Arsenal have no new injury worries but will still be without the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla, Mikel Arteta, Danny Welbeck and Jack Wilshere.
Former Leicester midfielder Esteban Cambiasso could return for the hosts, while ex-West Brom striker Brown Ideye should play after he was rested in Saturday’s 4-3 win at Panthrakikos.
Group Position: Olympiacos – 2nd (9 pts); Arsenal – 3rd (6 pts)
Last Meeting: Arsenal 2-3 Olympiacos, September 29, 2015
Key Men: Olympiacos – Kostas Fortounis; Arsenal – Mesut Ozil
Form (all competitions): Olympiacos – WWLWWW; Arsenal – LDLWDW
Shoot Says: Olympiacos 2-2 Arsenal
