Arsenal will welcome Olypiacos to Emirated stadium on Thursday for their second leg of Europa League last 16 tie. Arsenal won the first leg 3-1, thanks to goals from Odegaard, El Neny and Gabriel.
Only realistic trophy that Arsenal will be fighting this season is the Europa League. Also, it seems winning this trophy will only be their gateway to Champions League football. Olympiacos have once already caused upset against gunners as they thrashed Arsenal out of Europa League last season. Arsenal will play Olympiacos with a win against their fiercest rivals Tottenham Hotspurs in the weekend.
Pedro Martins’ side had chances in the first leg, though they were mostly gifted to them by Arsenal’s disastrous attempts to knock the ball around in their defensive third, and scoring at least three goals at the Emirates-albeit an empty one – is no mean feat for even Europe’s best teams. All of their focus will be on the playoff round and the Greek giants are simply hoping to avoid yet another Europa Leaguelast-16 exit. They have never progressed beyond this stage of the competition.
Only injury concern for Arsenal is Bukayo Saka as he was pulled of after he suffered from Hamstring in the weekend. Meanwhile, Ruben Semedo and Avraam Papadopoulos remain sidelined for visitors.
Arsenal possible starting lineup: Leno; Bellerin, Luiz, Mari, Tierney; Xhaka, Ceballos; Pepe, Odegaard, Smith Rowe; Aubameyang
Olympiacos possible starting lineup: Sa; Lala, Sokratis, M’Vila, Reabciuk; Camara, Bouchalakis; Bruma, Valbuena, Masouras; El Arabi
