UEFA Champions League Preview – Arsenal vs. Olympiakos
Barclays Premier League giants Arsenal will take on Greek champions Olympiakos in a highly anticipated Champions League fixture at the Emirates Stadium. The game is scheduled for September 28, 2011.
The host are currently placed second in their Group behind French giants Marseille, after the Gunners drew their first European fixture against German Champions, Borussia Dortmund.
Olympiakos, on the other hand, are bottom of the group G after suffering a defeat to Marseille in their respective opening game.
Arsenal aim to put their poor start behind them
After a horrendous start to the current campaign, in which the Gunners have recorded only two wins from six matches and have the worst goal difference in the Premier League, it seems like Arsenal have finally found the winning formula with back-to-back wins
over Shrewsbury Town and Bolton Wanderers.
Arsene Wenger’s men have an impressive home record in the Champions League matches and will be brimming with confidence ahead of the home tie. The North London giants have an almost perfect record in the Champions League group stages. The Gunners have recorded
19 wins in their last 23 matches.
The English giants will now be looking to extend their winning streak when they face Olympiakos on Wednesday night.
Olympiakos eye their first win in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/England-c749
The Red-whites entered the elite European competition after claiming the domestic title last season. Though Olympiakos have dominated the Superleague http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Greece-c2908, the generally low level of competition within the league has done little to train them for European
adventures.
Valverde’s men have been representing Greece in the UEFA Champions League for some years, however, the Red-whites are yet to make an impact in the competition. Olympiakos haven’t recorded a win in England as they have suffered defeats in their last five
visits.
Looking at Arsenal’s inconsistent form, the Greek Champions will surely be hoping for all three points against the North London giants.
Previous Meeting:
These two sides last met in the group stage of the 2009/10 UEFA Champions League. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Arsenal-c38429 secured a comfortable 2-0 win over the Greek outfit at Emirates Stadium, however, Olympiakos bounced back with an empathetic 1-0 win over the Gunners at Karaiskakis
Stadium.
Team News
Arsenal:
Wenger’s men will be without a number of experienced players against Olympiakos. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Theo-Walcott-c34873 has been ruled out for the upcoming game after the Englishman suffered a minor knee injury in Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Bolton Wanderers.
Moreover, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Johan-Djourou-c18779 and Sebastien Squillaci on the injury
list.
Furthermore, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jack-Wilshere-c17463 will also not play against the Greek Champions.
Probable Line-up:
Arsenal
Starting XI: http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Marouane-Chamakh-c24294.
Substitutes: http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alex-c4752 Oxlade-Chamberlain, Chu-Young Park.
Olympiakos
Starting XI: http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Kevin-Mirallas-c20751
Substitutes: Balázs Megyeri, Marcano, Ariel Miguel Ibagaza, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Marko-Pantelic-c24209, Rafik Zoheir Djebbour.
Prediction:
Arsenal are strong favourites to emerge victors against Olympiakos and the final score line would be 2-0 in favour of the hosts.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are the writer's own and do not reflect the official editorial policy of Bettor.com
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