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Preview: Arsenal v Olympikos: Team News, Line-Up & Prediction

By on September 29, 2015

arsenal champions league

We need to get our Champions League campaign back on track when we take on Olympiakos at the Emirates tonight.

A shock defeat away to Dinamo Zagreb two weeks ago has left us playing catch-up and we simply can’t afford any slip-ups at home.

With a double-header against Bayern Munich up next, three points are a must this evening or our qualification hopes will be hanging in the balance after just two games.

Realistically, we’re highly unlikely to beat the Germans to top spot now so the key is finishing second and beating Olympiakos at home is vital if we’re to achieve that aim.

Team News

We’ve been handed a big boost with Francis Coquelin back in full training and he could return after missing the last two games with a knee injury.

However, Mathieu Flamini will miss out with a hamstring injury while Mikel Arteta is also missing after picking up a muscle injury against Leicester.

Arsene is set to rest Petr Cech and hand David Ospina another start in goal, while Aaron Ramsey is also expected to be given a breather with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain coming in on the right wing.

Gabriel is available again after serving his one-game domestic ban but Olivier Giroud is suspended after his sending off against Zagreb while Jack Wilshere, Danny Welbeck and Tomas Rosicky are all out injured.

Preferred Line-Up

So it looks like Arsene is going to leave Cech and Ramsey out but I think that’s a mistake. Sure, Sunday’s game with United is important but surely we can’t be treating the Champions League with such contempt? We fight so hard to make the top four and qualify for the Champions League then rest players when we’re in it? Doesn’t make sense to me.

Therefore, I’d start Cech and Ramsey but I wouldn’t risk Coquelin. He’s only had two days training and there’s no point rushing him back and risking a set-back.

This is the side I’d go with:

In reality, I’d expect Arsene to pick: Ospina, Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Sanchez, Walcott.

Prediction

Olympiakos are usually a difficult side to face away from home but Bayern smashed them 3-0 in Greece on matchday one. They have a very poor record on the road so I’d expect us to secure a comfortable win this evening. Arsenal 2-0 Olympiakos.

COYG!!!

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