Arsenal return to Champions League action with a home game against Olympiacos on Wednesday at 8pm.
Mikel Arteta’s men won their opening match of the competition, beating Athletic Bilbao away from home.
Arsenal predicted lineup vs Olympiacos
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Merino; Nwaneri, Eze, Trossard; Gyokeres.
The Gunners have won their past five Champions League group stage matches, a run stretching back to last season. They’ll be looking to win six in a row for the first time since November 2005.
Olympiacos drew their first group game, a goalless stalemate against Cypriot side Pafos. And they’ve only scored one goal in their past six Champions League matches.
Arsenal team news vs Olympiacos
Martin Odegaard returned from injury to make an appearance off the bench against Newcastle United on Sunday. But he may have to make do with another appearance from the bench, as Arteta will want to manage his return.
The win over Newcastle also saw Arsenal switch to a 4-2-3-1, with Eberechi Eze playing through the middle — rather than on the left of a front three. So we may see Arsenal stick with that, as it is the best way for Eze to play.
William Saliba should come back into the starting XI, having been initially replaced by Cristhian Mosquera against Newcastle. The Frenchman came off the bench at half-time.
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Arteta may use this match to rotate a little, though. Declan Rice could potentially drop out to be replaced by Mikel Merino. While Ethan Nwaneri could offer a chance to rest Bukayo Saka — Arsenal won’t want to start him in two consecutive games so soon after his return.
Unfortunately for Arsenal, Noni Madueke is out until November, so the Gunners have lost a rotation option there. Piero Hincapie, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are also out injured.
Arsenal to build on stingy defence
Arsenal made it to the semi-finals of the Champions League last season. And they’ll be hoping for a similar run this time around. If they can continue their defensive run, the Gunners will have a good chance.
Since the start of the 2023-24 Champions League season, Arsenal have conceded 18 goals in 25 games. That works out to an average of 0.72 goals conceded per game. It’s the best record of any team to have been involved in the last two editions of the competition. Arsenal also have the lowest Expected Goals Conceded average among that same group, with 0.9 per match.
It’s a group effort too. David Raya has faced 14.8 xG on Target in the Champions League since the start of last season. But he’s only conceded nine goals — preventing 5.8. Again, that’s the best return of any goalkeeper in the Champions League since the start of last season.