Arsenal Vs Olympiacos: Live Score, Preview, Lineup, Telecast Details
| Date | 01/10/2025 |
| Time | 12:30 A.M IST |
| Stadium | Emirates Stadium |
| Competition | UEFA Champions League (Matchday 2) |
🏟️ Champions League: Arsenal vs Olympiacos
**Arsenal** welcome their familiar European opponents, **Olympiacos Piraeus**, to the Emirates Stadium for a UEFA Champions League Matchday 2 clash. While Mikel Arteta's side is heavily favoured, they must overcome the peculiar historical anomaly of having lost their last three home games against the Greek champions in various European competitions. A win here would consolidate their strong start after a 2-0 Matchday 1 victory.
- Event: 2025-26 UEFA Champions League (League Phase, Matchday 2)
- Date: Wednesday, October 1, 2025
- Time: 8:00 PM BST (London) | 12:30 AM IST (India)
- Venue: Emirates Stadium, London, UK
- Context: Arsenal seeks to end a three-match home losing streak against Olympiacos (across UCL and UEL).
⚔️ Team Analysis & Form
Arsenal (England)
The Gunners come into the game on the back of a vital domestic win, showing excellent fighting spirit. They began their UCL campaign with a professional 2-0 win away at Athletic Club. Manager Mikel Arteta is expected to rotate his squad, with key players like Captain **Martin Ødegaard** and **Mikel Merino** likely to return to the starting XI after impressive substitute appearances. Despite being without key attacking options like Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, their midfield depth (Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi) and a fit **Bukayo Saka** make them formidable, especially at home where their European group stage record is imperious.
Olympiacos (Greece)
The Greek champions had a frustrating start to the League Phase, drawing 0-0 at home against debutants Pafos FC, despite their opponents being reduced to ten men for most of the match. Coached by José Luis Mendilibar, Olympiacos will rely on European experience and the individual skill of players like winger **Daniel Podence** (returning to London) to try and exploit any gaps left by Arsenal's rotation. Their domestic form has been solid, but they will need a monumental defensive effort to stop Arsenal's fluid attack.
⭐ Key Players
- Arsenal: Martin Ødegaard (Midfield) - The returning captain will provide the creative spark and leadership needed to unlock a deep-sitting Olympiacos defence.
- Arsenal: Viktor Gyökeres (Forward) - With Jesus out, the striker will lead the line. His physicality and sharp finishing will be crucial against the Greek centre-backs.
- Olympiacos: Daniel Podence (Winger) - The former Wolves player has flair and Premier League experience. He represents Olympiacos's biggest threat on the counter-attack.
- Olympiacos: Alexandros Paschalakis (Goalkeeper) - Given the pressure Arsenal will apply, the veteran keeper's shot-stopping and organisation will be tested constantly and could determine the final scoreline.
🎯 The Key Battlegrounds
- **Arsenal's Midfield Control vs. Olympiacos's Deep Block:** The trio of Ødegaard, Zubimendi, and Merino/Rice must quickly establish dominance, circulate the ball with pace, and prevent the visitors from settling into a comfortable defensive shape.
- **Ben White/Lewis-Skelly vs. Podence:** The full-backs who are rotated into the side will need to be defensively alert to neutralize Podence's threat on the flank while still providing the necessary attacking width.
- **Set Pieces and Corners:** Given Olympiacos's history of snatching wins at the Emirates (often through defensive errors or set pieces), Arsenal's concentration on dead balls must be absolute, especially in a game they are expected to dominate.
🔮 Prediction and Final Word
Despite the unusual home curse, Arsenal's current form and superior squad depth should be more than enough to overcome an Olympiacos side that struggled to break down a 10-man team on Matchday 1. With key creative players returning and the home support behind them, Arsenal are expected to dominate possession and secure a clean sheet victory, ending the bizarre streak of home losses to the Greek side.
Predicted Score: Arsenal 3-0 Olympiacos.
Tune in to see if Arsenal can maintain their 100% start to the Champions League campaign!
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