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Big Game Focus: Arsenal v Olympiakos

 

Arsenal welcome Olympiakos to the Emirates Stadium tonight in the second leg of their Europa League last 32 clash. The Gunners claimed a narrow 1-0 win away from home and will be looking to finish the job at home, while the Greek giants will look to spoil the party for Mikel Arteta’s side. Here’s the Big Game Focus. Bet on the game here. 

Mikel Arteta’s side are in the driver’s seat after returning from Olympiakos with a slender 1-0 win courtesy of Alexandre Lacazette. Arsenal’s impressive 3-2 victory over Everton on Sunday saw them stretch their unbeaten run to ten games and will head into this game as favourites.

Their Greek visitors, who have won at the Emirates Stadium before, are confident of getting a result. They were knocked out of the Champions League in December and will be under pressure to overturn the deficit against a rejuvenated Gunners side. Can they spoil it for the hosts?

Betting preview

The Gunners have won seven of their last eight Europa League matches. Olympiakos lost all three of their away games in the Champions League group stages and have lost three of their last four Europa League matches. Arsenal have also won three of the last five games against the Greek side. Five of Arsenal’s last seven games in this competition have seen three or more goals scored. Three of Olympiakos’ last five European games have seen at least three goals scored. Six of the last seven meetings between these two have seen Over 2.5 Goals. For that reason, you can back an Arsenal Win and Over 2.5 Goals at odds of 2.10. 

Arsenal have kept just one clean sheet in their last five Europa League matches. Five of the last seven meetings between these two have seen both teams find the net. The visitors failed to score in Greece. However, many of their Champions League efforts point towards them breaching an Arsenal defence that has rarely been secure this season. You can back Both Teams to Score at odds of 1.80. 

No one has scored more goals in the Premier League than Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this season. The Gabon international has two goals in three Europa League starts this season. He scored twice in Arsenal’s last game and he looks likely to breach the Greek defence. You can back Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as Anytime Goalscorer at odds of 1.70.

Team news

With injuries to both Kieran Tierney and Sead Kolasinac at left-back, Bukayo Saka will once again fill in for the Gunners. Calum Chambers and Cedric Soares are also missing from Arteta’s squad. Mattéo Guendouzi, meanwhile, is pushing for a start. Winter arrival Pablo Mari could make his debut tonight.

Rúben Semedo is suspended and misses the trip to north London. Another player unavailable to Pedro Martins is Algerian winger Hillal Soudani, who is recovering from a serious knee injury.

Possible line-ups

Arsenal: Leno; Bellerín, Mari, Luiz, Saka; Xhaka, Ceballos; Pépé, Özil, Aubameyang; Lacazette.

Olympiakos: José Sá, Elabdellaoui, Cissé, Ba, Tsimikas, Bouchalakis, Camara, Guilherme, Masouras, Valbuena, El-Arabi.

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