2020-21 UEFA Europa League Last 16: First Leg – Olympiacos vs Arsenal

Having knocked Arsenal out of this competition last season at the Round of 32 stage, Olympiacos welcome Mikel Arteta’s Gunners to the Karaiskakis Stadium in the first leg of their Last 16 tie in 2020-21 UEFA Europa League.

Olympiacos scraped past PSV in the last round to qualify for this stage whereas Arsenal narrowly avoided a shock exit at the hands of Benfica with two late goals to prevail and advance to this round.

 

Team News

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Sokratis Papastathopoulos is a doubt for Olympiacos after suffering a shoulder injury at the weekend.

Hassan Martin, Ruben Semedo (both knee), Avraam Papadopoulos (unspecified) and Ousseynou Ba (back) are ruled out.

Arsenal could be without Emile Smith Rowe if the youngster is deemed unfit as he struggles with a hip injury.

 

Stat Attack

• Olympiacos have won three of their last five meetings against Arsenal in all UEFA competitions (W3, L2), of which just one of those three victories came at home.
• Arsenal have won just two of five previous away trips to Olympiacos (W2, L3).
• Rafinha and Ruben Semedo are the only Olympiacos players to have received more than one yellow card in five home matches this season in UEFA competitions.

 

Prediction

With Arsenal having slipped back into their inconsistent ways, Olympiacos will certainly be fancying their chances but with a defensive crisis, they probably could well look to play narrow and defensive in an attempt to make life as difficult as they can for the visitors.

Arsenal meanwhile will feel frustrated by Saturday’s performance at Burnley because they were brilliant when on the attack, yet sloppy passing play from Granit Xhaka cost them so will certainly be looking for a stronger display heading into Sunday’s North London derby.

Olympiacos however has been a tricky away trip for the Gunners in the past but if they can deliver a cleaner performance without any stupid swash-buckling passes, I think Arsenal could well get a routine win here to make the second leg potentially easier.

Prediction: Olympiacos 0-2 Arsenal

Result: Olympiacos 1-3 Arsenal