Two teams wey score 96th-minute winners for weekend go lock horns midweek as Arsenal host Olympiacos on Wednesday night for dia second Champions League group game. The Gunners beat Athletic Bilbao 2-0 for matchday one, while Olympiacos draw 0-0 with Pafos.
Match Preview
Arsenal dey enjoy late magic this season. For dia last four games, Mikel Arteta use subs wey change everything. Against Bilbao, Trossard and Martinelli come off bench to combine for both goals.
Same story against Man City and Port Vale, before Merino and Gabriel seal comeback win over Newcastle on Sunday.
The win for St James’ Park put Arsenal just two points behind Liverpool for Premier League race. Dem still dey eye double glory – Champions League and Premier League. History dey on dia side: Arsenal don win dia last 13 UCL group/league-phase home games, with 10 of those clean sheets.
For Olympiacos, frustration plenty. Dem dominate Pafos with man advantage but still no score. That 0-0 mean dem don only win 2 of dia last 21 group-stage Champions League games. Worse still, dem dey on 10 straight away losses for UCL group stage – last win na October 2015 vs Dinamo Zagreb.
Still, Olympiacos carry small confidence enter London after 3-2 win over Levadiakos with last-minute strike from Chiquinho. History also dey help dem: they don win 6 of 12 clashes with Arsenal, including last three visits to Emirates.
Team News
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard return from injury against Newcastle and even assist Gabriel’s winner. Injured list still hold Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Jesus (all knee), plus Piero Hincapie (groin). William Saliba likely replace Mosquera after his poor first half on Sunday.
Olympiacos dey without striker Roman Yaremchuk and right-back Rodinei. Remy Cabella and Yusuf Yazici also miss out because dem no dey squad list. But Chiquinho surely go start behind striker after his brace, while Podence dey set to play from left.
Arsenal possible XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Merino; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli
Olympiacos possible XI: Paschalakis; Costinha, Retsos, Pirola, Ortega; Garcia, Hezze; Strefezza, Chiquinho, Podence; El Kaabi
Prediction
We say: Arsenal 3-0 Olympiacos
Olympiacos get fine record at Emirates but e likely end here. Arsenal defence dey too solid, and Olympiacos attack no sharp enough to trouble dem. With Saka, Martinelli and Gyokeres firing, expect Arsenal to keep clean sheet and make am two wins from two.
