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Attendance: 60,242
Arsenal logo
Europa League | Round of 32
Feb 27, 2020 at 8pm UK
 
Olympiacos

1-2

Aubameyang (113')
FT
(aet)
Abou Cisse (53'), El-Arabi (120')

Preview: Arsenal vs. Olympiacos - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Thursday's Europa League last-32 second leg between Arsenal and Olympiacos at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal welcome Olympiacos to the Emirates Stadium on Thursday evening for the second leg of their Europa League last-32 tie.

The Gunners boast a 1-0 lead from last week's reverse fixture in Athens thanks to Alexandre Lacazette's late goal.


Match preview

Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette celebrates scoring their first goal on February 20, 2020© Reuters

Arsenal now have a run of positive results to match the feel-good factor around the Emirates Stadium after stringing together three successive victories.

Mikel Arteta has not taken long to transform the Gunners' fortunes and they are now gearing up for a defining period in their campaign.

Premier League wins over Newcastle United and Everton either side of the victory in Greek capital has lifted Arsenal into ninth place, four points adrift of fifth - potentially enough for a Champions League spot.

The North London outfit also have a favourable last-16 tie at Portsmouth in the FA Cup next week, but Arteta will not for one second let his players take their eyes off the ball.

Having done the hard work at the Karaiskakis Stadium, it is now a case of seeing the job through on home soil on Thursday against the best side Greece has to offer.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta applauds fans after the match on February 2, 2020© Reuters

Olympiacos returned to winning ways with a 1-0 win at second-place PAOK at the weekend to further stretch their lead at the summit, making it four victories in their last five either side of the Arsenal loss.

Overturning the one-goal deficit will not be easy for Pedro Martins' side given that they have lost 10 of their last 11 away games in European competition, not including qualifiers.

Furthermore, they have won just two of their 32 European ties when losing the first leg, while Arsenal have progressed from all 17 such ties when winning the first leg away from home.

Arsenal's Europa League form: WWDLDW
Arsenal's form (all competitions): DWDWWW

Olympiacos's Europa League form: L
Olympiacos's form (all competitions): DWWWLW


Team News

Arsenal's Sead Kolasinac reacts after sustaining an injury from a challenge from Manchester City's Rodri© Reuters

Sead Kolasinac picked up a shoulder injury early on against Everton to cut short his first start in six matches.

The Bosnian defender is considered a major doubt for this game, while Cedric Soares, Calum Chambers and Kieran Tierney are all definitely still out.

Lacazette was named among the subs against Everton, despite scoring in back-to-back games, but that should mean he is fit to start against Olympiacos.

Lucas Torreira and Mesut Ozil played no part in the first leg, though both are in contention to return to the fold on Thursday.

As for the visitors, Ruben Semedo picked up another yellow card in the reverse fixture and will therefore serve an automatic one-match ban.

Pape Abou Cisse is the favourite to replace Semedo alongside Ousseynou Ba at centre-back.

Hillal Soudani is Olympiacos's only other absentee after being ruled out with a long-term knee injury.

Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Leno; Sokratis, Mustafi, Luiz, Kolasinac; Guendouzi, Torreira; Nelson, Willock, Martinelli; Lacazette

Olympiacos possible starting lineup:
Sa; Elabdellaoui, Cisse, Ba, Tsimikas; Fortounis, Guilherme, Camara; Masouras, El-Arabi, Valbuena


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We say: Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos (3-0 on aggregate)

Lacazette's late away goal in a largely forgettable first leg ensures Arsenal have one one foot in the last 16. The Gunners have been in good form of late and will look to keep that momentum going with a routine home win on Thursday to get themselves over the line.



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Daniel Lewis
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League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
QLazio861119
2Athletic Bilbao861119
3Man Utd853018
4Spurs852117
5Frankfurt851216
6Lyon843115
7Olympiacos843115
8Rangers842214
9Bodo/Glimt842214
10Anderlecht842214
11FCSB842214
12Ajax841313
13Real Sociedad841313
14Galatasaray834113
15Roma833212
16Plzen833212
17Ferencvaros840412
18Porto832311
19Midtjylland832311
20AZ832311
21Union SG832311
22FC Twente824210
23Fenerbahce824210
24Braga831410
25Elfsborg831410
26PAOK831410
27Hoffenheim82339
28Besiktas83059
29M. Tel Aviv82066
30Slavia Prague81255
31Malmo81255
32RFS81255
33Ludogorets80444
34Dynamo Kiev81164
35Nice80353
36Qarabag81073


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