Champions League
2011-09-28 - Arsenal vs Olympiakos
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football : Champions League Match Day 2
Wednesday 28 September 2011 - Kickoff 7:45pm
This game is live on TV
Arsenal
Arsenal recorded an important win at the weekend, but there is still a bit of a cloud over the Emirates Stadium, especially considering the low attendance for the game with Bolton and the pressures of going into the North London Derby on Sunday as the underdog for the first time in a long time.
The Gunners are down in 13th position in the Premier League after a tough start to the season has seen them compile a 2-1-3 record in their opening 6 League games. They did improve their record to 2-0-1 at the Emirates Stadium after winning 3-0 against Bolton on Saturday, meaning they have now scored 4 goals and conceded 2 in those games.
Arsenal have won 3 games in a row in all competitions in front of their own fans, but it was only in the latest that their performance was a little more like what the supporters would be expecting. A 1-1 draw at Borussia Dortmund in the first round of matches has put Arsenal in a strong position to get out of the group stage if they can maintain their form at home.
They have won 10 of their last 11 home games in the Champions League since the 1-3 loss to Manchester United in the 2009 Semi Final. Arsenal won all 4 home games in the competition last season and opened this year with a 1-0 win over Udinese in the Play Offs.
Johan Djourou and Yossi Benayoun missed the win over Bolton and will need fitness tests, while Theo Walcott missed training today and is a doubt. Tomas Rosicky is available for selection.
Olympiakos
Olympiakos will be hoping they can overturn a traditionally poor away form in the Champions League and they will need to if they wish to move through to the last 16 this season. The Greeks have particularly struggled in England as they get set to visit London.
The Greek League has only just got up and running, but Olympiakos have still got a 100% record having won both their opening games. They won their only away game of the season 2-3 at Ergotelis at the weekend.
With a poor away record in the competition, the last thing Olympiakos would have wanted was a 0-1 home loss to Marseille to open this years tournament. Olympiakos have lost 3 of their last 4 games away from home in the Champions League and they have lost 5 of their last 6 away games that have taken place in the group stage or the last 16.
Giannis Fetfatzidis, Giannis Maniatis and Ljubomir Fejsa have all been ruled out. Francisco Yeste has been rested in the last 2 games to ensure he is ready to start this one.
Head to Head
Arsenal and Olympiakos met in the 2009/10 group stage of this competition with both sides winning their home games.
Arsenal beat Olympiakos 2-0 at home courtesy of both goals coming in the last 12 minutes of that game.
Arsenal have won 4 of 6 games at home against Greek opposition, and are unbeaten in all of those games.
Olympiakos have lost all 9 times they have visited England.
Prediction
You have to think Arsenal will be too strong for their opponents in this game, although that defence is not one I can trust fully.
However, they looked a lot better going forward at the weekend, although it did take a bit of time for the Gunners to find the breakthrough.
It's a little more of a risky play, but Arsenal have struggled to really get into a rhythm in their early games at home this season and I think Olympiakos will at least keep it tight for half the game before the Gunners take control.
It took a better Arsenal side 78 minutes to find the breakthrough the last time they met, and I will back the Greek side to still be in the game at half time, before the home side eventually break the deadlock.
The Draw-Arsenal double result pays at 4.33 and that is what I will be taking.
The Statistics :
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Pick :
Arsenal 1-0 Olympiakos
