Arsenal welcomes Olympiacos to the Emirates Stadium tonight for a Champions League group stage clash, a fixture that evokes both excitement and trepidation for Gunners fans. The match, kicking off at 8 pm, marks Arsenal's second game in the competition, following a 2-0 victory against Athletic Club in their opening match. Meanwhile, Olympiacos enters the match after a 0-0 draw against Pafos.

Arsenal's recent form has been impressive, including a late win against Newcastle in the Premier League. However, history suggests that Arsenal should not underestimate Olympiacos, who have won their last three visits to the Emirates. Across all 12 meetings between the two clubs, each team has won six times.

Mikel Arteta's side is aiming to secure back-to-back wins in the Champions League league phase. Arsenal has been strong at home in the Champions League, keeping clean sheets in nine of their last 12 home matches. Since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, they have recorded the most shutouts in home games in the competition.

Olympiacos qualified for the Champions League after securing a 19th league and cup double last season, marking their return to the competition since 2020/21. Domestically, they are currently unbeaten and leading the Super League. However, their away form in the Champions League has been poor, with just two wins in their last 21 games at this stage and losing their last 10 on the road.

In terms of team news, Piero Hincapie is unavailable for Arsenal due to a groin problem. Noni Madueke is also absent with a knee injury. Martin Odegaard, who provided both assists in the win against Newcastle, is likely to feature. Bukayo Saka is also building up his fitness. Viktor Gyokeres is expected to lead the line in attack with Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz still out injured.

Olympiacos, founded in 1925, is the most successful club in Greek football history, with a record 48 league titles. They also won the Europa Conference League in 2024, the first Greek side to win a European trophy since 2011. Their best Champions League run was in 1998/99 when they were close to reaching the semi-finals.

Arsenal has a rich history in European competition, winning the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1970 and the Cup Winners' Cup in 1994. They also reached the Champions League final in 2006, losing to Barcelona. Between 1998 and 2017, Arsenal qualified for the Champions League for 19 consecutive seasons.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes that key players are committing their futures to the club because they believe they can win trophies in north London. William Saliba recently signed a new long-term deal, extending his stay until 2030.

Despite Olympiacos's poor form in the Champions League, they have won four of their last five games against English sides in Europe. Arsenal will need to be wary of their opponent's threat, especially given Olympiacos's past successes at the Emirates. Arsenal are favorites to win the match.