Arsenal Set to Battle Olympiacos: Key Matchups, Bold Predictions and Starting XI Revealed
Arsenal aim to maintain their promising campaign start as they face Olympiacos for the 13th encounter since 2009 this Wednesday evening.
The Gunners' fanbase had become weary of facing the Greek club following their shocking Europa League elimination in 2020 during Mikel Arteta's tenure, though Arsenal secured payback in the round of 16 the subsequent season.
This matchup takes place on a bigger platform, yet the pressure remains relatively minimal at the Champions League league phase's beginning. Arsenal's journey commenced with a composed 2–0 triumph away against Athletic Club, while Olympiacos were held to a scoreless draw by competition newcomers Pafos FC.
Despite the Greeks claiming the Conference League title in 2024 and being guided by Europa League-winning manager José Luis Mendilibar, they've consistently found it challenging to establish themselves among Europe's elite clubs.
The away team currently tops the Greek Super League after six matches, but they face a significant challenge to replicate their 2020 success against an Arsenal squad that has transformed into one of Europe's finest.
Here is Sports Illustrated's preview for Wednesday's Champions League encounter.
What Time Does Arsenal vs. Olympiacos Kick Off?
Arsenal vs. Olympiacos Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)
Current Form (All Competitions)
Arsenal | Olympiacos |
|---|---|
Newcastle 1–2 Arsenal - 28/09/25 | Olympiacos 3–2 Levadiakos - 27/09/25 |
Port Vale 0–2 Arsenal - 24/09/25 | Asteras Tripolis 1–2 Olympiacos - 24/09/25 |
Arsenal 1–1 Man City - 21/09/25 | Panathinaikos 1–1 Olympiacos - 21/09/25 |
Athletic Club 0–2 Arsenal - 16/09/25 | Olympiacos 0–0 Pafos - 17/09/25 |
Arsenal 3–0 Nottingham Forest - 13/09/25 | Olympiacos 5–0 Panserraikos - 13/09/25 |
How to Watch Arsenal vs. Olympiacos on TV, Live Stream
Country | TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
United States | Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video, ViX |
United Kingdom | discovery+, Amazon Prime Video, discovery+ App, TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate |
Canada | DAZN Canada, Amazon Prime Video |
Mexico | Caliente TV, Amazon Prime Video |
Arsenal Team News
Skipper Martin Ødegaard has been managing a shoulder problem at the beginning of 2025–26, but he returned as a substitute against Newcastle and made an impact during his short appearance, setting up Gabriel's decisive goal.
Ødegaard might regain his place in the starting lineup here, while Ben White and Myles Lewis-Skelly should provide rest for Jurriën Timber and Riccardo Calafiori, respectively. Piero Hincapié was absent from Tuesday's training session and is doubtful to feature.
The Gunners remain without Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Noni Madueke in their attacking options.
Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs. Olympiacos
Arsenal predicted lineup vs. Olympiacos (4-3-3): Raya; White, Mosuqera, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Nørgaard, Ødegaard, Merino; Saka, Gyökeres, Martinelli.
Olympiacos Team News
The Greek side travels to the Emirates with nearly their entire squad available, with veteran Ukrainian striker Roman Yaremchuk and Lorenzo Scipioni being the only confirmed absences.
Many will recognize Daniel Podence on the left wing from his time at Wolverhampton Wanderers, but two other prominent players, Remy Cabella and Yusuf Yazıcı, are unavailable as they weren't registered in Mendilibar's league phase roster.
32-year-old Moroccan forward Ayoub El-Kaabi will spearhead Olympiacos's attack on Wednesday night. Arsenal fans will be relieved to know that Youssef El-Arabi has long departed.
Olympiacos Predicted Lineup vs. Arsenal
Olympiacos predicted lineup vs. Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Paschalakis; Rodinei, Retsos, Pirola, Ortega; Garcia, Hezze; Strefezza, Chiquinho, Podence; El Kaabi.
Arsenal vs. Olympiacos Score Prediction
Mikel Arteta can make strategic changes for a Champions League fixture and still field an XI that would likely challenge near the Premier League's summit, demonstrating Arsenal's impressive squad depth.
The Gunners cleared another mental barrier by securing a late victory at St. James' Park on Sunday, and there's no denying the positive atmosphere surrounding the club currently.
They possess an outstanding home record in this tournament under Arteta, and it's difficult to imagine anything other than a convincing Arsenal victory here.
Prediction: Arsenal 4–0 Olympiacos