Arsenal are hoping lightning does not strike for a fourth consecutive time at residence to Olympiacos in Europe.
The Gunners welcome the Greek giants to the Emirates on Wednesday evening – stay on talkSPORT – for the second matchweek of the Champions League.
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Mikel Arteta’s males edged out Athletic Bilbao final outing in Spain in a gritty 2-0 victory.
In the meantime Olympiacos are searching for their first win within the league section this time period following their 0-0 draw to Cypriot outfit Pafos a fortnight in the past.
However Gooners know the danger that the Tremendous League facet carry.
Simply point out the membership’s identify to Arteta and the Spaniard would certainly take a pointy consumption of breath.
How have Arsenal fared towards Olympiacos?
The 2 groups have confronted one another in Europe on 12 events – with every of the conferences coming within the final 16 years.
Each golf equipment have received six matches apiece, with their victories cut up down the center by way of on residence soil and on the highway.
Olympiacos have run out winners on the Emirates in every of their final three visits – with Arteta in cost for 2 of the defeats.
Their first – and final victory in north London within the Champions League – got here in September 2015, the place they received 3-2 in a five-goal thriller.
The consequence meant that Arsenal had misplaced their opening two group stage matches within the European Cup for the primary time ever.
And the Piraeus-based membership went on to beat Arsenal within the Europa League knockout phases in England’s capital in each 2020 [Round of 32] and 2021 [last-16].
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However it’s the February 2020 defeat – simply two months into Arteta’s reign in cost – that represented one of many darkest days for Arsenal in Europe.
Arsenal had one foot within the last-16 heading into the second leg because of Alexandre Lacazette’s late winner on the Karaiskakis Stadium.
However the unthinkable occurred per week later with Olympiacos rising 2-1 victors within the reverse fixture to progress into the following spherical on away targets.
It noticed Arsenal create undesirable membership historical past by crashing out of Europe for the primary time having beforehand received their 17 earlier ties when successful the primary leg away from residence.
Ousseynou Ba compelled the sport into extra-time after being allowed a free run to go residence having obtained on the top of Mathieu Valbuena’s inswinging nook.
An acrobatic effort from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang within the 113th minute seemed to be sufficient to see Arsenal edge out a 2-1 combination win.
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Nonetheless, goalkeeper Bernd Leno was culpable of a obtrusive mistake when he dithered in sending the ball lengthy, leading to him gifting the guests a nook.
And Olympiacos duly made Leno pay for the error, as Youssef El-Arabi slid in from shut vary within the 119th minute after Arsenal did not clear the preliminary nook.
A surprised Arsenal crowd have been then left with their head in palms after Aubameyang missed a sitter from seven yards within the third minute of stoppage time.
Arteta failed to cover his disappointment following the full-time whistle in what was the primary main heartbreak he suffered as a supervisor.
He even known as out Leno over his mistake which in the end proved pricey.
What did Mikel Arteta say about Bernd Leno?
Talking of the German in his post-match press convention, Arteta mentioned: “Sure, clearly he may have kicked it out, however then there’s one other scenario to defend.
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“It isn’t solely the primary section, but it surely’s the second section of that nook that we concede and the participant steps in and simply faucets within the ball within the six-yard field, which is unacceptable.
“It’s one thing that now we have to enhance on. We have carried out probably the most troublesome factor to react after that, to play towards a workforce with ten males behind the ball in 25 metres.
“And even on the finish, we had an unimaginable alternative to win it.
“Had we gone by vitality smart, it might have given us a giant elevate once more and [brought] all people collectively.
“It’s a large disappointment and I’m proper behind the boys, the way in which they performed, the way in which they tried.
“The hassle that they put into recreation was huge and now we have to maneuver ahead collectively.”
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A yr later and Olympiacos would as soon as once more prevail on the Emirates – successful 1-0 within the last-16 second leg.
Although fortuitously for Arsenal, they went by to the quarter-finals having received 3-1 in Greece within the first leg.
Arsenal go into Wednesday’s conflict with Olympiacos having received their final seven residence Champions League group phases matches.
And they’re unbeaten of their earlier 12 group fixtures in Europe’s premier competitors since shedding to Olympiacos in 2015.
However they know that if any workforce has the aptitude to dampen the temper on the Emirates in Europe, it is Olympiacos.
