Champions League
2025-10-01 - Arsenal vs Olympiacos
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA Champions League
Wednesday 1st October 2025 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV
Arsenal
After Liverpool's defeat on Saturday, Arsenal had to take advantage even if that meant earning a big result in a part of the North East where they have struggled in recent years. They were trailing as the game ticked over to 84 minutes at St James' Park, but a huge response was produced by the players and the three points earned feels huge all around.
The emotions would have been high on Sunday evening, but Arsenal will have to just control themselves and make sure they finish the next week with two big performances at the Emirates Stadium ahead of the October international break. They have already earned three points in the Champions League with an important 0-2 win at Athletic Bilbao, while Arsenal won all 4 home fixtures in the League Phase last season.
Arsenal are unbeaten in 5 games in all competitions and they have won 4 of those fixtures since the 1-0 defeat at Anfield at the end of August. The Gunners had won 3 in a row at home in all competitions, but needed a very late equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Manchester City most recently at this ground.
Martin Odegaard is back in the squad and that leaves only Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Noni Madueke as attacking absentees. Some freshening up has to be expected from Mikel Arteta with one eye on the next Premier League game.
Olympiacos
Two years ago, Olympiacos upset Fiorentina to win the Conference League, while they ended a three year wait to restore themselves as Greek Champions at the conclusion of the 2024/25 season. They even made it through to the Knock Out Rounds of the Europa League alongside the challenge to win the Greek title, although Olympiacos have made a relatively poor start to the Champions League Group.
A goalless home draw with Pafos, the Cypriot Champions, will feel like two points dropped for Olympiacos especially as the latter had been the more likely to secure the win on the day. The target will be to earn a spot in the Knock Out Rounds of the Champions League, but Olympiacos will need to find some big results to do that and they did earn victories in 2 of the 5 away European ties played last season.
Olympiacos are unbeaten in 12 games in all competitions going back to last season, while they have won 5 of the 7 games played this season. They will head to North London unbeaten in 5 away games in all competitions during which time Olympiacos have won 4 times.
Head to Head
Arsenal and Olympiacos are set to face one another for a 13th time in competitive action and all of those have taken place over the last sixteen years.
Both teams have won 6 times previously, while the bigger surprise is that Olympiacos have on 3 consecutive visits to the Emirates Stadium.
Prediction
They may not have opened the Champions League campaign with a result they would have wanted, but Olympiacos will take inspiration from teams of recent years who have really enjoyed playing at the Emirates Stadium.
Three straight wins at this Premier League Stadium has to be admired and Olympiacos were Conference League Winners just two seasons ago.
The draw with Pafos is a disappointment, but this is a side that won at Porto in the Europa League last season and Olympiacos should be given plenty of respect. They are also protecting a 12 game unbeaten record, while winning 4 of the last 5 away from home and Olympiacos will be looking to take advantage of any emotional letdown in the home squad.
Arsenal put in a lot of effort to drag themselves back into the game at Newcastle United on Sunday, although they were ultimately rewarded with three big Premier League points.
Mikel Arteta may choose to make some changes to freshen up his starting eleven, but it will still be a strong Arsenal team and one that has already earned a victory at Athletic Bilbao in the League Phase of this competition.
Last season Arsenal finished in the top eight of the Champions League by looking after the results at home and all 4 League Phase fixtures were won at the Emirates Stadium. They kept clean sheets in each of those victories and Arsenal can do the same here against an Olympiacos team that failed to score in 3 of the 5 away Europa League games played in the 2024/25 season.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos
