May the Greek gods help you – Arsenal are firing on all cylinders

Two sides who both struck dramatic stoppage-time winners at the weekend will meet on Wednesday night, as Arsenal welcome Olympiacos to the Emirates for their second Champions League fixture of the campaign.

Mikel Arteta’s men began their European journey with a 2-0 victory away to Athletic Bilbao, while the Greek champions were frustrated in Piraeus, drawing 0-0 against debutants Pafos.

For Arsenal, the story of the season so far has been their impact off the bench. In four straight matches across all competitions, the Gunners’ substitutes have made the difference. The pattern started in Spain a fortnight ago, where Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli stepped off the bench to combine for both goals against Athletic.

That spark carried over domestically, with decisive cameos against Manchester City and Port Vale, before Mikel Merino and Gabriel Magalhaes inspired a comeback to stun Newcastle United 2-1 at St James’ Park on Sunday. The win lifted Arsenal within touching distance of the Premier League summit, with rivals Liverpool, Chelsea, and Tottenham all dropping points.

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Arteta’s side are dreaming of another title charge at home and in Europe, and their record on this stage offers plenty of encouragement. Arsenal have won their last 13 Champions League league-phase matches at the Emirates, the last 10 of them without conceding.

That is a daunting statistic for Olympiacos, who have won just twice in their last 21 group-stage fixtures, losing 16. Their opening stalemate with Pafos only underlined how fragile their continental form has become.

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Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard returned from injury at the weekend, setting up Gabriel’s winner from a corner, but Arteta still has several players unavailable. Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke, and Gabriel Jesus are all sidelined with long-term knee injuries, while Piero Hincapie’s groin problem is set to keep him out again.

After a tough outing against Newcastle, Cristhian Mosquera may make way for the fit-again William Saliba in defence.

As for Olympiacos, head coach Jose Luis Mendilibar has fewer fitness concerns. Striker Roman Yaremchuk and right-back Rodinei are both doubtful, but bigger problems lie in the squad list, as neither Remy Cabella nor Yusuf Yazici were registered for this stage of the competition.

That leaves creative responsibility to Chiquinho, who kept his place secured with a dramatic brace at the weekend, including a 96th-minute decider. Former Wolves winger Daniel Podence is expected to feature on the left flank.

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Olympiacos' recent stronghold over Arsenal at the Emirates is something to behold, but the visitors' North London luck will surely run out on Wednesday evening. After being stunted against 10-man Pafos, Mendilibar's men should not have a hope of breaking down one of the best defences on the continent, and Arsenal's embarrassment of riches up front can work their magic to make it two for two in the Champions League.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 2

Tuesday

Atalanta - Club Brugge 2-1 (0-1)

/Samardzic 73 pen, Pasalic 87 - Tzolis 38/

Kairat - Real Madrid 0-5 (0-1)

/Mbappe 25 pen, 52, 74, Camavinga 83, Diaz 90+3/

Atletico Madrid - Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 (3-0)

/Raspadori 4, Le Normand 33, Griezmann 45+1, 68, Alvarez 82 pen - Burkardt 57/

Bodo/Glimt - Tottenham 2-2 (0-0)

/Hauge 53, 66 - Van de Ven 69, Richarlison 89/

Chelsea - Benfica 1-0 (1-0)

/Rios 18 og/

Galatasaray - Liverpool 1-0 (1-0)

/Osimhen 16 pen/

Inter - Slavia Prague 3-0 (2-0)

/Lautaro 30, 65, Dumfries 34/

Olympique Marseille - Ajax 4-0 (3-0)

/Paixao 6, 13, Greenwood 26, Aubameyang 53/

Pafos - Bayern 1-5 (1-4)

/Orsic 45 - Kane 15, 35, Guerreiro 21, Jackson 31, Olise 69/

Wednesday

19.45: (2.70) Qarabag (3.35) Copenhagen (2.60)

19.45: (3.50) St.Gilloise (3.45) Newcastle (2.10)

22.00: (1.20) Arsenal (6.75) Olympiakos (14.0)

22.00: (1.95) Barcelona (3.70) PSG (3.70)

22.00: (1.83) Dortmund (3.50) Ath.Bilbao (4.50)

22.00: (1.87) Leverkusen (3.60) PSV (4.20)

22.00: (6.75) Monaco (4.40) Man.City (1.48)

22.00: (1.90) Napoli (3.50) Sporting (4.10)

22.00: (2.35) Villareal (3.35) Juventus (3.05)

***odds are subject to change***