The Champions League group stage got off to a rocky start for these two teams, and both Arsenal and Olympiakos will be looking to bounce back as they face off against one another in London. Both teams lost their Group F openers, but if either team can get a win in this match, they can get right back in the hunt thanks to how early in the group stage we still are.
Arsenal lost a shocking match to Dinamo Zagreb just two weeks ago, then got shut out against Chelsea that weekend, but have bounced back with two big wins since then. The League Cup may not be a big competition these days, but any win over Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby is treasured by Arsenal fans, and their resounding 5-2 thumping of a red-hot Leicester City made them look stronger than they have in awhile.
Olympiacos responded to a 3-0 pasting at the hands of Bayern Munich by running off two big league wins. Skoda Xanthi and PAS Giannina both stepped up hoping to catch Olympiacos reeling, then both sat back down hard to the tune of a combined 8-2 scoreline between the two matches. This game has all the makings of a big brawl between two solid teams eager to put their first-round losses behind them. You'd better buckle up -- this is going to be a heck of a ride.
Key player -- Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)
Arsenal dominated Leicester City on Friday thanks to their hat trick hero, the previously struggling Sanchez. The Chilean attacker had easily his best match of the season even if you take away the goals he scored, and Arsenal will be hoping he continues that high-flying form in this match. If he plays at his best, he's the kind of player that Olympiacos really struggle to slow down. If he can rule the final third, the Gunners might find themselves having fun today.
Key factor -- The midfield battle
Not to be overly dramatic, but there's a non-zero chance that Arsenal don't really have a midfield for this match. Jack Wilshere is out. Mathieu Flamini and Mikel Arteta and Francis Coquelin are all in varying degrees of doubt for this match with injuries of their own. Aaron Ramsey is exhausted because Arsenal can't really give him a break. It's possible that the Gunners will have to roll with a midfield of Ramsey on half a tank of gas and Santi Cazorla, which is probably not something they're looking forward to with how poor Ramsey and a similarly worn-out Arteta did against Dinamo Zagreb. Since central midfield is an area where Olympiacos are actually quite strong right now -- with options like Esteban Cambiasso, Pajtim Kasami, Kostas Fortounis and Alejandro Dominguez -- this could be a vital battle that changes the face of the match.
Arsenal injuries and suspensions
Out: Olivier Giroud (suspended), Jack Wilshere (ankle), Tomas Rosicky (knee) In doubt: Mathieu Flamini (muscle strain), Mikel Arteta (muscle strain), Francis Coquelin (knee)
Olympiacos injuries and suspensions
Out: Luka Milivojević (suspended), Andreas Bouchalakis (thigh), Giannis Maniatis (knee) In doubt: Manuel da Costa (calf), Domínguez (thigh)
Match Date/Time: Tuesday, 2:45 p.m. ET, 7:45 p.m. local
Venue: Emirates Stadium, London
TV: Fox Sports 2 (U.S.), OTE Sport 2 (Greece), BT Sport 2 (U.K.)
Online: Fox Soccer 2 Go, Fox Sports Go (U.S.), BT Sport Live (U.K.)