Arsenal v Olympiakos October 1st 8 PM KO

Sicario2

1) I want revenge for Olympiakos 2020 just before Covid. I remember vividly the Olympiakos fans celebrating after like they won the World Cup. That Auba miss will haunt me.

2) I would rest both full backs - start MLS and White.

3) Keep Ode on the bench and keep Eze as number 10. Ode has to earn his way back into the team for me. Mart to play LW - done enough for me recently to warrant a start.

4) Let’s continue the momentum. Sounds simple but more we win early on in group stage the less pressure the other games will be and more we can concentrate on the league in winter months.

Mirth

Sicario2 I want revenge for Olympiakos 2020 just before Covid

cheers, I'd blocked this out somehow.

DiabyKungFu

I wouldn't be completely shocked if Dowman started this game. I don't think he will but I'd give it about a 15-20% chance.

Qwiss

DiabyKungFu hopefully he'll get on to break the record. I expect Saka to start though as long as he's fit.

USArsenal

DiabyKungFu I'd lower that to 0-1%

DiabyKungFu

USArsenal I'd lower that to 0-1%

Arteta just started Chrithian Mosquera over Saliba away at Newcastle in order to manage Saliba's minutes after an injury. I don't see why starting Dowman over Saka at home against Olympiacos in order to manage Saka's minutes after an injury would be that crazy. I reckon the delta between Dowman and Saka is pretty similar to the delta between Mosquera and Saliba. The Dowman-Saka delta might be slightly bigger, but not by that much.

Panda

Anyone know when Nwaneri is expected back? Hope he's ok.

I'd go:
Raya
White-Saliba-Gabriel-MLS
Zubi-Merino
Odegaard
Saka-Gyokeres-Martinelli

And use all 5 subs. Arteta will probably go with Rice, Timber and Trossard from the start instead I reckon.

Qwiss

Panda Zubi-Merino
Odegaard

I wouldn't mind seeing that. Merino seems to be more well suited to the CL games and he's much better filling in for Rice than playing with him.

banduan yeah and Cala needs a rest or he'll break again.

Big Willie

Mirth cheers, I'd blocked this out somehow.

Can't even remember anything about it even with that reminder.

TambourineMan

I'd like to see some rotation here. I like @Panda's line up and might even consider resting Zubimendi but we don't want to change too much either. So might consider Zubi out, but Rice in as I worry about running Zubi into the ground.

Will take a dull, uneventful 2-0 win here. No injuries, key players off at 60 mins and 6 points in the bag.

USArsenal

I watched Olympiakos play against Pafos (at home) and i have to be honest, they were awful. They could not even beat a 10 man (for the last 65 mins of the game) Pafos team that had David Luiz in the game. I would be seriously disappointed if it were not a minimum a 2 goal victory, but really, we should be easily putting 3 or 4 by them with ease.

banduan

Myles deserves a start.

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

Is Hincapié injured? I haven't seen him play at all yet (I didn't watch the end of the game vs Bilbao).

I'd rest Gyokeres and start Trossard up front.

Panda

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert Yes little groin injury according to Arteta. Hopefully back after the international break.

Pepe LeFrits

I'd go

Raya
White Saliba Gabriel MLS
Norgaard Merino
Saka Nwaneri Eze
Gyokeres

Don Pacifico

Pepe LeFrits I'd play Zubimendi and Ode personally. Don't think the former needs a rest just yet and with Nwaneri injured/Ode coming back from injury, I'd favour bringing in the latter.

Qwiss

Pepe LeFrits I can't see Arteta playing none of his first choice midfield trio in a CL game. Nwaneri should probably come in but if he does I'd guess it'll be with at least one of Rice or Zubi.

Pepe LeFrits

Is Nwaneri injured? Doh.

Don Pacifico

Pepe LeFrits to be fair, I'm only basing that on his absence from the squad yesterday.

Either way, I think it's more important for Ode to get minutes.

Sicario2

I don’t think Nathan is injured but let’s see tomorrow in the pre-game presser

est

I reckon Arteta's going to start with:

------------Raya
White-Saliba-Gabriel-MLS
--------Zubimendi
-----Odegaard-Merino
--Martinelli-Gyökeres-Eze

Then bring on Saka and move Martinelli central. Or bring on Rice and move Merino up front.

Edit: Having just written all that down, I understand that the chances of him actually not starting Saka are quite slim. Especially after taking him off against Newcastle.