The Arsenal manager has tried to play a few mind games with our opponents in the final Champions League group game tonight, playing on the fact that is the home side Olympiacos that has everything to lose as they go into the game in second place and knowing that they just need to get over the line.
The flip side of that, of course, is that Arsene Wenger wants his team to be able to play with freedom as we have everything to gain and most people expect us to come up short and drop into the Europa League. To really make this ploy work, it would be great for the Gunners to get the opening goal and to get it nice and early.
So as expected the boss has put the pace, movement and finishing of Theo Walcott back in the starting line up and also kept the presence and power of Olivier Giroud. We might even see them play as a front two if things get desperate but I assume it will be the usual 4-3-3 to start with. Joel Campbell gets the nod ahead of the Ox for the other forward position.
Cech
Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal
Ramsey, Flamini
Walcott, Ozil, Campbell
Giroud
Subs: Ospina, Debuchy, Gibbs, Gabriel, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Chambers, Iwobi.
There is not much else to say other than that Arsenal need to be somewhere near our best tonight. Can we do it? Course we can. COYG!
Wenger is going for it … alright!
Good luck boy’s. … you can do it!
Any win apart from 1 nil or 2-1 is good for us so go get it lads!
MAY THE FORCE BE WITH US
would have kept giroud as sub an brought on for theo later on
we need bellerin and flamini to turn up badly today
well everyone
im nervous
Hahaha ????
What do you reckon now?
???
I like the attacking part of lineup. Still hoping Mertesacker doesnt get exposed. Walcott has a good scoring record though. C’mon Arsenal!
All those arsenal all those arsenal fan who have been slagging Joel Campbell while regarding players wilshere as close to world class can eat their humble pie.
The guys has barely had Kick in an arsenal shirt but is already closing on wilshere and ox in goals scored and assist. He is also of the same age group
Let’s do this boys!
*****WE GOT THIS, COYG*****
Its here!!! Its the biggest game of our season so far and nothing less than a target of 3goals and keeping it tight at the back. We are not really backed by anyone so lets prove them wrong and i like the starting line up v much. Flamini stick to ur job and i think well be ok.
COYG
Will settle for 5-1 tonight COYG – hate BT sport last night 3 Utd ex stars and 1 ex commentating – tonight 1 gunner – 1 Liverpool – 1 Utd
sort out the northern bias BS BT
It doesn’t even matter if we concede once or twice today, we absolutely need to score at least three! COYG!!!
Easier if we dont concede tbh!!
Yeah we got this! COYG!
were not tracking back, flamini an ramsey are gonna have to help.
merts being targeted
Come on gunners! We can do this keep the faith! Coyg!
bloody hell what an atmosphere
scary stuff
full backs look shaky- need protection!
Hahaha ???
Of course its scary! ?
That’s because you’re used to the library ?
It feels like war, in these kind of countries!
We are getting so pressured
Walcott and Campbell need to track back, their wingers are having a field day.
what a beautyyyy
Yeeeeeeeesssssss!!!!
Our assist king ozil had a hand in the goal with a nice pass to release rambo!
It was sublime pass to Ramsey
Winning 1-0 we can do this guys
Damn, Ramsey is so close to get a red. I don’t actually like this, we look so vulnerable at the back.
We need at least 2 more!!
Should be 2-0 up here. Flaminis deflected shot was going in then rattled off the bar! Think we can grab a 2nd here but cant just sit back we need the 3rd to guarntee qualification to the last 16
we need 2 – i see them getting a goal
ramsey looking possible for a red
ozil needs to see more of the ball
we only have ox as another option going forward lol
Another goal and we are there..2-0 and we qualify..COYG !!!
After 1st half: Flamini hit the wood work, Giroud scores and Walcott should have buried that chance…
Anyway, hoping for a better 2nd half. Delighted we got one. They will come out and that could work in our favour. Maybe we might see OX in this game.
Anyway, Arsenal’ We can do this
TEHRE!!!!!1
GOALLLL GOALL GOALL GIROUUUDDDD
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS !!!!!!!!!!
Yessss!!!! 2-0 gunners!!!!!
Yesssssssss
Get a third one now to make it certain!!
It’s gone quiet in Greece now!!!
Hey soon chairs will start flying
Nice Gunners keep it going.
Flamini or Ramsey must just sit back now
We can with the CL 😀
Giroud on a double hope he gets a hattrick! COYG!!!
ONLY CAMPBELL’S PASS COULD MAKE ME COMMENT ON THIS SITE AFTER SO MANY YEARS!
Lets get a third goal for good measure!!!! Coyg!
1 more goal for arsenal and they need 3
1 MORE GOAL- ONE MORE COME ON!
Noooooo so close
Stick or twist nervy time now. Can the full backs and flamini stay concentrated? Theo would struggle to finish his dinner!
Yess, coyg
Lucky to still be up by 2, who saved us there?
We must not sit too deep, I think some fresh legs will be needed soon
Penalty yes yes yes
OG first hatrick for Arsenal
Campbell is hvn a good game today.
I called the Giroud hat trick!!! hahahaah
yes u did and someone else
u wizard you!
Top play OG, top game 10 performance right there
AHAHHHHHHHHH
Up Gunners!!!
Winter seems to have come quite early in Greece……I think it’s time to chill.
3-0 gunners!!! We are in overdrive!!!! Coyg!
OG first CL Hatrick. Arsene got his selection and tactics right.
That’s it done, Greeks now need 3 to win
Cong Giroud. His first hattrick at Arsenal.
Well done oliver giroud hattrick! Coyg!
This is our greatest comeback in our history
Needing to beat Bayern, Zagreb and Olympiakos by two goals
Tonight Giroud is our Lewandowski lol
COYG
Silence in Greece tonight – oh yes – now I can laugh at my Utd mates at work in the morning
Think Campbell has earned his place with some decent performances, hope he continues to improve.
The fight will be good for ox as well.
I do not get that substitution. Wenger is inviting pressure. Now the have an extra man in the midfield due to the subbing of theo
Kos has been superb tonight as well, if OG didn’t get hatrick Kos would be MOTM
Man of the match
Ozil
Montreal
Campbell.
They simply served everything on a plate for giroud
OG still had to finish, he took his chances.
I am his biggest critic, but 3 goals, some good hold up and passing he deserves it.
Followed by Kos, Campbell and Ozil for me
Campbell, Giroud and Ozil excellent performances. Similar from the defense, really solid display from the team! Really happy! COYG
per and kos-looked solid!
Campbell is been very good tonight. Big up for the courage to take advantage of the absence of key players. Monreal is really a player we just don’t praise enough. Dude is very good at his job.
Giroud definitely gets MOTM
But big shout out to Cech, Campbell, our defense
Everyone really
I’m sooo happy
No Europa League with Man U lol
we gooners keep our thursday free for other exploits-
I called for us to give up on Europe, glad I was wrong.
Perfect timing for our December fixtures.
Enjoy tomorrow guys, don’t forget to wear your Arsenal shirts.
I fancy Manchester United in next round
Who do you guys fancy in next round?
I don’t want yo comment now until I am 200% sure that. I am not dreaming.
Please pals, dont wake me up if I am truly dreaming.
Im wearing a onezy with my lucky blue arsenal t shirt over the top. Ita working again! Banished my red one ita unlucky
Srry, Chamberlain, get used to your new role in the team.
2nded!!
Man of the match
Joel Campbell.
Keep improving and putting in a shift even though it is not his preferred position