The Game

Having escaped an early first game scare away at Standard Liege, the Gunners will face Greek leaders Olympiacos in today’s Champions League game. Nicklas Bendtner, Theo Walcott and Denilson, together with Samir Nasri and Manuel Almunia are all ruled out of the game.

On the the line-ups and despite not convincing last Saturday, captain Cesc Fabregas and midfielder Andrey Arshavin both start, with the Russia who may team-up with Robin van Persie since Eduardo and Carlos Vela are both on the bench and Nicklas Bendtner out injured.

If you want, please do join the discussion in our comments section which will also be active when the game kicks-off. For those who don’t know where to watch the game, maybe we can help, follow this link for streaming options.

The Line-Ups

Arsenal

Mannone, Eboue, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Song Billong, Rosicky, Fabregas, Diaby, Arshavin, van Persie

Subs: Szczesny, Sagna, Senderos, Eduardo, Vela, Ramsey, Gibbs

Olympiacos

Nikopolidis, Zewlakow, Avraam Papadopoulos, Mellberg, Raul Bravo, Ledesma, Torosidis, Dudu, Zairi, Leonardo, Diogo

Subs: Urko, Domi, Galitsios, Stoltidis, Oscar, Mitroglou, Giannis Papadopoulos

Half-Time Thoughts and Analysis

It’s a siege. When one of our readers said Olympiacos are very poor, I didn’t know what to believe as after all, they are leading in their country, but poor they are and Arsenal have taken full advantage of their weaknesses and only their goalkeeper made sure the score is still goalless.

Some of the moves by the lads have been impressive, with Fabregas involved in almost all of them. In one of these moves, the captain went close but his wonderful volley came back off the bar.

Tomas Rosicky, who starts a game after a long injury lay-off was involved in a number of moves but needs a good number of weeks to find the best possible fitness level as he was visibly tired at the end of the half.

I’m sure we can go on and win this one easily, but if we don’t break the deadlock soon in the second half, Eduardo and Carlos Vela should be involved since Olympiacos have parked the bus and have no intention of trying to win this one.

At half time, it’s Arsenal nil, Olympiacos nil.