Arsenal vs Olympiacos preview - Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger stresses need to beat Olympiacos

Posted Tuesday, September 29, 2015 by PA

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger warned his side are already facing a must-win game in only their second Champions League group tie against Olympiacos at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners host the Greek leaders, who have won all of their five domestic fixtures, needing to recover from a disappointing opening Group F defeat away to Dinamo Zagreb, where striker Olivier Giroud was sent off.

With a double-header next against Bayern Munich, Wenger concedes Tuesday's contest now leaves no margin for further error.

He said: "You have to win your home games if you want to qualify from the group stage, it's as simple as that.

"We cannot afford to drop points now against anyone at home.

"Olympiacos dominate their league, they are a team with a big advantage - they dominate their league easily, so they can prepare for these kinds of games.

"They are well organised and have some players who know the Premier League, like (Esteban) Cambiasso and (Pajtim) Kasami, who both played in England."

It has been a poor start for English sides in Europe's elite club competition this season, with defeats for both Manchester clubs as well as Arsenal.

Wenger, though, does not believe any definitives can yet be drawn.

He said: "The Premier League is very, very tough. Is that an influence or not? I don't know, but it's a bit early to come to any conclusions. We have to wait a little bit longer.

"A second year without us being successful and you could come to a conclusion of, 'yes, there is something we have to analyse deeply', but I don't believe so at the moment.

"Are we far away? I don't think so, but we have to show that with our performance."

Olympiacos manager Marco Silva claims his side are ready to create history and pull off a shock result.

The Greeks are yet to record a victory on 12 visits to England, which have included heavy losses at the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Newcastle and Liverpool.

Arsenal beat Olympiacos 3-1 in London three years ago, maintaining their 100 per cent home record against them in recent Champions League meetings.

Silva, though, believes his current squad have what it takes to recover from their opening Group F defeat against Bayern Munich.

"We are prepared to get the best result we can. We know it will be a difficult game, how big a team Arsenal are and respect them, but we believe in our own strengths and are ready for a strong game," said the former Sporting Lisbon coach, who took charge in Athens over the summer.

"We are going to come here and show our best self, to show what we can do.

"We have analysed the jobs which Arsenal do well and will try not to make mistakes and match what we have done in training.

"If you asked people who would be the first two in the group they would say it is Bayern and Arsenal, but football is not like this - there are no rules to say the favourites must win all of the games."