Champions League - Matchpack: Olympiacos v Arsenal

Team news, match facts, quotes and odds ahead of the Champions League group stage match between Olympiacos and Arsenal at the Stadio Karaiskaki.

By Opta | Eurosport – 5 hours ago

PERMUTATIONS

• Olympiacos will play in the Europa League.

• Arsenal have progressed from their group for the 13th year running but to end in first place must win at Olympiacos and hope Schalke do not beat Montpellier.

TEAM NEWS

Northern Ireland international Roy Carroll - who was between the posts for Manchester United when Arsenal defeated the Red Devils in 2005 for their last piece of silverware - is expected to start in goal for Olympiacos. The home side have no injury concerns outside of long-term absentee Avraam Papadopoulous and are not expected to field a weakened side, despite having even less to play for than their guests.

Arsenal have already secured qualification but despite top spot in the group still yet to be decided, manager Arsene Wenger has spared the likes of Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazorla, Mikel Arteta, Theo Walcott and Lukas Podolski the trip to Athens. The regular senior members of the squad who will travel to Greece are: Wojciech Szczesny, Carl Jenkinson, Thomas Vermaelen, Sebastien Squillaci, Andrey Arshavin, Gervinho, Tomas Rosicky, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Aaron Ramsey and Marouane Chamakh with the remainder of the squad comprising youth players.

Olympiacos will have to make do without Charalambos Lykogiannis, who has a sprained ankle, while José Holebas is suspended and long-term absentee Avraam Papadopoulos remains out with a knee problem. François Modesto will be rested but Paulo Machado is available after missing the weekend's domestic game.

MANAGER QUOTES

Leonardo Jardim: "Our first goal is to win and get in the pool of strong teams in the Europa League. The mere fact that we are playing a Champions League match is incentive enough."

Arsene Wenger: "This game comes at a good time. We have less pressure, as we are already through to the last 16 and we want to finish well and top of our group. It also gives us the opportunity to see players who have had less time on the pitch."

MATCH FACTS

If Arsenal win and Schalke do not beat Montpellier, the Gunners will win the group. If Arsenal do not win, or if Schalke win their match, the Gunners will finish second in the pool.

Olympiacos will play in the Europa League in the New Year.

Arsenal have qualified for the Last 16 for 13 seasons in a row; only Real Madrid have managed a longer run in the history of the competition (16).

The Gunners have hit the target with a higher percentage of their shots than any other team (62%) and converted the highest percentage into goals (26%).

Arsenal have played away at Olympiacos twice before, both times on Match Day Six and lost both games.

The Gunners have kept just one clean sheet in their last 22 Champions League matches away from home and won just seven of their last 29 on the road (W7 D7 L15).

Lukas Podolski has scored five goals in his last six Champions League appearances, including one against Olympiacos.

The Greek side have drawn just one of their last 32 European matches excluding qualifiers (W15 D1 L16).

MATCH ODDS

Olympiacos 17/10, Arsenal 8/5, draw 23/10