Olympiakos FC vs Arsenal. UEFA Europa League Round of 16.
Karaiskakis Stadium.
Emile Smith Rowe has been suffering a muscular injury but could be fit to face Olympiakos; follow with our dedicated live blog across Sky Sports' digital platforms
Thursday 11 March 2021 09:54, UK
Team news and stats ahead of Olympiakos vs Arsenal in the Europa League last 16 on Thursday; kick-off 8pm.
Arsenal could have Emile Smith Rowe available for Thursday's Europa League round-of-32 first leg against Olympiakos.
The attacking midfielder suffered a muscular injury in the recent win at Leicester and missed Saturday's draw at Burnley.
Manager Mikel Arteta has no other injury concerns but does have Sunday's north London derby at home to Tottenham to consider when picking his team in Athens.
While most of the Olympiakos players will be familiar to Arsenal following their previous clash, one is particularly well-known.
Defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos joined Olympiakos in January after having his contract at the Emirates Stadium terminated and Arteta is looking forward to coming up against the Greece international.
Sokratis Papastathopoulos is confident Olympiakos can shackle Arsenal's match-winners as he predicted another Europa League upset for the Gunners.
The Greece defender left Arsenal to join the Super League champions after having his contract terminated in January.
Having been left out of the squads for both the Premier League and Europa League, Sokratis did not feature for Arsenal at all during the first half of the current season.
He played alongside Arsenal skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in north London as well as at Borussia Dortmund so knows what to expect from the striker and his former team-mates - but believes they can be kept quiet over the two legs of their round-of-16 clash.
"It is tough to play against top players," he said on Wednesday.
"We know Aubameyang and (Alexandre) Lacazette are great players and if they have their day they can decide a match, however tomorrow we will be the ones to win the match and have a great evening.
"As a far as I am concerned it is a bit bizarre (to be playing Arsenal), as two months ago I was team-mates with many of these guys from Arsenal.
"This is not something that you get every day in football. However, it is a major challenge for me. It's a new challenge and my mind is set on winning."
Follow Olympiakos vs Arsenal with our dedicated live blog across Sky Sports' digital platforms.
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