MX23RW : Thursday, April 25 04:59:41| >> :120:59698:59698:
[monks data]
Attendance: 31,456
Olympiacos
Europa League | Round of 32
Feb 20, 2020 at 8pm UK
 
Arsenal logo

0-1

FT(HT: 0-0)
Lacazette (81')

Arteta calls for Arsenal to show "courage" in Athens

Arteta calls for Arsenal to show
© Reuters
The sold-out Karaiskakis Stadium is often a difficult place for opposing players.

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has challenged his players to rise above the heated atmosphere expected to greet the Gunners when they take on Olympiacos on Thursday.

Arteta will be keen for his side to put themselves into a strong position to continue their Europa League quest with victory in the opening leg of their round of 32 clash against the Greek champions-elect in Athens.

The sold-out Karaiskakis Stadium is often a difficult place for opposing players and, with Arsenal's side containing a number of youngsters, the evening will be a stern test of their resolve.

Arteta is confident his younger players can handle it and wants to see the same reaction regardless of their experience to date.

Olympiacos is renowned as a tough away trip
Olympiacos is renowned as a tough away trip (Nick Potts/PA)

"It is part of the process," he said.

"You don't know until you expose them. They can have the best intention but they need to go to a stadium like here and when they make a mistake or a bad decision, have the courage to try again and play again.

"And I want to see that in my players, whether they are 17 or 35. That's what I expect from them. If they keep trying, they have my full support.

"If they hide after that, I don't like it. But what I've seen up to now, every time they play on that field they are responding really, really well. That's what I am hoping and I am sure they will do it tomorrow."

While squad rotation in the Europa League has been the order of the day under previous managers Arsene Wenger and Unai Emery, Arteta suggested he make take a different approach.

Arsenal lost to London rivals Chelsea in the final last year and may need to win the competition this time around to return to the Champions League, given they currently sit 10th in the Premier League.

Asked about the intensity of playing Premier League and Europa League games and a potential need to rest players, Arteta added: "That's why we have a big squad and we can rotate the players. But physically in Europe, the game won't be any more demanding than in the Premier League, that's for sure.

"If they have to do that every three days, it can be an issue but as well we have to try to adapt and choose the players that can perform in each game.

"We had a break of 15 days. We played just one game so tomorrow I'm going to send out a team that I think is the best to play. The rest of the game will take care of itself.

Guendouzi is believed to have fallen out with Arteta
Guendouzi is believed to have fallen out with Arteta (Bradley Collyer/PA)

"We cannot control everything. Sometimes you think about resting somebody and in training he gets a little issue or he gets sick.

"So tomorrow we will send out a team that we think is the best to beat Olympiacos and the rest of the teams after that will take care of themselves."

It remains to be seen if Matteo Guendouzi will be involved having been dropped for Sunday's 4-0 win over Newcastle.

Reports suggested the midfielder had fallen out with Arteta during the recent training camp in Dubai, with the head coach adding: "I just do my team selection and the squad in regards to how they train, how they play, how they behave.

"Every week it will be different. One week it will be one reason, one week it will be another reason."

ID:390199: cacheID:390199:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7552:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Dayot Upamecano pictured in October 2018
Read Next:
Arsenal, Spurs target Upamecano discusses transfer rumours
>
Read more about Mikel Arteta Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
10am
Blanch
Nadal
10am
Cachin
Ofner
10am
Elahi Galan
Bautista-Agut
10am
Gasquet
Sonego
10am
Hanfmann
Mensik
10am
Koepfer
Carballes Baena
10am
Kovacevic
Medjedovic
10am
Lajovic
Monteiro
10am
Machac
Ruusuvuori
10am
Michelsen
Fonseca
10am
Nishioka
Auger-Aliassime
10am
O'Connell
Arnaldi
10am
Purcell
Giron
10am
Ramos-Vinolas
Kotov
10am
Tabilo
Cobolli
10am
Zhizhen
Kecmanovic
10am
Azarenka
Maria
10am
Eala
Cirstea
10am
Annie Fernandez
Potapova
10am
Gauff
Rus
10am
Keys
Camelia-Begu
10am
Podoroska
Navarro
10am
Karolina Schmiedlova
Jabeur
10am
Swiatek
Wang
10am
Baez
Van Assche
10am
Coric
Zverev
10am
Martin Etcheverry
Shapovalov
10am
Humbert
Van De Zandschulp
10am
Hurkacz
Draper
10am
Marozsan
Cerundolo
10am
Paul
Klein
10am
Rublev
Bagnis
10am
Altmaier
Fils
10am
Darderi
Fritz
10am
Griekspoor
Daniel
10am
Munar
Struff
10am
Musetti
Seyboth Wild
10am
Navone
Rune
10am
Shevchenko
Alcaraz
10am
Alexandrova
Krueger
10am
Andreeva
Noskova
10am
Bejlek
Kalinskaya
10am
Boulter
Montgomery
10am
Bronzetti
Rybakina
10am
Collins
Danilovic
3pm
Cristian
Krejcikova
10am
Dolehide
Kalinina
10am
Garcia
Wang
10am
Linette
Sabalenka
10am
Pavlyuchenkova
Saville
10am
Sorribes Tormo
Svitolina
10am
Vekic
Sakkari
11.30am
Arango
Yastremska
11.30am
Osaka
Samsonova
11.30am
Ostapenko
Bouzas Maneiro
1pm
Haddad Maia
Errani
2.30pm
Lourdes Carle
Kudermetova
2.30pm
Mertens
Stephens
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
QWest Ham650115
QFreiburg640212
3Olympiacos62137
4Backa Topola60151

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
QBrighton641113
QMarseille632111
3Ajax61235
4AEK Athens61144

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
QRangers632111
QSparta Prague631210
3Betis63039
4Aris Limassol61144

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
QAtalanta642014
QSporting Lisbon632111
3Sturm Graz61144
4Rakow61144

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
QLiverpool640212
QToulouse632111
3Union SG62228
4LASK61053

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
QVillarreal641113
QRennes640212
3M. Haifa61235
4Panathinaikos61144

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
QSlavia Prague650115
QRoma641113
3Servette61235
4Sheriff Tiraspol60151

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
QB. Leverkusen660018
QQarabag631210
3Molde62137
4Hacken60060


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!