Arsenal vs Olympiacos LIVE
The Gunners are back at home and in Champions League action tonight as they look to avoid another shock at the Emirates Stadium at the hands of Piraeus. A comfortable win over Athletic Club in the first round, followed by a morale-boosting injury-time victory at Newcastle, means spirits are good in north London.
But Arsenal have rarely had it their own way against tonight's opponents. Olympiacos have, remarkably, won on each of their last three appearances at the Emirates, coming in 2015, 2020 and 2021. Across 12 meetings, each team boasts six victories apiece and the Greeks have won three of the last five.
There is plenty of cause for optimism for Arsenal, though, so look to be firing on almost all cylinders this season and face a team in Olympiacos who have won just two of their last 21 Champions League games at this stage, and have lost their last 10 on the road. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal vs Olympiacos latest news
- GOAL! Saka secures Champions League win
- GOAL! Martinelli taps home the opener
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
22:01 , Alex YoungThe odd nervy moment, but Arsenal worthy winners in the end. Martin Odegaard with a brilliant display in midfield. Played some great through-balls and setup Saka's goal.
Full-time!
21:57 , Alex Young96min: There’s the whistle! Back-to-back wins in the Champions League.
Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos
21:54 , Alex Young94min: Arsenal’s injured players are in the tunnel ready to celebrate.
GOAL!
21:52 , Alex Young92min: Game, set and match as Saka drills home between Tzolakis’s legs from inside the area!
Arsenal 1-0 Olympiacos
21:50 , Alex Young91min: Five minutes added on.
Arsenal 1-0 Olympiacos
21:49 , Alex Young88min: VAR are checking for a possible penalty to Olympiacos... but replays aren’t clear at all.
And check complete. No idea.
Arsenal 1-0 Olympiacos
21:46 , Alex Young86min: What have Olympiacos got in them for the final assault?
Arsenal 1-0 Olympiacos
21:42 , Alex Young82min: How has Odegaard not scored?!
Majestic from Eze and then Saka to tee up their skipper, who is denied by two point-blank stops from keeper and defender.
Arsenal 1-0 Olympiacos
21:38 , Alex Young78min: Rice into the book for a late lunge on Taremi.
Arsenal 1-0 Olympiacos
21:34 , Alex Young75min: Arteta takes the opportunity to take Gabriel off. Mosquera replaces him.
Arsenal 1-0 Olympiacos
21:33 , Alex Young72min: Bit a tumble from Raya onto Gabriel, but they’ll both be fine.
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
21:28 , Alex YoungArteta suddenly very animated on the touchline - more so than usual - waving his arms and trying to get his players going.
NO GOAL!
21:27 , Alex Young67min: Olympiacos think they have equalised through Chiquinho but El Kaabi is clearly offside in the build-up.
A warning for Arsenal.
Arsenal 1-0 Olympiacos
21:25 , Alex Young65min: Another Trossard chances goes begging after yet more brilliant work from Odegaard through the centre.
This time his first touch is right to cut inside, but his shot is denied by a combination of goalkeeper and defender.
Arsenal 1-0 Olympiaco
21:21 , Alex Young62min: Martins is now replaced by Taremi.
Arsenal 1-0 Olympiacos
21:21 , Alex Young61min: Zubimendi with one of those tactical fouls after Gelson Martins almost breaks away cleanly over the halfway line.
Arsenal 1-0 Olympiacos
21:18 , Alex Young59min: Gabriel gets booked for time-wasting.
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
21:18 , Alex YoungA sign of Arsenal's depth that with 30 minutes to go, Arteta can call upon Rice and Timber. The Gunners want a second goal here to kill this game.
Arsenal 1-0 Olympiacos
21:17 , Alex Young58min: It’s a double change.
Rice and Timber replace Merino and White.
Arsenal 1-0 Olympiacos
21:16 , Alex Young56min: Rice is being readied.
Arsenal 1-0 Olympiacos
21:13 , Alex Young54min: Yeesh.
Again, the build-up is perfect but Trossard fluffs his lines at the crucial moment as he fizzes a shot five yards wide of the far post with the goal gaping.
Arsenal 1-0 Olympiacos
21:10 , Alex Young51min: Lovely movement from Gyokeres tees up Trossard to find Martinelli for a tap in at the back post, but the pass is thoroughly overhit.
Arsenal 1-0 Olympiacos
21:08 , Alex Young49min: An even start to the second half, with Olympiacos showing far more guile.
Second half
21:04 , Alex Young46min: Back underway. No changes.
Here come the teams for the second half.
More of the same from Arsenal needed after the break. Cannot see Arteta making any early changes, despite his stacked bench.
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
20:50 , Alex YoungArsenal deservedly ahead at the break, although Olympiacos carrying a threat in attack and Raya forced into one outstanding save. Odegaard been excellent and found Gyokeres a few times in behind. Martinelli's goal the difference between the two teams.
Half-time!
20:49 , Alex Young48min: There’s the whistle!
Arsenal 1-0 Olympiacos
20:47 , Alex Young45min: Two minutes added on as White gives away another foul.
Arsenal 1-0 Olympiacos
20:43 , Alex Young42min: And now Trossard sends a difficult half-volley over the bar after being picked out by Martinelli.
Arsenal 1-0 Olympiacos
20:43 , Alex Young41min: Deary me, Viktor. A great ball by Trossard to send the striker free down the left, who cuts inside but then blazes over from inside the area.
Arsenal 1-0 Olympiacos
20:41 , Alex Young39min: Simon ain’t wrong.
A few nervy moments for the Arsenal back line as first El Kaabi and then Podence also carve open chances inside the area.
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
20:38 , Alex YoungArsenal are dominating this, but Olympiacos are still carrying a threat going forward. They have been a few warning signs for the Gunners already.
Arsenal 1-0 Olympiacos
20:38 , Alex Young35min: A quite remarkable block from Costinha to deny Gabriel a simple header at a corner. Not sure he knew exactly how he did it, but spun with his back leg to divert the ball away from the diving defender.
Arsenal 1-0 Olympiacos
20:35 , Alex Young33min: White is getting a talking to from Arteta before a throw in. The Arsenal manager is not happy about something.
Arsenal 1-0 Olympiacos
20:33 , Alex Young31min: It should be a second for Arsenal as, again, Odegaard sends Gyokeres scampering down on goal. He should pass it to Martinelli in space, but tries to go alone again and gets tackled.
Arsenal 1-0 Olympiacos
20:30 , Alex Young28min: It’s floated in, but Saliba does enough to deter the danger.
Arsenal 1-0 Olympiacos
20:29 , Alex Young27min: Martins does well to nip around White, and then gets fouled for his troubles. Decent chance for Olympiacos to whip a ball in from out wide.
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
20:26 , Alex YoungBen White, unlike Riccardo Calafiori on Sunday, afforded the luxury of using a towel as he prepared for a long throw there.
Arsenal 1-0 Olympiacos
20:26 , Alex Young23min: More great strength from Gyokeres to win the ball back near the halfway line, but he’s then bundled over in quite painful fashion.
And he’s stayed down.
SAVE!
20:22 , Alex Young20min: Olympiacos should be level!
Out of nothing, a fizzing cross is wiped in from the left and Podence meets it with a fierce volley which Raya superby palms away.
Arsenal 1-0 Olympiacos
20:19 , Alex Young17min: Martinelli is the target for everyone in red at the moment, such a livewire on the right-hand side.
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
20:17 , Alex YoungFirst glimpse there of the benefit of Odegaard playing with a striker like Gyokeres. Good run in behind from the Swede and great strength to shrug his defender off.
GOALLLLLLLLLLLLL!
20:15 , Alex Young13min: It’s been coming!
Odegaard sends Gyokeres flying through the centre, he holds off two defenders to shoot at goal, hits the post and Martinelli finishes from a yard out.
Arsenal 0-0 Olympiacos
20:14 , Alex Young12min: Half a chance for Olympiacos as El Kabbi pounces on a high ball in the area, which Raya gobbles up.
Arsenal 0-0 Olympiacos
20:11 , Alex Young9min: Martinelli wins a free kick out wide in line with the edge of the penalty area. Odegaard looks for Gabriel with his delivery, but it sails into the keeper’s arms.
Arsenal 0-0 Olympiacos
20:09 , Alex Young7min: Gabriel overhits a pass out of play, and Olympiacos will be ever so thankful for a breather.
Arsenal 0-0 Olympiacos
20:08 , Alex Young5min: Olympiacos are chasing shadows. Such crisp, neat passing from the hosts.
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
20:05 , Alex YoungThat is an absolute sitter, really. At the very least Martinelli has got to be hitting the target. A big let-off for the visitors.
CHANCE!
20:04 , Alex Young3min: Arsenal should be 1-0 up!
Olympiacos give Lewis-Skelly all the time in the world to pick out Martinelli in the centre, but the forward, with a free header, mistimes his jump and arrows a shot wide.
Arsenal 0-0 Olympiacos
20:03 , Alex Young2min: Arsenal with all the early possession.
Kick-off!
20:02 , Alex Young1min: Here we go!
Here come the teams.
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
19:47 , Alex YoungOdegaard on his shoulder injury in tonight's programme: "This is not like an injury where you're not fit and then you are fit, but the shoulder feels good now. It's been two weeks and I feel a lot stronger.
“The pain is fine now, it's been more about getting that strength back and I really feel like I'm back there now."
Gabi's pre-match thoughts
19:41 , Alex YoungFresh from his last-gasp winner against Newcastle, Gabriel is pumped for this one.
"Under the lights at the Emirates is always great!"
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 1, 2025
Gabriel speaks to @Becky_Ives_ after his dramatic last-minute winner at the weekend as Arsenal gear up for their UCL clash with Olympiacos 🗣️
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/30664BU35T
The last time Olympiacos were in town, they knocked Arsenal out of the Europa League knockout stages.
The time before that, they knocked Arsenal out of the Europa League knockout stages.
And the time before that, it was almost exactly 10 years ago in the Champions League.
Up for a fourth?
Final prep.
So, as Simons reports, there are a few interesting changes from Arteta tonight, but still a very strong team.
Out come Rice, Saka and Eze but in come the likes of Odegaard, Saliba and Lewis-Skelly.
El Kaabi is the real danger for Olympiacos, having scored 21 goals in 24 European games for his team.
Confirmed team news in full
18:58 , Alex YoungArsenal XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Zubimendi, Merino, Odegaard, Trossard, Martinelli, Gyokeres
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Setford, Mosquera, Timber, Calafiori, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Rice, Saka, Eze
Olympiacos XI: Tzolakis, Ortega, Pirola, Retsos, Costinha, Hezze, Dani García, Podence, Chiquinho, Gelson Martins, El Kaabi
Subs: Paschalakis, Kouraklis, Biancone, Kalogeropoulos, Diogo Nascimento, Scipioni, Strefezza, Onyemaechi, Pnevmonidis, Mouzakitis, Taremi
Olympiacos XI
18:55 , Alex Young...and the visitors!
Η ενδεκάδα της ομάδας μας για το ματς κόντρα στην Άρσεναλ! / Our line-up for today’s match against Arsenal! 🔴⚪️#OlympiacosFC #ARSOLY #UCL pic.twitter.com/tlysjdYlD9
— Olympiacos FC (@olympiacosfc) October 1, 2025
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
18:52 , Alex YoungSome rotation from Arsenal, but not as much as expected. Arteta always goes stronger than you think. Big boost that Odegaard is fit to start, he looked sharp on Sunday.
Arsenal XI
18:45 , Alex YoungHere’s how the hosts line up!
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 1, 2025
↩️ White and Lewis-Skelly in at wing-backs
⚖️ Zubimendi holding down the fort
⚡️ Martinelli on the wing
Let's keep this good run going, Gunners 👊
Team news is imminent.
Latest odds
18:33 , Alex YoungIt looks like the bookies agree with our prediction of a comfortable Arsenal win.
- Arsenal - 1/7
- Draw - 11/2
- Olympiakos - 17/1
(Odds via Betfair, subject to change.)
Simon Collings checks in
18:25 , Alex YoungLovely night for it.
At the Emirates for Arsenal’s yearly game with Olympiacos. pic.twitter.com/Ay0KZCQm8M
— Simon Collings (@sr_collings) October 1, 2025
Arteta makes Gyokeres admission after slow start at Arsenal
18:22 , Alex YoungArsenal boss Mikel Arteta “loved” the performance of Viktor Gyokeres at Newcastle - but believes the best is yet to come from the striker.
Gyokeres has made a slow start to life at Arsenal since joining them from Sporting in the summer, scoring three goals in eight games.
Arteta, however, has explained how much he enjoyed the performance and the way that Gyokeres acquitted himself in difficult circumstances.
“I loved it,” he said. “I absolutely loved how he took it. He went on board, not a single moment when he’s showing frustration.
“I told him you’re going to get some decisions, some others not. Stand up, you’re going to have two or three players around you in many moments, the ball is in the air and a lot is going to happen.
“But I loved his reaction, I loved the way he handled the situation emotionally and as well because he was involved in a lot of dangerous moments that he created. He was very much involved in them.
“It’s a pity that he didn’t score a goal at the end because in my opinion he fully deserved it.”
Arteta enters uncharted territory as summer provides selection headache
18:10 , Alex YoungIn the past, the prospect of two games a week would have been enough to give Mikel Arteta a headache, writes Simon Collings.
That may well still be the case, but this time the cause of any selection headache is far different to previous seasons.
Arsenal’s £250million summer spend and the arrival of eight new signings has given Arteta unprecedented depth.
The extent of that was reinforced last weekend, when Ethan Nwaneri travelled to Newcastle for the game at St. James’ Park - but did not even make the bench.
The 18-year-old will not be the last to suffer that fate given the options available to Arteta, and in fact, the Arsenal boss made a point of telling his squad exactly that back in the summer.
“I talked to all the players and we had a meeting specifically about that and the scenarios that we’re going to have throughout the season,” said Arteta.
“Some of them are going to start, some of them are going to finish the game, some of them are going to be on the bench and don’t be participating - and some of them unfortunately are going to be out of the squad because with the Premier League you have a limitation with the numbers.
“Sometimes we have to travel more players because things can happen, somebody can get ill or we have a doubt with somebody whether the next one is going to be available to play and unfortunately we have to do that.
“But the attitude of every player - because we have explained them and personally they know how we feel about it - has been really good and they will have the chances to play.”
Arsenal’s new squad depth is why tonight’s tie with Olympiacos feels so valuable.
Early Olympiacos team news
17:58 , Alex YoungOlympiacos will be without Roman Yaremchuk and Lorenzo Scipioni for the tie.
Former Wolves winger Daniel Podence has two goal contributions from three league appearances so far this season, and should line up on the left wing against familiar opposition.
Arsenal vs Olympiacos prediction
17:50 , Alex YoungOlympiacos are an ever-present side in European competition, but there is little to suggest they will cause Arsenal many headaches at the Emirates.
Hosting the minnows Pafos last time out - who were down to ten men from the 26th minute - Olympiacos mustered just three shots on target and squandered two ‘big chances’.
To create so little against a Champions League debutant despite having a spare man, and fail to finish what few chances did come would not fill one with confidence.
Playing away at the Emirates will surely prove too tall an ask.
Arsenal to win, 4-0
Early Arsenal team news
17:42 , Alex YoungEthan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly will hope to come into the Arsenal team tonight.
Ben White may come into the defence in place of Jurrien Timber at right-back, while summer signing Cristhian Mosquera could get another start.
Nwaneri will hope to start as the right No8 in midfield, although Martin Odegaard should get minutes, too after making his comeback in the win at Newcastle.
Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi are the favourites to play alongside Nwaneri, but Arteta has options to rest them and could call upon Christian Norgaard and Mikel Merino instead.
In attack, Bukayo Saka is continuing to build up his fitness after returning from a hamstring injury and so he should start on the right flank.
Viktor Gyokeres is Arsenal’s only fit striker right now, with Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz out injured, and so he will likely lead the line.
How to watch Arsenal vs Olympiacos
17:35 , Alex YoungTV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate, with coverage starting from 7pm BST ahead of an 8pm kick-off.
Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Discovery+ app and website.
Welcome
17:29 , Alex YoungGood evening and welcome to the London Standard’s LIVE coverage of the Champions League clash between Arsenal and Olympiacos.
It should be a comfortable evening for the Gunners, right? Well, perhaps not.
Olympiacos have won of their last three visits to the Emirates. Can they make it four in a row? Kick-off is at 8pm. Stick with us.
