The rivalry between Arsenal and Olympiacos is rarely considered one of Europe`s grand derbies, yet their encounters are invariably filled with drama.
In 2015, Arsenal narrowly avoided a Champions League exit thanks to an Olivier Giroud hat-trick, despite David Ospina comically carrying a corner into his own net earlier. Six years later, the Gunners almost squandered a significant first-leg advantage, putting in one of their most spiritless performances in European history. However, these clashes pale in comparison to the intensity that unfolded at the Emirates in the 2020-21 Europa League knockout round.
Holding a one-goal lead from their trip to Greece, Arsenal conceded to Pape Abou Cisse in normal time. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang`s stunning bicycle kick seven minutes from time seemed decisive, but Youssef El-Arabi equalized in the 120th minute. The drama didn`t end there: Aubameyang, then one of the game`s most feared forwards, had a perfect chance to score the winning goal with the last kick of the game but incredibly missed from eight yards out.
These events were merely the beginning of one of the most extraordinary periods in Arsenal`s history. Soon after the match, Mikel Arteta tested positive for COVID-19, immediately halting English football. Thus, barely having begun his managerial career, Arteta found himself at the epicenter of an era marked by strange atmospheres, unusual results, and empty stadiums.
“That`s the beauty of football as well,” Arteta recalled of that peculiar start. “I perfectly remember when we scored the goal, when we conceded the equalizer, and the last chance we had in the last second to go through. And then COVID happened… All of it is part of the journey to get to where we are now. There was a lot to swallow: coming into a massive club in the middle of the season when you`ve never coached a team. That in itself is a huge challenge. On top of that, everything happening at the club, and then COVID hit. You weren`t able to be in contact with your players or the club, and that dragged on for almost two years. It`s a lot, but I learned so much from that experience, and I think it made all of us better.”
An intriguing question arises: what if Arteta had faced the same circumstances under the watchful eyes of 60,000 Arsenal fans? Would the supporters, whose discontent in autumn 2019 led to Unai Emery`s dismissal, have tolerated back-to-back eighth-place finishes as Arteta rebuilt the team? Could the enthusiasm that transformed the Emirates into a fortress from 2022 onwards have been fostered if fans hadn`t been deprived of that communal experience for over a year?
Nevertheless, Arsenal`s current position is cause for positive sentiment. The last time they met Olympiacos, they were competing in the relatively modest Europa League. Now, Champions League football returns to the Emirates for the first time in a long while. Aspirations to progress further are eminently realistic, although Arteta remains focused on the immediate game.
“We have the same ambition, which is to go game by game and try to be better than the opponent, which is very difficult in this competition, and win as many games as we can,” he stated. “Tomorrow we`re going to have a really difficult one. We know how important the home form is going to be to reach the phase we want to arrive in, and tomorrow we have the opportunity to start well.”
Arteta possesses all the tools to start well. No fresh injury concerns emerged on Tuesday, and although a few players are missing—Piero Hincapie, Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Jesus—Arteta has more than enough quality to rotate his squad and still field a competitive XI. Following an impressive late win over Newcastle, the Gunners` upcoming fixture list appears more manageable. The weeks ahead offer a chance to accumulate wins in a more understated fashion. However, this will require the Olympiacos match to be nothing like the dramatic encounters of the past.
