The Champions League is back, and Arsenal fans are buzzing. On Wednesday night, the Gunners host Olympiacos at the Emirates Stadium in London for their second match of the League Phase. This is not just another group stage game—it’s a clash that brings back some painful memories. Olympiacos, a team from Greece, has developed a strange habit of spoiling Arsenal’s nights in London. In fact, the Greek side has won their last three games at Arsenal’s home ground. For a team like the Gunners, who pride themselves on their home record, that feels like a Greek tragedy straight out of history books.
But before we dive into the past heartbreaks, let’s rewind a bit and look at where Arsenal stand right now.
Arsenal’s Strong Start to the Champions League
This season, Arsenal kicked off their Champions League campaign with a bang. Two weeks ago, they faced Athletic Club from Spain and earned a 2-0 victory. The goals came from Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, two players who have been in solid form recently. It was exactly the kind of start Arsenal fans were hoping for—a confident performance, a clean sheet, and three points in the bag.
Winning the first match of the group is always huge. It sets the tone for the rest of the stage and takes a lot of pressure off the following games. But as every Arsenal fan knows, history has a funny way of sneaking into big European nights. And when the name “Olympiacos” comes up, the memories aren’t so pretty.
Once a Fortress, Now a Nightmare
For years, Arsenal’s record against Greek teams was almost perfect. They had played eight home matches against clubs from Greece and never lost—winning six and drawing two. Teams like Panathinaikos and PAOK came to North London but never left with a victory. Even Olympiacos themselves struggled in the early years, losing three times in a row at the Emirates Stadium.
Then came September 29, 2015. That’s the night everything changed.
2015: The Shock Defeat
In a Champions League group stage game, Arsenal were heavy favorites against Olympiacos. But the Greek side had other plans. Felipe Pardo stunned the crowd by scoring first. Theo Walcott equalized, but almost immediately, Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina made a costly error that resulted in an own goal. Alexis Sánchez gave the home fans hope with another equalizer, but within a minute, Alfred Finnbogason struck again for Olympiacos. Final score? Arsenal 2 – 3 Olympiacos. A shocking result that left the stadium stunned.
2020: The Extra-Time Heartbreak
Fast forward five years. The stage was the Europa League round of 32. Arsenal had won the first leg 1-0 in Greece, and all they needed was a calm, professional performance at home. Instead, it turned into one of the most painful European nights for the club.
Olympiacos scored through Cissé to level the tie on aggregate. The game went into extra time, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looked like the hero when he scored in the 113th minute. Arsenal were minutes away from celebrating qualification. But in the 120th minute—literally the last kick of the game—Youssef El-Arabi struck the decisive blow. Olympiacos won 2-1, and thanks to the away goals rule, Arsenal were eliminated. Many fans still call that one of the most heartbreaking nights in recent club history.
2021: The Third Strike
A year later, Arsenal and Olympiacos met again, this time in the Europa League round of 16. Arsenal had won the first leg 3-1 in Greece, so things looked safe. But Olympiacos, once again, refused to go quietly. El-Arabi scored the only goal in the return leg, and although still advanced on aggregate, the loss at home added to the painful record: three straight home defeats to the Greek champions.
Why Olympiacos Cause Arsenal So Many Problems
On paper, Arsenal are the stronger team. The Premier League is one of the toughest leagues in the world, and Arsenal regularly compete for top spots. Olympiacos, meanwhile, dominate Greek football but don’t have the same global strength. So why have they been such a thorn in Arsenal’s side?
No Fear Factor – Olympiacos players seem to thrive under the Emirates Stadium lights. For them, beating a big English team is a chance to prove themselves.
Clinical Finishing – When Olympiacos get chances, they often make them count. Arsenal, on the other hand, have sometimes wasted golden opportunities in these matches.
Arsenal’s Bad Luck – From own goals to last-minute heartbreakers, it often feels like the Gunners just can’t catch a break against Olympiacos at home.
Soccer Facts and News Combo
To give this story more flavor, let’s connect some wider soccer facts and news:
Olympiacos are Greece’s most successful club, winning over 45 league titles. They are basically the “Manchester United of Greece.”
Arsenal’s home struggles in Europe aren’t unique. Other big teams, like Barcelona and Real Madrid, have also had surprise defeats at home in the Champions League. That’s what makes this tournament so unpredictable.
The Champions League is special. Unlike domestic leagues where you face familiar opponents, here you can face teams from all over Europe with very different playing styles. That’s why upsets happen.
Mikel Arteta’s Challenge. Manager has rebuilt the team into Premier League title contenders, but success in Europe is the next step. A win against Olympiacos would be more than just three points—it would be a statement that Arsenal can bury old ghosts.
Recent Form. The Gunners have been solid in the Premier League this season, competing at the top with Manchester City and Liverpool. Their defense looks tighter, and young stars like Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard continue to shine.
What’s at Stake on Wednesday
For Arsenal, this game is about more than just revenge. Winning would give them two straight victories in the group stage, putting them in a strong position to qualify for the knockout rounds. It would also lift a heavy curse: ending the streak of three straight home losses against Olympiacos.
For Olympiacos, the motivation is simple. They know they’ve been nightmare in recent years, and they’d love to extend that run. Even a draw would feel like a victory for the Greek side.
Prediction
So, what can we expect? They have the stronger squad, home advantage, and motivation to end this painful run. But Olympiacos will not go down easily—they never do. If play with focus and take their chances, they should finally be able to celebrate a home win against their Greek rivals.
My prediction? Arsenal 3 – 1 Olympiacos. The Gunners will finally end their nightmare run, but don’t be surprised if Olympiacos make it a nervy night.
Final Thoughts
For Arsenal fans, Wednesday’s match is more than just game two of the Champions League. It’s about rewriting history. It’s about proving that the Emirates can once again be a fortress against any team, even one that has haunted them for the past decade.
Soccer is funny like that—sometimes the toughest opponents aren’t the biggest names but the ones that seem to have your number. For Arsenal, Olympiacos has been that team. Now it’s time to flip the script.
If the Gunners succeed, the Greek tragedy may finally come to an end.