Olympiacos vs. Arsenal Preview: Time to Stand Up

Key players for the game at Olympiacos

Tonight sees us take on the Greeks in our final group stage match. Having already qualified top of our group, the result, for Arsenal tonight has no bearing except to the history books...

The squad travelling to Olympiacos is our Carling Cup squad, with the exception of Thomas Vermaelen and Andre Santos. I do not expect either one of them to start the match.

There are players in this squad such as Andre Arshavin and Marouane Chamakh and Park who ought to be challenging for starting berths in the first eleven. Sadly, all three a looking pretty average since they joined the club. Park is still new but even he needs to step up and be counted.

I have no such worries for our rising midfield stars Frimpong, Coquelin and Oxlade Chamberlain. This game puts little pressure on them and i expect them to go out there and just show the manager and the fans what they are all about. It could prove to be a very interesting match.

Olympiacos know that a win for them and a loss for Marseille gives sees them progress to the next stage. They certainly wont want to be beaten on their turf by a second string Arsenal side. I expect it to be a very open game of football and I hope we go on to win it. That would be good the the general feel-good factor and confidence that exists at the club right now.

Wenger's comments about buying or not buying a striker in January I think are a veiled threat to Chamakh and Park to up their game. We certainly cannot continue to carry passengers in this team. We have done so for the past 6 years and that is what has denied us winning trophies. Long may we continue to sell useless players to Manchester City and Barcelona!!

I have no idea what the defence line will be be I expect the starting eleven to include Fabianski, Djourou, Frimpong, Coquelin, Chamberlain, Arshavin and Chamakh.

I would really love us to go and win this game, but I'll settle for a score draw.

Onwards march the Arsenal!!!