Arsenal predicted XI vs Olympiacos: Ozil to make first Europa League start of the season

Arsenal welcome Olympiacos to the Emirates in their Europa League last-32 second-leg tie on Thursday with the advantage of a 1-0 lead.

Alexandre Lacazette netted late on in Greece to give Mikel Arteta’s side the upper hand as they aim to extend their unbeaten run to 11 matches in all competitions and advance to the next stage.

Arsenal have lost just one of their last 13 Europa League matches at the Emirates but that defeat was in their last outing against Frankfurt in what turned out to be Unai Emery’s last game in charge.

Since Arteta took over, he’s revitalised the squad and installed a stubbornness which has resulted in just one defeat and 10 goals conceded in 12 matches.

Last term the Gunners reached the final, where they were beaten 4-1 by fellow London side Chelsea, but will want to go one better this term as they look to qualify for next season’s Champions League – something that prove be difficult via the Premier League.

So which players will be tasked with the challenge of qualifying for the next round? Here we predict Arteta’s starting XI…

Goalkeeper: First choice Bernd Leno was restored to the Europa League side after the group stage last week and will take his place between the sticks once more in what will be his 29th appearance this term.

Defenders: Hector Bellerin was handed a rest in the first-leg and could well be given time out again as Arteta balances the Spaniard’s workload. This means a the same back-four of Sokratis Papastathopoulos, David Luiz, Shkodran Mustafi and Bukayo Saka should be tasked with finishing the job they started in the first-leg. 

Midfielders: Mesut Ozil has made just one appearance in the Europa League this season and did not even travel to Athens last week. However, with his form under Arteta impressive, especially at the Emirates, expect the German to be called upon on Thursday. Backing up the playmaker should be Granit Xhaka and Dani Ceballos who struck up a good relationship in midfield in the wins against Newcastle and Everton.

Forwards: After netting the winner in Athens, Alexandre Lacazette was given a rest against Everton but should return to lead the line in this one. Once again, the Frenchman will be joined in the forward line by Nicolas Pepe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is the club’s top marksman with 19 goals this term.

Predicted XI: Leno; Mustafi, Sokratis,, Luiz, Saka; Xhaka, Ceballos, Ozil; Pepe, Aubameyang; Lacazette.