Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger: ‘Olympiacos is a must-win game in Champions League’

A huge morale boost for Wenger will be the offensive efficiency and clinical finishing Arsenal demonstrated at Leicester which means it is unlikely that the Gunners boss will make as many alterations to his side as he did in Zagreb.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that Tuesday’s Champions League group match against Olympiacos at the Emirates is a “must-win” game.

“He is back to his level”.

“We could see in training already a different player in the last week or two“.

Forward Alexis Sanchez netted a hat-trick to help sink the previously unbeaten Foxes. Wenger will no doubt recognise this and field a strong side even with a crucial game against Manchester United on the weekend.

The Gunners lost the opening match of the group stage 2-1 away at Dinamo Zagreb, heaping big pressure on themselves to get a result in the fixture against the Greek giants.

That loss leaves little margin for error against the Greeks, so the pressure will be on Walcott if Wenger once again deploys him as Arsenal’s lone central striker.

He said: “Alexis is one of the most passionate and hungry individuals I know”.

Francis Coquelin is back in training after recovering from the knee problem sustained at Chelsea but there’s a chance Wenger could utilise Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in midfield if playing the Frenchman is deemed risky.

Marco Silva’s men started their European campaign with a lacklustre 3-0 home defeat against Bayern Munich.

Under Wenger, Arsenal have reached the second stage of the competition every season since 1999-2000, but for the past five years in they have gone out in the first knockout round.

“You have to win home games if you want to qualify, it is as simple as that”, he said.