Arsenal have learned their fate for the next round of the Europa League and it certainly could have been worse versus one of the big names in the draw. The Gunners will play Greek team Olympiacos in the round of 32 which kicks off on Thursday, 20 February with the return leg taking place on 27 February. Arsenal supporters are preparing for a busy period of football as the club readies itself to name a new manager. Fans can visit extrafootie.co.uk to get the latest bet bonuses and tips in preparation for wagering on the next Arsenal match.
If the Gunners wish to reach the final once more in the Europa League, they must play eight matches to qualify for the trophy game in Poland. A lot of football must be played between now and then, but Arsenal will be quietly confident with their round of 32 draw.
A good draw
Looking at the draw for the knockout stage of the Europa League, Arsenal received a positive tie for the round of 32. The Europa League knockout stage will start in February and fans can use the latest Ladbrokes promo code for bet bonuses before wagering on the matches in the round of 32.
Eintracht Frankfurt, who finished second to Arsenal in Group F, were drawn against Red Bull Salzburg. The Austrians were eliminated from the Champions League and will be a difficult team to defeat in the competition. By finishing first, the Gunners also avoid big clubs such as Ajax and Inter Milan.
How do Olympiacos stack up?
Olympiacos started their European campaign in the Champions League second qualifying round. After defeating Viktoria Plzen, Olympiacos eliminated Istanbul Basaksehir in the third qualifying round and Krasnodar in the playoffs.
The Greek team only obtained four points in Champions League Group B alongside Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich and Red Star Belgrade. Olympiacos managed a 2-2 draw with Spurs to kick off the group stage and a victory over Red Star Belgrade on matchday 6. Sandwiched in between those two positive results were four straight group stage losses.
Despite moving into the Europa League from the Champions League, Olympiacos are in first place in the Greek Super League. As of this writing, they are level on 34 points with PAOK but ahead of their rival due to goal difference.
Who will be in charge of Arsenal?
The biggest question surrounding Arsenal is who will be in charge when the Europa League returns? Manchester City assistant Mikel Arteta is linked with the job as sportsbooks have suspended bets on the Arsenal manager.
Arteta has learned his trade under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. However, he has never managed a team of his own. Arsenal are about to go down uncharted territory with a first-time manager. Just three seasons ago, Arsene Wenger oversaw the club with his vast knowledge and years of experience. Now, just three seasons later, a manager new to the job is likely to take over.
When Arsenal and Olympiacos meet in February, it will be the ninth time since 2009 that the two sides have met in European football. Arsenal have won four times while losing four matches to the Greeks. Will the Gunners get through to the Europa League round of 16 this time?