Arsenal vs. Olympiacos – Europa League, March 18, 2021

The Gunners carry a 3-1 advantage into the second leg of their Europa League Round of 16 clash against Olympiacos on Thursday, March 18.

Following an eventful first leg in Greece, Arsenal returns to the Emirates Stadium this week, hoping to wrap up the tie and advance to the quarter-finals.

But can Olympiacos upset the odds? Keep reading to see my Arsenal vs. Olympiacos prediction and betting pick.

You probably won’t be surprised to see that Arsenal (1.36) is the clear favorite to win the second leg with all the leading online sports betting sites.

Still, Olympiacos (7.25) has an impressive record against Arsenal in England – more on that later – meaning the Greek side will be confident of getting something from this game.

Mikel Arteta’s men extended their unbeaten streak in the Premier League to three games on Sunday by coming from behind to beat North London rivals Tottenham.

Erik Lamela put Spurs ahead in the first half, with Martin Odegaard equalizing seconds before the break, before Alexandre Lacazette netted the winner from the penalty spot midway through the second half.

The Gunners are now unbeaten in their last five games in all competitions, having beaten Olympiacos 3-1 last week. Odegaard got on the scoresheet again in Greece, before goals from Gabriel and Mohamed Elneny capped off the victory.

There is no denying that Arsenal deserved to win the first leg. Not only did Arteta’s men dominate possession (60%), but they also recorded numerous shots (18), while the home side was restricted to limited attempts (6).

It is no secret that Arsenal is still searching for consistency. However, if recent results are anything to go by, the London club should be able to get past Olympiacos without any real problems.

Olympiacos’ customary domestic domination is showing no signs of stopping this season. I mean, Pedro Martins’ men are already 16 points clear at the top of the Greek Super League, having only lost one of their 26 domestic games this term.

Thrylos even enjoyed a 15-match winning streak between October and February – and they head into Thursday’s second leg on the back of three straight league victories.

When it comes to the Europa League, Olympiacos invariably struggles to reach the latter stages of the tournament. But Martins’ men can take confidence from the fact that they have beaten Arsenal in London on two occasions in recent times.

After clinching a Champions League victory over the Gunners back in 2015/16, the Greek giant beat Arsenal 2-1 in the Europa League last season.

It is worth pointing out that Arsenal has never lost three consecutive home games against the same opponent in European competition. Still, Thrylos will no doubt be eager to buck that trend on Thursday.

Don’t get me wrong, I would love to make a case for Olympiacos here. After all, the price for the away win is extremely tempting – and even the odds for the draw are massive. But unfortunately, I can’t see Martins’ men recreating last season’s heroics this time around.

The Gunners are enjoying a solid unbeaten run at the moment, with victories over Benfica, Leicester, and Tottenham coming in that time, as well as the first-leg win over Olympiacos. I’m expecting Arteta’s side to progress into the last eight with a relatively straightforward win.