Olof Mellberg hopes Olympiacos can shackle Arsenal captain Robin van Persie when the Greeks look to improve their appalling away Champions League record in England at Emirates Stadium.

Veteran Sweden defender Mellberg, who headed to Athens from Juventus in 2009, knows all about the Dutchman from his seven seasons at Aston Villa.

Van Persie chalked up his century for the Gunners in the Barclays Premier League win over Bolton at the weekend.

Olympiacos will have to be on their guard to avoid what would be a 10th successive defeat on English soil - their run including a 2-0 loss at Emirates Stadium in September 2009, when van Persie was on the scoresheet.

Mellberg accepts the 28-year-old World Cup runner-up has developed into one of the most dangerous forwards around.

"I have played against him a few times, but maybe not in that position. He plays mostly as a striker now from what I have seen. He was more of a wing player when I played Arsenal with Aston Villa,'' Mellberg told a news conference at Emirates Stadium.

"He is a good player and they have a few more.

"We will focus on our own game more obviously, but we will look at them and hopefully will be prepared for him and everybody else they have.

"I have obviously heard about some problems they have had and they haven't had the best of starts in the league, but it is always a really difficult game, especially here at Emirates Stadium.''

Olympiacos lost their opening Group F game at home to Marseille, which was their first competitive match of the season after two domestic Super League matches were postponed when the teams they were scheduled to face - Kavala and Olympiacos Volou - were relegated because of a match-fixing scandal.

Coach Ernesto Valverde is hoping for an improvement.

He said: "We feel better compared to the previous European match day given that we have had some official games beforehand.

"However, this does not mean the game is an easy one for us.

"We have to face an opponent who is probably one of the toughest we could find ourselves against.

"We know that it will be very difficult, but we came here to take something out of this game and will do our best.''

For Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta, this season is a first taste of top-flight European action following his deadline-day switch from Everton.

The Spanish midfielder, 29, is relishing the challenge.

He said: "It is hard to explain what it is about the Champions League, the atmosphere is different you are playing against the best teams in Europe every time.

"You are expected to win here, which is a really good thing.

"We need to be prepared for that and have to take things game-by-game. We all know we have the ability to do it.''

Arsenal will be without half-a-dozen first-team regulars for the Group F clash, including England midfielder Jack Wilshere.

Forward Theo Walcott, Ivory Coast striker Gervinho and centre-back Laurent Koscielny have also picked up minor niggles after Saturday's 3-0 Barclays Premier League win over Bolton.

Match

Arsenal, who you offend this season? 3 of your players out again?

well. lets see what happens at emirate dis evening

I cant wait to see the starting line-up. Would be laughable considering how many players are injured, but I think we will beat Olympiakos

I just hope it's Song covering up for CB with Frimpong replacing him at DM.
I don't want to hear any name starting with Sq or Dj

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I just hope it's Song covering up for CB with Frimpong replacing him at DM.
I don't want to hear any name starting with Sq or Dj

i beg to differ. . .

I wud still go for Johan + Per at the back

let song sit ahead of them and suport the defense whie Aterta and Ramsey pull strings from the middle. . .

give me AA23 Rvp and Park / OX upfront

Then we are good to go!

another 3 - 0

or 4 - 1 for the Gunners!!

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allboyz:

i beg to differ. . .

I wud still go for Johan + Per at the back

let song sit ahead of them and suport the defense whie Aterta and Ramsey pull strings from the middle. . .

so you still wish to see Djourou play for Arsenal. Na curse be that o. This is a guy that doesn't deserve to be playing for a premier league club, not even Swansea

kick off

with this starting line-up, we have to bring our A game to win

So the OX starts abi, Lets go boiz.

You know Rosicky is on the pitch when someone is pulling out of a tackle.

i don score

iya won!!!!!

I don tell people say the days of Theo on the right wing are numbered, that is why he has started to lobby for a central berth.

Wahalai OX go score 56 goals dis season

I dey HYPER!!!

I hope theo is taking lessons

Good work by Arteta.

i don score again

When last did Clichy get a goal like that?  

good luck [img]http://2.s07.flagcounter.com/count/DymW/bg=E6E6E5/txt=E6E6E5/border=E6E6E5/columns=1/maxflags=1/viewers=3/labels=0/[/img]
[img]http://s07.flagcounter.com/count/DymW/bg=E6E6E5/txt=E6E6E5/border=E6E6E5/columns=1/maxflags=1/viewers=3/labels=0/[/img]

i go kill person today, Make una beg me na.

Abeg beg me

I love Sagna's professionalism. He works his socks off on a regular

its get better and better  

did u just see the Olympiakos coach's face?

Dude was looking like "why did I have to face these beasts"?

What the hell is wrong with Chamakh? get yurself together son.

una dey enjoy o

r231:

una dey enjoy o

Alagba Shegs, na yur turn to start suffering from Arsenalitis Collapsus naa, we don gain immunity 

oh well
2 -1