Manager Arsene Wenger maintains Arsenal must not worry about the players they have left behind as they look to finish their Champions League Group F campaign with victory over Olympiacos in Athens.

With qualification already secured for the knockout stages with one match to spare, Wenger elected to bring a mixed squad out to Greece - as the likes of captain Robin van Persie, Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott and Alex Song all remained in London.

Despite only two of the starting XI from the weekend's Barclays Premier League 4-0 win at Wigan being in a youthful 18-man party which boarded the plane from Luton, Wenger insists Arsenal have not travelled to Greece just to make up the numbers.

"It is not who we left at home - it is who will play who is important. Before you make an early judgement, let's wait to see how our team will do,'' Wenger said."We have a very strong team. Many of the team have played in the first game against Olympiacos, so give the players who turn up some credit - they will produce a good performance.

"We are unbeaten and want to continue our run, and also to be respectful of everybody else in the group. We have a moral responsibility to play to win tomorrow.''

Midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong has battled his way back to fitness following a serious knee injury.

The 19-year-old is relishing another opportunity to stake his claim for a regular first-team place in what is set to be a white-hot atmosphere at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium.

"This is why you are playing for Arsenal, because you are used to dealing with this kind of stuff,'' said Ghana-born Frimpong, who came to England when he was eight and was brought up near Tottenham.

"When you are a professional footballer, you want to play in those kind of stadiums and environments.

"Tomorrow is going to be a test of character, not only for me but for others and we have to deal with it.''

The Greek side head into the game a point behind second-placed Marseille and knowing victory would send them into the last 16, provided OM do not win at Borussia Dortmund.

Olympiacos' former Aston Villa defender Olof Mellberg will not underestimate the Gunners, whatever side they put out.

The Sweden international told www.uefa.com: "We have to try to win against Arsenal and then we'll see what happens in Dortmund.

"Arsenal are already through but I don't know if that'll be a big advantage.

"Who knows? Maybe Wenger will throw in all of the youngsters and they'll play an amazing game!

"We just don't know what they will do. They have a great squad and whoever plays it won't be easy for us to win. But we are playing at home and we'll focus on our own game. Hopefully we can get the win."


Match

Arsenal go chop am, nobi mistake

Its good arsenal is resting her players.

this will likely end up in a draw i know how arsenal plays

can someone tell me where to watch this game online?

can someone tell me where to watch this game online?
where is your google.com?

goal for olympiakos

Does anyone have the line-up please

Shucks! How did they score?

2 -0 now na wao

This is horrible, a side of Arsenal I never wanted to see again. Haba.
Are some of these players interested in the first team at all?
very unprofessional performance.

we have players who have just told wenger that they need to be sold Chamakh, Fabianski, Squillaci,Djourou infact i dont know why djourou is still doing playing for us what a horrible player

Aunty Muki, sorry o!

Let us pray.

Na footballers we put for field so?

geeeez the keeeper dey maddttt oh

chei see useless goals what is he doing outside in the first place

mannone used to be good na see rubbish

abeg ohh keep him faaaaaaaaaaaaaaar from the first team

I actually feel a bit sorry for Mannone, he just completely lost his bearing and didn't know he was back in his box.
He was brave to come out initially.

Chei, we can't afford to lose Santos for long o.

wonder why Djourou is not injured and off for like 3 yrs

Thank you jare Benayoun and Ignasi, at least some people know what it means to play for Arsenal.

benayoun scores

3 - 1

Thank God Marseille took their future into their own hands jare, our boys were a major letdown today.

Why didn't we start Miguel at LB?

proudly9ja:

Why didn't we start Miguel at LB?

Possibly trying to head off accusations of disrespecting the competition by playing too many youth players, the way we started more than did that though.

Drama in Dortmund! Two goals in two minutes for Marseille rescue their Champions League campaign and they are through as it stands at Olympiakos's expense despite the Greeks' fine win over Arsenal. Heartbreak.

Three silly defensive mistakes and a lame duck Chamack cost Arsenal a point in the game. Anyway, it was a good workout for the fringe guys!

Arsenal is the best

irrelevant

This match has said many things. One, Arsenal lacks depth. See what Barca did with their B team. Two, all the senior boys that player are totalled. Chamakh, Djorou, Arshavin should be retailed at massive discount. Third, it is a mistake to de-energise a rising club. If Arsenal had perfected its first team play then you could give them a rest. But with the exception of RVP all others should be playing as many matches as are available. With five new squad members its too early in the season to rest players.

With their history of spectacular momentum and form loss I won't be surprised if this loss creeps into the first team against Everton on the weekend.