As qualification for the Champions League knockout stages had already been secured with one match to spare, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger elected to bring a mixed squad out to Greece, so the likes of captain Robin van Persie, Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott and Alex Song all remained in London as a youthful 18-man squad jetted out from Luton. Midfielder Frimpong, 19, has battled his way back to fitness following a serious knee injury which came after an impressive display alongside England starlet Jack Wilshere in the 2010 pre-season Emirates Cup tournament. Frimpong admits there were times during his rehabilitation when doubts crept in over whether he would have a future with the Gunners. "I knew I would come back to playing football, but felt I was never going to get my chance at Arsenal again," said Ghana-born Frimpong, who came to England when he was eight and was brought up near Tottenham. "When I had my chance, everything was going well. I thought that when I came back, we would have all the other players fit again. "But in football you cannot predict anything, and I have just carried on from where I left off, and have that chance again. "Now I have to keep playing well to force the issue of playing in the team." Wenger has no doubts Frimpong has the strength of character to come through tonight's encounter in a white-hot atmosphere at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium. "He is a guy you know you can go to war with, he has a real 'winner' attitude," the Arsenal manager said. "Now he has to take the final step and get a regular place in the Arsenal team." Wenger added: "He was massively impressive before he got injured, because he had been outstanding in pre-season. "He struggled to come back and feels he is not completely back to his best, but I think he is - what 'Manu' needs now are competitive games." Wenger adopted a similar squad selection for their last trip to Olympiacos two seasons ago, losing 1-0 when they had already qualified, but not won the group, as has been achieved this season. Despite only two of the starting XI from the weekend's Premier League 4-0 win in Tuesday night's squad, 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," the Arsenal manager 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." Wenger added: "I would be very, very disappointed if our winning attitude was not completely right and I will make sure we walk out there with immense desire to try to win the game."
