The 56-year-old, who played in three World Cup finals between 1978 and 1986, knows the French coach well from their time in Japan, where Wenger was boss of Nagoya Grampus Eight before joining the Gunners.

"I admire and I like the way his teams play, the offensive way he makes his teams play, the offensive mentality," Zico said.

"I follow his career here at Arsenal and I like the way he always makes the most of the players he has.

"This is how he achieved the great success of his life."

Zico, who also managed the Japan national team as well as Fenerbahce, was appointed just hours before Olympiacos' Champions League opener against AZ Alkmaar following the dismissal of Temuri Ketsbaia.

And he believes his men can rise to the challenge tomorrow night.

"To be successful against Arsenal it is very important that we pay them the utmost attention, that we leave no space for them," he said.

"They are a very fast team, especially when they attack, especially in the follow-up and we have to concentrate.

"We cannot be fearful and we have to play in a brave way.

"We have to have the mentality that we are equal to any team and on the field it's 11 players versus 11 players and this is the mentality I want."

Former Aston Villa defender Olof Mellberg knows all about getting a positive result at Emirates Stadium, becoming the first player to score a competitive goal at the new 60,000-seater ground in the 1-1 Premier League draw in August 2006.

"We need to be on top of our game all over the pitch, and on set pieces as well," said the 32-year-old, who joined Juventus in the summer of 2008 before his move to Greece.

"They are probably one of the teams in Europe who plays the quickest passing football and they have got a lot of very quick players.

"Going forward they are one of the best sides in Europe. We are aware of that and hopefully we can continue to defend well."