For Xanthi v Olympiakos, read Wanderers v Arsenal

Seven successive league titles is proof in itself of the dominance he enjoyed at Olympiakos.

But every time they met Xanthi, a modest but up and coming mid-table team, they had problems.

"They caused Olympiakos a lot of problems in those days and this year they are going for a UEFA Cup place," Stelios said.

For Xanthi v Olympiakos, read Wanderers v Arsenal.

Champions three times and runners up on four other occasions in the last seven years, the Gunners vie with Manchester United as the Premiership's most successful side and are bidding to win the FA Cup for the third time since 2002, having lost only five of 50 FA Cup ties under Arsene Wenger.

But they have suffered some serious setbacks against Wanderers.

Wenger got hot and bothered at the Reebok in April, 2003, when the Whites fought back from 2-0 down to rescue a draw that dealt a crushing blow to Arsenals title hopes.

And the five points they have denied them this season have gone a long way to knocking the Champions off their perch.

Stelios, who scored the only goal of the game at the Reebok in January, reckons the underdog syndrome is what inspires Wanderers to do so well against the top sides.

"You want to prove something and, maybe, you want to show that you deserve to be higher in the Premiership," he said.

"Maybe Arsenal believe that these games are going to be easy for them and they fall into the trap. But we played very well against them last time and we deserved to win - and they will know that too."

Like their Greek equivalents, Xanthi, Wanderers have been upwardly mobile in recent years and now have genuine European aspirations - a prospect that has Stelios licking his lips in anticipation.

"I used to play in the Champions League every season and I have missed it a lot," he said. "When you are thirsty you want the water.

"It's the same for a lot of players here who were used to playing at a higher level.

"We have nine matches left in the Premiership and three in the Cup - so we will see."

How Arsenal react to their midweek elimination from the Champions League may well determine who goes through to the semi-finals. Wenger believes his players have the character to overcome the disappointment, but Stelios believes Wednesday's Highbury duel with Bayern Munich may have taken a bigger physical toll than a mental one.

"Of course, when you are disappointed it is not good for a player, but you have to keep going. I know the feeling," he said.

"What is also good for us is that they have had only two days to rest and, as time goes on in the game, they are going to be very tired."

Wanderers will also have been heartened to hear they will not have to contend with Thierry Henry, the most lethal finisher in the Premiership, who picked up a calf injury in the Bayern game.

Stelios regards Henry as Arsenal's "biggest weapon by far" and a major loss.

"If you stop Henry you stop the biggest percentage of the quality of Arsenal because he scores the goals and makes the majority of the attacks," he said.