Report: Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Gabriel Martinelli’s first-half strike, and Bukayo Saka’s late second were enough to ensure we continued our 100 per cent start to the league phase of the Champions League.

This was our 13th meeting with Olympiacos in the past 16 years, and in truth we created enough chances to win by a greater margin, even if the points weren’t secured until injury-time.

Martinelli tapped in our first following a powerful, bulldozing run from Viktor Gyokeres, and Saka sealed the points late on after being set up by Martin Odegaard.

In between the goals David Raya made a super save to deny Daniel Podence, as we recorded our second 2-0 win in Europe this season.

Viktor the creator

After the Champions League anthem rang around Emirates Stadium for the first time this season, the Arsenal side – showing six changes from Sunday’s win over Newcastle – set about our Greek opposition early on.

Martinelli, starting on the right wing, had our first chance, and it was a good one. With less than two minutes on the clock, Myles Lewis-Skelly swung his cross in from the left wing and the Brazilian was unmarked eight yards out. But he didn’t time his header right, and it dropped harmlessly wide.

Olympiacos could hardly get a touch of the football in the opening ten minutes and it was no surprise when we did take the lead.

Martinelli finished it but the goal was all about Gyokeres.

Our powerful striker ran on to a Martin Odegaard throughball, finding himself with two defenders for close company. The Swede was second, or maybe third favourite to win the battle, but brushed both aside to burst into the area. His shot was half parried onto the post, where Martinelli was waiting to tap in from virtually on the goalline.

It was his third of the season, and second in the competition after netting against Athletic Club on Matchday One.

Remarkable Raya

It had been one-way traffic, until Raya pulled off an incredible save to keep us ahead. Daniel Podence got in front of Ben White to meet a cross from the right sweetly on the volley, and the ball was destined for the top corner until Raya propelled himself at full stretch to push it over the bar. Breathtaking.

Martinelli had the chance to break moments later, with Gyokeres in support in a two on one attack, but the Brazilian just overran the ball.

Another wonderfully-weighted pass from the returning Odegaard set Gyokeres through again, but he shot over after being forced wide.

We had two shots fly over the bar in as many minutes as half-time approached. First Leandro Trossard set up Gyokeres, who checked back onto his right foot before firing just over. Then Trossard himself shot too high when he elected to take Martinelli’s cross first time on the half volley from 20 yards out.

Trossard goes close

It had been a dominant first half, where the only disappointment was that we weren’t able to take more of our chances.

Trossard squandered a chance early in the second half. Mikel Merino rolled the ball to him inside the area, and the Belgian took his shot first time, but it was just beyond the far top corner.

Trossard’s next attempt was on target, but cleared off the line after possibly the move of the match. Declan Rice was being forced towards his own goal before turning and fizzing a pass into Odegaard in the centre circle, and as soon as the skipper turned, we were on the attack. He carried it forward to the edge of the area, slipped in Trossard who took a touch before getting his shot away, but it was scrambled to safety.

Almost immediately Olympiacos had the ball in our net through Ayoub El Kaabi, but we were saved by the offside flag.

Saka settles it

Olympiacos had won on each of their past three visits to Emirates Stadium, and the longer the deficit remained just the one goal, the more their confidence grew.

With 20 minutes to go Mikel Arteta brought on Saka and Eberechi Eze, and Saka was soon involved. He set up Odegaard with a great cutback from the byline, which the Norwegian caught shot sweetly first time, only to be denied Kostas Tzolakis in the Olympiacos goal. The rebound was blocked for a corner from close range.

At the other end Raya made another acrobatic save to keep out Chiquinho’s curler as the game opened up.

We finally settled the points in injury time, when the impressive Odegaard set Saka up in the inside left position in the box, and his shot went through the keeper’s legs.

What's next

We're back at Emirates Stadium on Saturday to take on West Ham United in the Premier League, kick off at 3pm (UK time). That's the last game before the October international break, we will resume away to Fulham on Saturday, October 18.

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