ARSENAL 2-0 OLYMPIACOS: Gabriel Martinelli’s early goal and Bukayo Saka’s late strike see the Gunners to make it back-to-back wins and clean sheets at the start of their Champions League campaign
Arsenal continued their perfect start to their Champions League campaign with a deserved win over Olympiacos as Mikel Arteta’s rotated side got the job done.
Gabriel Martinelli sent a free header wide after just 90 seconds, but he didn’t have to wait long to make up for it. The Brazilian forward tapped in after Viktor Gyokeres’ shot was parried onto the post by the Olympiacos goalkeeper to open the scoring.
David Raya produced a stunning save to keep out Daniel Podence’s volley as Olympiacos threatened. Gyokeres and Leandro Trossard wasted chances before the Greek side had a goal ruled out for offside to show how insecure the 1-0 lead was.
The outstanding Martin Odegaard should have made it 2-0, but his effort from Bukayo Saka’s cross was brilliantly saved and his follow-up effort blocked behind. But Saka blasted through the goalkeeper’s legs in injury time to ensure their missed chances didn’t cost them. Here are the talking points.
1. Odegaard back to his best
Arsenal had been without their captain in the starting line-up for the past four matches due to a shoulder injury. He made an impact at St James’ Park on the weekend by swinging in the corner from which Gabriel Magalhaes scored the 96th-minute winner – and his influence was immediately obvious at the Emirates on Wednesday night.
The Norwegian’s popularity among Arsenal fans waned somewhat during the latter stages of last season as his form faded. But his important to Arteta’s side should not be underestimated: his ability to drift in between the lines, knit together possession and play incisive passes in behind the defence is nearly unrivalled.
It was exactly that skill which unlocked the Olympiacos defence for the opening goal, with Odegaard’s pass sending Gyokeres clear. After 30 minutes there was another perfect curling pass for the Swede, who failed to make the most of it. He ended the night with an assist after setting up Saka’s goal in injury time.
2. Martinelli proves his point
Martinelli appeared to be one of the most obvious players to be affected by the summer recruitment drive at Arsenal, with Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke’s additions pushing him down the pecking order. Thankfully for Arsenal and Arteta, the Brazilian has responded in the perfect way.
Competition for places is what managers want and, now he doesn’t need to start every game, Martinelli suddenly looks revitalised. After coming off the bench to score and assist in the 2-0 win over Athletic Club and netting the equaliser vs Manchester City, he was in the right place at the right time to open the scoring against Olympiacos.
3. Everything but a goal for Gyokeres
It was undoubtedly the sheer weight of goals that Gyokeres scored at Sporting Lisbon (how could it not be when he managed 97 in 102 games), but there is plenty more to his game. In fact, against Olympiacos, it was everything but a goal that came.
His willingness to run in behind the Olympiacos defence led to the opening goal for Martinelli and it should have meant a second for the Brazilian, but Gyokeres’ shot was blocked. The Swede’s hold-up play was also evident in a lay-off to Trossard, which the Belgian wasted with an over-hit back-post cross.
4. Serious depth
While Arsenal fans may have wanted to see Max Dowman become the youngest player in Champions League history, Arteta had other ideas, bringing on Eze, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Cristhian Mosquera. That is some serious firepower and shows how impressive their squad now is.
Trossard did little to show he should be starting ahead of Eze, while Ben White was on the receiving end of a verbal volley from Arteta in the first half after losing Podence for their best chance.
With Dowman, Ethan Nwaneri and Christian Norgaard among the unusued substitutes, and with Madueke, Piero Hincapie, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz injured, there should be no excuses for Arteta as the season progresses.
5. Missed chances not costly
Their defensive solidity deserves lots of praise – and Raya was particularly impressive – but Arsenal’s inability to finish off presentable chances could easily have cost them at the Emirates Stadium.
Gyokeres, Trossard and Odegaard should all have done better with presentable openings and their inability to score set up a nervy finish until Saka squeezed a shot through the goalkeeper’s legs to make the points safe.
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