Gabriel Martinelli along with Bukayo Saka Find the Net as The Gunners Brush Greek Visitors Aside
They often talk about invincibility in this part of north London, and it remains the sole description to characterize Mikel Arteta's record with Arsenal in continental group phase matches at the Emirates Stadium. It is now, eight victories out of eight in the premier European competition with no goals allowed. If you want to include the secondary European tournament from earlier in his tenure, it's 14 wins out of all with two goals against.
The Greek side had arrived with a remarkable record of their making. They had triumphed on their past three visits to this ground, the latest two occurring in the elimination phase of the tournament, even if the second in 2020-21 did not stop an overall defeat.
No one anticipated anything other than another home success, the latest show of Arsenal's strength and depth despite this being a decent Olympiakos side. It was nervier than the home crowd would have hoped for in the closing stages, the visitors pushing and causing a nervous moments.
But this Arsenal team is not easily breached. We are into the month and still they have let in just three strikes in all competitions – only one of them in regular play. The Brazilian forward found the net for them in the 12th minute with Bukayo Saka, on as a substitute, taking a pass from the outstanding captain to make things safe in stoppage-time. Arsenal continue their run.
Historical Context
The club had to return to late 2019 for the last time they had failed to win a group tie at their stadium in Europe; a defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League which resulted in the sacking of Unai Emery, the interim period of the club legend and the arrival of Arteta, whose first European assignment would be against the Greeks in the last 32. It ended in a last-gasp overtime defeat at home and an elimination on away goals.
There were numerous noteworthy lines around this encounter, many of them linked to past performances. The last time they previously conceded a goal in a European group game on home soil? It was versus the Austrian team in the four-one tournament win in December 2020.
Lineup Changes
Arteta made changes to his lineup – six alterations from the weekend win at Newcastle – as he was expected to do. When he could bring back players of the quality of the defender and the captain, it spoke volumes.
The skipper was in the mood at the outset, bringing the intensity on the ball; the cutting edge. The captain sparked an early move that ended with Martinelli unexpectedly heading Myles Lewis-Skelly's cross off target while unmarked in front of goal. It appeared to come off his upper body.
Regardless. It was not long before the hosts led and it was Martinelli with the close-range finish from a tight angle after Viktor Gyökeres saw the goalkeeper, Kostas Tzolakis, push his effort against the post. Ødegaard had provided the assist to Gyökeres and it was due to the forward's power; he barged in between two Olympiakos backs to make it happen.
Key Moments
He was on his weaker right flank; the Belgian on the opposite wing. Martinelli only had to passed to his teammate on 21 minutes when they broke with a numerical advantage. Rather, he tried to beat the final defender and failed to get around him.
Arsenal should have had more before the half-time. The striker ignored a simple ball for his teammate after Ødegaard's through-ball and fired at Tzolakis while Gabriel Magalhães went close following Ødegaard's corner. Gyökeres blazed another chance high after a lovely ball from the winger.
The visitors, to their deserved praise, came to play. Their striker directed a header too close to the Arsenal goalkeeper just before Martinelli broke the deadlock and their best opportunity of the opening period came in the 32nd minute when Daniel Podence caught a volley perfectly from his teammate's cross. Raya pushed it over; an outstanding reflex save.
Evangelos Marinakis, the Greek club owner, was back in the stands a few weeks after seeing one of his additional teams, Nottingham Forest, be defeated 3-0 here. In the visitors' section, the away diehards banged their drums and sang their anthems. They are regarded as one of Europe's most dedicated supporters for obvious reasons. Would the team provide something?
Closing Stages
The coach introduced the midfielder for Mikel Merino as he aimed to manage the second half. The plan seemed to be defensive solidity; Arsenal slowed through the gears. Trossard blew a few opportunities but there was nervousness in the home seats; shouts for the team to wake up as they weathered a threat midway through the half. The winger's cross was made to measure for El Kaabi, whose header was stopped by the goalkeeper. The striker tapped in the follow-up but he was in an offside position.
Arteta introduced Saka and the creative midfielder while he was obliged to change the centre-back for the young defender. Ødegaard ought to have converted from close range only to be stopped by Tzolakis and Olympiakos retained hope. The England international would snuff it out at the final moment.
