Fans love to talk about invincibility in this part of North London, and it's still the sole description to describe Mikel Arteta's performance with Arsenal in European group stage matches at the home ground. It is now, eight victories out of eight in the premier European competition with zero goals allowed. If you want to factor in the secondary European tournament from the start of his reign, it's 14 victories out of 14 with two goals against.
The Greek side had arrived with a remarkable statistic of their making. They had triumphed on their past three trips to this ground, the most recent two coming in the knockout rounds of the tournament, even if the second in 2020-21 did not stop an aggregate exit.
No one anticipated anything except another home success, the most recent show of Arsenal's power and depth even with this being a decent visiting side. It was nervier than the supporters would have hoped for in the closing stages, the visitors applying pressure and causing a few scares.
But this Arsenal team is not easily penetrated. It's into October and so far they have let in just three strikes in all competitions – just a single of them in open play. The Brazilian forward scored for them in the 12th minute with the English winger, on as a substitute, taking a pass from the excellent Martin Ødegaard to seal the win in added time. Arsenal continue their run.
Looking Back
Arsenal had to return to November 2019 for the last time they had failed to win a group tie at their stadium in European competition; a defeat to the German side in the tournament which led to the dismissal of the former coach, the caretaker stint of Freddie Ljungberg and the arrival of Mikel Arteta, whose initial continental game would be against the Greeks in the last 32. It ended in a dramatic extra-time defeat here and an elimination on away goals.
There were numerous eye-catching statistics around this encounter, many of them related to history. The last time they before let in a goal in a European group stage match on their own turf? It was against the Austrian team in the 4-1 Europa League win in late 2020.
Team Selection
The manager made changes to his starting eleven – six alterations from the weekend win at Newcastle – as he was expected to do. When he could recall players of the calibre of William Saliba and Ødegaard, it said plenty.
The skipper was in the mood at the outset, bringing the intensity on the ball; the incision. The captain initiated an early move that ended with Martinelli unexpectedly glancing Myles Lewis-Skelly's cross off target while alone in front of goal. It appeared to come off his shoulder.
No matter. It was soon before the hosts took the lead and it was Martinelli with the close-range finish from a difficult position after Viktor Gyökeres saw the goalkeeper, the Olympiakos keeper, push his effort against the post. Ødegaard had played the pass to Gyökeres and it was due to the striker's power; he barged in between two opposition backs to make it happen.
Match Highlights
He was on his less favoured right flank; the Belgian on the left. The winger only had to played in his colleague on 21 minutes when Arsenal countered with two against one. Instead, he attempted to beat the final defender and failed to pass him.
The home side ought to have had additional goals before the half-time. Gyökeres ignored a square pass for his teammate after the captain's incisive pass and fired at Tzolakis while Gabriel Magalhães went close following Ødegaard's corner. The forward swiped a further opportunity over after a lovely ball from the winger.
Olympiakos, to their credit, came to play. Ayoub El Kaabi directed a header too close to the Arsenal goalkeeper just before the scorer opened the scoring and their big chance of the first half came in the 32nd minute when the midfielder caught a shot perfectly from his teammate's cross. The keeper tipped over; an outstanding reflex save.
The club owner, the Olympiakos proprietor, was back in the stands a short time after seeing one of his additional teams, Nottingham Forest, lose 3-0 at this venue. In the away enclosure, the away diehards banged their drums and chanted their songs. They are regarded as one of Europe's most dedicated supporters for good reason. Could the side provide something?
Second Half
Arteta introduced Declan Rice for Mikel Merino as he aimed to manage the remainder. The plan seemed to be containment; they changed down through the gears. Trossard blew a couple of opportunities but there was some anxiety in the home seats; shouts for the team to focus as they survived a scare in the middle of the half. The winger's cross was made to measure for the striker, whose attempt was saved by Raya. The striker tapped home the follow-up but he was offside.
Arteta brought on Saka and Eberechi Eze while he was obliged to change Gabriel Magalhães for the young defender. Ødegaard ought to have converted from close range only to be stopped by the keeper and the Greeks held onto belief. The England international would snuff it out at the very last.
