Martinelli along with Bukayo Saka Find the Net as Arsenal Sweep Greek Visitors Aside
They love to discuss unbeaten runs in the area of North London, and it remains the sole description to describe Mikel Arteta's performance with Arsenal in European group stage matches at the home ground. Currently, eight victories out of as many in the Champions League with zero goals allowed. Adding to include the secondary European tournament from the start of his reign, it's 14 wins out of all with just two let in.
The Greek side had come with a notable statistic of their own. They had triumphed on their past three trips to the Emirates, the most recent two coming in the elimination phase of the Europa League, although the latter in the 2020-21 season did not stop an overall defeat.
No one anticipated anything other than another victory at home, the most recent show of Arsenal's power and squad quality even with this being a strong visiting side. It was nervier than the home crowd would have liked in the closing stages, the visitors pushing and causing a few scares.
But this Arsenal team is difficult to penetrated. It's into the month and so far they have conceded just three strikes in all competitions โ just a single of them in open play. Gabriel Martinelli found the net for them in the 12th minute with Bukayo Saka, coming off the bench, receiving a ball from the outstanding Martin รdegaard to seal the win in added time. Arsenal continue their run.
Looking Back
Arsenal had to go back to late 2019 for the previous time they had failed to win a group tie at home in European competition; a loss to Eintracht Frankfurt in the tournament which led to the dismissal of the former coach, the caretaker stint of the club legend and the appointment of Mikel Arteta, whose first European assignment would be against the Greeks in the last 32. It concluded in a last-gasp extra-time defeat here and an away goals exit.
There were several eye-catching statistics around this encounter, many of them linked to history. When had Arsenal previously let in a goal in a European group stage match on home soil? It was versus the Austrian team in the 4-1 Europa League win in December 2020.
Team Selection
The manager rotated the squad to his lineup โ six of them from the weekend win at Newcastle โ as he was expected to do. When he could recall stars of the calibre of William Saliba and รdegaard, it said plenty.
รdegaard was in the mood at the outset, bringing the urgency on the ball; the incision. The leader initiated an early move that ended with Martinelli unexpectedly heading the youngster's cross off target while alone in front of goal. It appeared to come off his upper body.
No matter. It was soon before Arsenal took the lead and it was Martinelli with the tap-in from a tight angle after Viktor Gyรถkeres saw the shot-stopper, Kostas Tzolakis, push his effort against the upright. รdegaard had played the pass to Gyรถkeres and it was all about the forward's power; he barged in between two opposition defenders to make it happen.
Key Moments
Martinelli was on his less favoured right flank; the Belgian on the left. The winger should have played in his colleague on 21 minutes when they countered with two against one. Instead, he tried to outrun the final defender and failed to pass him.
Arsenal ought to have had additional goals before the half-time. The striker ignored a square pass for Martinelli after รdegaard's through-ball and fired at the keeper while Gabriel Magalhรฃes went near following his corner. The forward blazed a further opportunity high after a lovely ball from the winger.
Olympiakos, to their deserved praise, competed well. Their striker directed a effort too near to the Arsenal goalkeeper just before Martinelli opened the scoring and their big chance of the opening period came in the 32nd minute when the midfielder connected with a shot sweetly from his teammate's cross. The keeper tipped over; an outstanding reflex save.
Evangelos Marinakis, the Olympiakos owner, was back in the seats a few weeks after watching one of his additional teams, Nottingham Forest, be defeated three-nil at this venue. In the away enclosure, the Olympiakos diehards played their instruments and chanted their anthems. They are considered one of Europe's most dedicated supporters for obvious reasons. Could the team give them a result?
Second Half
Arteta brought on Declan Rice for his counterpart as he aimed to control the second half. The plan seemed to be containment; Arsenal changed down through the pace. Trossard blew a couple of chances but there was nervousness in the home crowd; cries for the team to focus as they weathered a scare midway through the period. The winger's cross was made to measure for El Kaabi, whose header was stopped by Raya. The forward poked home the rebound but he was offside.
The manager brought on the substitute and the creative midfielder while he was forced to change the centre-back for the young defender. รdegaard ought to have converted from close range only to be denied by the keeper and the Greeks retained hope. Saka would extinguish it at the final moment.
