Arsenal continue good form with nervy win in Europe

Arsenal picked up crucial 3 points in a 2-1 win over Greek side Olympiacos in a Champions League Group F match on Wednesday night at the Emirates. Andre Santos scored his first Arsenal goal whilst  Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gave the Gunners the lead on his European Debut. Arsenal dominated the early parts of the game and it looked as though they could have got way more than two goals in the game as chances once again went begging. A spirited fight back though from Olympiacos made life tough as Arsenal were on the back foot for much of the second half as they looked to hold on for the victory.  Arsenal made quite a few changes as they were looking to rest key men with Tottenham in mind for the weekend so Chamakh replaced Van Persie up front. Arshavin came in for Gervinho whilst Chamberlain was in the side for Walcott. Song started in defence and Rosicky was back to full fitness to captain the side.

Santos scored his first Arsenal goal

The first chance of the game fell to the visitors as Fesja got past Santos and then found Fuster but he could only pull his shot wide of the goal.

However, when Arsenal's first chance came they took it to take the lead just eight minutes into the game. Song playing the ball up to Oxlade-Chamberlain who got into the box and comfortably buried a left footed shot into the back of the net for a European debut goal.

Olympiacos then had a great chance to grab an equaliser, as a corner bounced off a few players before finding Djebbour 3 yards out but somehow saw Arteta block his shot on the line.

Just 20 minutes in and Arsenal made it 2-0. Rosicky playing the ball down the left hand side into the path of Santos who tried playing Chamakh in. However the defender got to the ball first but could only give the ball straight back to Santos who got past one man before firing a shot home from a tight angle.

Arsenal were dominating the early parts of the game and they should have made it 3 as Arshavin chipped the ball into Chamakh but he dragged his shot wide from inside the box.

However, despite the dominance the defence was still an issue as Olympiacos got back into the game on twenty seven minutes. Ibagaza finding himself in lots of space before playing the ball into the box and towards Fuster who got up and headed home for 2-1.

Olympiacos and Mirallas then had two decent chances to equalise. The first was put wide from a cross into the box and the second Mirallas got past Mertesacker before hitting a shot which was parmed away by Szczesny.

The score at half time was 2-1 to Arsenal.

Chamakh tried hard but just couldn't score

Oympiacos created the first chance of the second half as Fuster found Mirallas on the edge of the box. He tried to get past the man but the ball bounced off him but back to Mirallas who manged to hit a swerving shot which just went wide of the goal.

Arsenal's first real chance fell to Oxlade-Chamberlain who was found by Chamakh, but from a tight angle the teenager tried to chip Costanzo in the Olympiacos goal but he managed to keep the shot out.

Olympiacos then came close once again as Torosidis got past Santos before hitting a curling shot from the edge of the box which smacked the cross bar and came back out.

It was end to end football and The Gunners created a great chance to extend their lead back to two. Ramsey managed to play Arshavin who raced into the box before tricking his way past one defender and poking a shot towards goal but Costanzo manged to deny Arsenal again.


The final score ended Arsenal 2-1 Olympiacos.

The teams lineups:

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Song, Santos, Frimpong, Arteta, Rosicky, Oxlade-Chamberlain(68), Arshavin(83), Chamakh(70).
Subs: Fabianski, Jenkinson, Gibbs(83), Coquelin, Ramsey(68), Park, Van Persie(70).

Olympiacos: Costanzo, Torosidis, Mellberg, Marcano, Holesbas, Ibagaza, Fuster(80), Fesja, Djebbour, Orbaiz(75), Mirallas(75).
Subs: Megyeri, Modesto(75), Potouridis, Makoun, Abdoun(75), Papadopoulos, Pantelic(80).

My man of the match: Marouane Chamakh

Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo
Attendance: 59,676