Arsenal suffer defeat in final group game

Arsenal suffered a 3-1 defeat to Olympiacos in their final Champions League group game. Poor goalkeeping and bad defending led to all three goals. Benayoun offered hope late on for an unbeaten group stage but the Greek side were too strong on the night. However the loss did not matter as Arsenal were already through to the knockout stages of the competition and were also guaranteed top spot in Group F. Because of the guarantee of knockout football in the new year, Arsenal rested key men and played their second team as the likes of Chamakh, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Squillaci and Miquel all featured. However despite the loss the biggest defeat on the night seemed to be the injuries to Santos and to Fabianski who was stretchered off early on in the game.

Defensive and goalkeeping errors cost Arsenal the game

The first chance of the game came to Arsenal and Arshavin. Chamakh was played through down the right hand side; he was then allowed time to play in Arshavin who was unmarked but fired his shot straight at Megyeri in the Olympiacos goal when he should have scored.

Arsenal's next chance fell to Emmanuel Frimpong as Chamakh again was allowed to provide an opportunity for a team mate as he found Frimpong but he could only curl his shot into the side netting.

However fifteen minutes in and with Olympiacos' first chance of the game they took the lead. The ball was slipped through to Djebbour who went round Fabianski and put the ball into an empty net.

Olympiacos then could have doubled their lead. First Mirallas went close with an effort from outside the box which had Fabianski backpedalling. However with the second chance Djebbour could not make contact with the ball, instead smashed into Fabianski. As a result of the clash the Arsenal keeper was substituted in place of Vito Mannone who made his first appearance of the season.

Arsenal were still looking to threaten as Oxlade-Chamberlain got past his man before crossing the ball back to Benayoun who on the volley hit his shot wide.

With 10 minutes to go until the break Olympiacos doubled their lead through an error from Mannone in the Arsenal goal. Mannone raced out of goal to head the ball clear, however the ball bounced straight to Fuster who struck a shot which found the net in weird circumstances. Mannone had not realised he was back in his box and tried to clear the ball with his feet but missed it and the Greek side found themselves 2-0 up.

Djebbour then had a good chance to get his second of the night as he got to a corner at the front post but to only to see his header hit the side netting.

The Greek side were playing the better football and almost scored another. Djourou gave the ball away to Maniatis who could only find the hands of Mannone who made an easy save.

The score at half time was 2-0 to Olympiacos.

Olympiacos started the second half just as they had finished the second. The first chance fell to Modesto after Santos' header could only find him. Modesto then drove the shot but it was kept out comfortably and the ball went out for a corner.

From the resulting corner Olof Melberg rose the highest to get to the ball but unluckily for him saw his header clip the bar and go out.

Arsenal finally did manage to create another chance as minutes before the hour mark Yossi Benayoun scored to put the Gunners back into the match. Miquel found space on the left hand side before picking out Chamakh inside the box. He then chested the ball back to Benayoun who fiercely smashed a shot towards goal which found the back of the net.

However Olympiacos were still pushing for a third goal. The ball was cleverly clipped over the Arsenal defence and with Mannone slow coming out of his goal Modesto got to the ball first but only to waste another chance and his header went wide once again.

The Gunners managed to create another chance as the ball was played through to Rosicky but his attempted effort on goal was kept out by Megyeri.

Olympiacos who needed to win and hope that results went their way were still on the attack. This time Mirallas went close after cutting inside past Miquel but his shot went untroubled and hit the side netting.

With a minute left to play, the hosts got a deserved third goal as Mellberg's header came back off the post and straight to Modesto who scored from close range to seal the victory.

The final score ended Olympiacos 3-1 Arsenal.

The teams lineups:

Olympiacos: Megyeri, Maniatis, Modesto, Mellberg, Holebas(37), Papadopoulos, Marcano, Torosidis, Fuster(64), Djebbour(90), Mirallas.
Subs: Costanzo, Papazoglou(90), Poutouridis, Orbaiz(37), Fetfatzidis, Abdoun(64), Pantelic. 

Arsenal: Fabianski(25), Djourou, Vermaelen, Squillaci, Santos(51), Frimpong, Coquelin(67), Benayoun, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arshavin, Chamakh.
Subs: Mannone(25), Yennaris, Miquel(51), Eastmond, Ozyakup, Rosicky(67), Park.

My man of the match: Yossi Benayoun

Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco
Attendance: 32,000