Gabriel Martinelli extended Arsenal’s flawless Champions League start, inspiring a 2-0 victory over Olympiakos at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night.
Fresh from their 2-0 win at Athletic Bilbao in their group stage opener, the Gunners maintained their perfect record with a professional, if at times labored, display against the Greek champions.
Martinelli opened the scoring in the 12th minute, while Bukayo Saka sealed the result in stoppage time to keep Mikel Arteta’s side top of their group with two wins from two.
Despite not hitting their highest gear, Arsenal made it seven wins from nine matches across all competitions this season, and their formidable Champions League home form continued with a 10th clean sheet in their last 13 games at the Emirates.
The night also offered a sentimental subplot for Arteta, who faced Olympiakos boss Jose Luis Mendilibar—his former youth coach at Athletic Bilbao. The Spaniard has often cited his footballing education in Spain as foundational to his coaching philosophy, and he tactically outmaneuvered his old mentor on this occasion.
With one eye on Saturday’s Premier League clash against West Ham, Arteta shuffled his pack. England trio Saka, Declan Rice, and Eberechi Eze were all rested, while captain Martin Ødegaard returned to the starting XI after a shoulder injury.
Odegaard orchestrates
Arteta’s rotation paid off almost immediately. Inside 90 seconds, Arsenal carved Olympiakos open, only for Martinelli to head wide from six yards after Myles Lewis-Skelly’s driving run and cross.
But the Brazilian quickly atoned. In the 12th minute, Ødegaard split the Greek defense with a sublime through ball to Viktor Gyökeres, whose thunderous effort rattled the post. Martinelli reacted quickest, sweeping home the rebound for his third goal of the season.
Ødegaard, who had come off the bench to inspire Sunday’s comeback win at Newcastle, once again showed why he’s central to Arsenal’s creative engine.
Olympiakos offered flashes of resistance, with former Wolves winger Daniel Podence drawing a superb save from David Raya. Ødegaard continued to pull the strings, creating chances for both Gyökeres and Leandro Trossard, but neither could convert.
Despite their lack of cutting edge, the visitors remained in the contest and thought they had equalized through Chiquinho, only for VAR to rule the goal out for a marginal offside.
Tzolakis, Olympiakos’ standout performer, denied Ødegaard twice in quick succession late on. But he was finally beaten again in stoppage time. Ødegaard found substitute Saka, whose low shot squirmed under the keeper to add a slightly flattering gloss to the scoreline.
Arsenal now turn their focus back to the Premier League, aiming to close the two-point gap on leaders Liverpool when they host West Ham on Saturday.
AFP
