Ghosts Quieted, Lights Burning

Emirates Stadium, London

Olympiacos are centenarians of Greek football, founded a century ago in Piraeus. Giants at home, crowned in 2024 with Greece’s first European trophy — the Europa Conference League. 

At 14, in Bilbao’s academy, Arteta trained under José Luis Mendilibar. Thirty years later, his Olympiacos side stood in Arsenal’s way. Olympiacos also carried ghosts: his first European tie as Arsenal manager in 2020, victory in Athens followed by heartbreak at the Emirates, and elimination on away goals. 

Arsenal entered strong. Within two minutes, Lewis-Skelly’s cross found Martinelli unmarked — but he headed wide. Olympiacos threatened back through Daniel Podence, forcing David Raya alert. Arsenal pressed harder.

In 12 minutes came the breakthrough. Ødegaard’s through ball split the line; Gyökeres muscled through, his shot parried against the post, and Martinelli pounced on the rebound. Redemption for his early miss, though it was Gyökeres who had broken the defence open.

Olympiacos responded, Podence volleying for the top corner — only for Raya to fling himself full stretch, clawing it away. It was a save of staggering quality. Arsenal led, but the visitors refused to vanish.

By half-time, Arsenal were in control. Yet frustration surfaced on both sides: Gyökeres battered, Trossard misfiring, Mendilibar booked for protest.

On 70 minutes, Arteta turned to his bench: Saka and Eze for Martinelli and Trossard. Minutes later, Gabriel came off for Mosquera, precaution after a scramble with Raya. 

Olympiacos pressed again, Chiquinho denied by Raya’s hands. And in the 82nd, Ødegaard slipped a pass through the lines. Saka, fresh, finished beneath Tzolakis with ruthless calm. It was Arsenal’s fifth straight game with a substitute scoring.

Ødegaard was man of the match: creating, dictating, twice denied a goal himself, yet raising the tempo throughout. Lewis-Skelly too made his mark, winning six fouls — most by an Arsenal player in a Champions League match since Alexis Sánchez against Barcelona.

Olympiacos fought to the last, their fans loud until the whistle. But Arsenal closed the night with composure: a clean sheet, a second straight win in Europe, and six consecutive victories in the league phase.

Arsenal 2 – 0 Olympiacos

(G. Martinelli ‘12, B. Saka ‘90+2)