Source: Telegraph
Arsenal 2 Olympiakos 0: match report
Clad in funereal black, Arsenal's guests from Greece played with all the joie de vivre of pall-bearers so a huge wave of delight rolled around the Emirates when Robin van Persie and Andrei Arshavin finally and deservedly punished Olympiacos's negativity. [LNB]At times, the Greeks were so deep they were almost back at Highbury. They defended stoutly, and in Antonis Nikopolidis had an exceptional keeper, but Arsenal were eventually rewarded for their persistence. [LNB]If question-marks remain about the absence of a target-man, no one can doubt the quality of Arsenal's quicksilver movement around the opposition box. Arshavin and Van Persie both shone as did Fàbregas, pushing on from midfield in this strangely passionless affair. [LNB]The Emirates had been far from full, reflecting a lack of appetite for some of these run-of-the-millionaire group-stage meetings between the European elite. [LNB]Those refuseniks missed some typically fluent football from Arsenal in a first half they dominated, particularly when the ball was marching to the beat composed by Arshavin and Fàbregas. Both should have scored before the break. [LNB]The game had opened with Gael Clichy making good ground down the left, the full-back cutting the ball back towards Arshavin, who opened up his body, letting the ball come across him before sidefooting goalwards. Not for the last time on the night, the excellent Nikopolidis came to the visitors' rescue, making a low save. [LNB]Arsenal took up such a lengthy residency in the Olympiakos' half that the Greeks could have charged them rent. For all their occasional prolific edge, Arsenal really could do with a more substantial target-man. [LNB]Van Persie is an accomplished attacker, adept at pulling the strings, but Arsenal required someone to impose himself physically on Olof Mellberg and Avraam Papadopoulos, Olympiakos's centre-halves. [LNB]Van Persie was soon scheming, soon creating around the box, the Dutchman's awareness of team-mates' movements setting up a chance for Fàbregas, who almost snapped the bar with a drive from the edge of the area. From the wreckage of the move, Tomas Rosicky seized the ball, drilling it goalwards. That alert sentry, Nikopolidis, was again well-placed to thwart Arsenal. [LNB]Arshavin then almost scored after spiriting the ball around Raul Bravo, whose presence at the top table of European football will surprise those Leeds United fans who witnessed his hapless spell for them in 2003, particularly a game at Anfield when El-Hadji Diouf absolutely destroyed the player on loan from Real Madrid. [LNB]Last night, the former Spain international was constantly troubled by Abou Diaby, raiding upfield, the tricky Rosicky and the energetic Emmanuel Eboué, starting at right-back with Bacary Sagna dropped. [LNB]Wenger's side were in total control, their ease epitomised by Clichy's skilful touch to drag the ball away from Olympiakos's lone striker, Diogo. [LNB]The Brazilian did manage the most extraordinary moment of the half, a shot from the right that resolutely refused to go anywhere near Vito Mannone's goal and continued on its determined way out for a throw-in, eliciting much hilarity amongst the home hordes. [LNB]The second period hardly opened auspiciously for Arsenal. Leaping to meet Dudu's corner, Mellberg beat Thomas Vermaelen and headed powerfully goalwards where Mannone saved well. Van Persie then launched into a late challenge on Michal Zewlakow, earning a deserved booking. [LNB]Yet Arsenal, by far the better intentioned, were unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty when Dudu handled. Arsenal fans seized on the Brazilian's name in describing the failure to punish the Olympiakos midfielder. [LNB]Seeking to break down the blockade in black, Wenger sent on Eduardo with 23 minutes remaining. The Croatian international had an impact 12 minutes from time, collecting Fàbregas' pass down the inside-left channel and crossing for Van Persie to drive Arsenal ahead. Nikopolodis's resistance was finally broken. [LNB]Arsenal struck again with five minutes left. Another substitute, Aaron Ramsey, played his part, finding Fàbregas whose low angled cross was cleverly turned in by the back-heel of Arshavin. The officials failed to see the Russian was offside but at least his goal brought some justice to the scoreline.[LNB]EmailPrint .at15t_email {display:none !important;}Share|tweetmeme_url = 'http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/arsenal/6243806/Arsenal-2-Olympiakos-0-match-report.html';tweetmeme_style = 'compact';tweetmeme_source = 'TelegraphNews';Email|Printhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/arsenal/6243806/Arsenal-2-Olympiakos-0-match-report.htmlTelegraphNews Arsenal
