Source: Eurosport
Arsenal leave it late to beat Olympiakos
Robin van Persie and Andrei Arshavin struck late to give Arsenal a 2-0 victory over Olympiakos in Champions League Group H Tuesday after visiting keeper Antonis Nikopolidis produced wonders to keep them at bay.[LNB] Nikopolidis, Greece's formidable last line of defence in their triumphant 2004 European Championship odyssey, made a series of outstanding saves and at times appeared to be playing Arsenal on his own as he protected his goal.[LNB] Dutchman Van Persie spent most of the night locked in a personal duel with the grey-haired stopper but eventually found a way past to give Arsenal the lead they deserved after 78 minutes.[LNB] Russian playmaker Arshavin then put a realistic gloss on the scoreline with a tap-in second from a suspiciously offside position four minutes from time to send Arsenal clear at the top of the group with six points.[LNB] It was tough on Nikopolidis, but Olympiakos, managed by Brazilian great Zico, could have few complaints as they barely mustered an attack all night on the way to a ninth defeat out of nine away ties in England.[LNB] Arsenal could have been three up within 25 minutes.[LNB] Van Persie began his examination of Nikopolidis with a low shot from Gael Clichy's cut back and he then rocked the crossbar with a powerful left-foot drive before Tomas Rosicky's follow-up was beaten away by the over-worked keeper.[LNB] Nikopolidis then showed great agility to turn away Arshavin's low effort. The vocal visiting fans behind Nikopolidis's goal at least had a close-up view of the action but their side offered nothing to suggest that their dismal record in England was about to change.[LNB] Arsenal's only slight alarm in a first half of complete domination came 10 minutes before the interval when Vassilis Torosidis, scorer of the his side's goal in the 1-0 defeat of AZ in their opening match two weeks ago, headed straight at Vito Mannone when unmarked.[LNB] Olof Mellberg's header from Olympiakos's first corner of the game shortly after the break also caused a flutter in the Arsenal defence but normal service was soon resumed as Nikopolidis again thwarted Van Persie.[LNB] As the clock ticked down and with Olympiakos having long abandoned any pretence of attack, Eduardo combined with the hard-working Cesc Fabregas to tee up Van Persie for a chance that he tucked away to the relief of the majority of fans in the Emirates.[LNB] Arshavin, who had endured a frustrating evening, then ghosted in to side-foot Arsenal's second.[LNB] (Editing by Justin Palmer)
