Arsenal put on a ruthless display against Olympiakos on Tuesday night in their third Champions League group match, taking a giant step towards achieving their European dream. Under the guidance of Mikel Arteta, the team made six strategic changes from their recent victory over Newcastle, aiming to maintain momentum in the tournament. The changes were inspired, allowing Arsenal to keep a high level of fluidity and rhythm right from the start.
The game was held at the Emirates Stadium. Not only did Arsenal take home all 3 points, they kept a clean sheet, their 11th in 14 games in all competitions. This defensive solidity has been the hallmark of their campaign so far, a reflection of the well-drilled unit we’ve been used to seeing under Arteta’s stewardship.
Tactical Changes and Early Dominance
Mikel Arteta’s decision to rotate the squad included notable substitutions, but it did not hinder the team’s performance. Coincidentally or not, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Gabriel Martinelli stepped up spectacularly. Our very own Martinelli opened the scoring from close range after a Viktor Gyokeres effort rebounded off the post! This early breakthrough created a great atmosphere, really set the tone for the match and showed Arsenal’s attacking intent.
Lewis-Skelly especially, consistently forcing fouls on the opposing team throughout the match and winning six overall. This is an amazing statistic. It would be an important goal, representing the most scored in a Champions League game by an Arsenal player since Alexis Sanchez did it against Barcelona in February 2016.
Arteta expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating, “Very happy. Obviously, winning the Champions League is always very complicated. Keeping another clean sheet, we make it 11 in 14 games, which is remarkable from the boys.”
Odegaard’s Influence and Key Contributions
Martin Odegaard was instrumental in securing the win for Arsenal. He displayed a courageous attitude with his phenomenal performance, which warranted the Player of the Match title for his efforts. He showed flashes of creativity and vision all match long, helping to spark some of the best defensive as well as offensive sequences. Odegaard’s pass set up Bukayo Saka for a crucial goal, which was Arsenal’s sixth strike scored by substitutes across all competitions this season.
Odegaard achieved a masterclass on the pitch. He was foiled by frustration as Olympiakos keeper Kostas Tzolakis produced an excellent save to thwart him. Odegaard’s quality and determination showed that he is back in groove again after recent blips in form.
Arteta, while pleased to see Odegaard’s comeback, was glad to see him returning to his best form. This is critical for Arsenal as they balance the physical demands of a domestic campaign and a European routine.
Looking Ahead
As you read this, Arsenal are advancing on their Champions League bid. They’re about to get used to a new league phase format, which is due to be introduced in the 2025/26 season. Mikel Arteta made a point about having depth of squad, depth of involvement after the match in the following statement.
With all due respect to academy players, the reality is last season our bench contained five academy products. Or, they probably didn’t make it to the Champions League of professional football. Definitely, it really helps out there,” he said. He underlined the squad’s progress and the new experience at his command.
The manager addressed player welfare, particularly regarding injury management: “I think it was a kick in the first half, and it was a bit uncomfortable. He could carry on but we decided not to take any risks because he’s played a lot of games. He’s coming back from a long-term injury and we need to look after him.”
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