Arsenal 2 - 0 Olympiakos: Professional Job Done & Hammers Preview

Arteta made a few changes to the lineup that beat the Geordies. No starts for Saka, Eze, or Rice, as in-form Martinelli was preferred on the right, with Trossard on the left and Gyökeres up top. Merino, Zubimendi, and Ødegaard made up the triumvirate in midfield.

(Credit: Julian Finney - UEFA/ GettyImages)

Strong Start but Wasteful Finishing

The Gunners started sprightly in the opening minutes. Martinelli had a huge chance to make it 1-0 from a lovely sweeping move and an MLS cross, but he headed—or shouldered—wide in the 3rd minute. He should have done much better.

Arsenal were moving the ball with sleek, quick passing. Olympiakos struggled to keep up with the pace and movement. However, the Arsenal backline hesitated on a back-pass that almost gave the Greek side a chance, but Raya cleared up and immediately sparked a counterattack. This time, it paid off. Martinelli showed great instinct to continue his run and slot home after Gyökeres showed great strength before getting his shot off. The Greek keeper parried, but Martinelli was alert and finished. Raya had to be sharp again to keep Arsenal’s clean sheet intact, making a smart one-handed save in the 20th minute. Olympiakos were proving no mere pushovers.

First-Half Summary: Dominance Without the Knockout Blow

The half eventually petered out with Arsenal 1-0 up. To be fair, the visitors had been fairly comfortable after weathering a period of sustained Arsenal dominance. Raya, again, was the busier keeper after the goal, as the Greeks settled and weren’t too ruffled. Arsenal needed a step up.

Olympiakos started the second half with a bit more urgency, trying to turn the tide. Arsenal still seemed to be playing within themselves. There were a few more half-chance headers Raya had to deal with. Trossard was especially profligate when through on goal on two occasions, and Gyökeres had two attempts go begging—one seemingly blocked, the other shot into Row Z. In all of this, Ødegaard was at the heart of it—pulling strings, dictating play, and spraying passes to unpick the Greek backline. On another day, he should have gotten more than one assist—but not tonight, I guess.

Substitutions: Fresh Legs, Fresh Energy

Then came the changes. Timber came on for White, who I must say had a few shaky moments on the right—understandable, considering he’s still on the mend from injury. Gabi had to come off in the 74th minute for Mosquera—hopefully he's fine.

The big guns also came on: Saka for Martinelli, Eze for Trossard, and Rice for Merino. The Gunners picked up the pace with renewed verve and energy. Passes were crisper, and Arsenal duly got their second goal. Saka, now in a free-roaming role, switched to the right, and Ødegaard found him with another gorgeous through-ball. Saka did what Saka does—finished smartly through the keeper’s legs. 2-0 to the Arsenal. At 1-0, the Greeks were still in it. You could tell Arteta’s relief when that second goal went in. All in all, a professional job, if not totally convincing.

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Player Thoughts and Standouts

Ødegaard: Shoutout to our captain, he played like he had something to prove—running the show. He was just class. Eddie Howe’s comments after the Newcastle game? Game-changer. Whether it’s pressure from Eze’s recent performances or something else, let’s hope he keeps it up.

MLS: Played with so much composure. It’s gutting to see him benched (rightfully so) because Calafiori has been our best player this season, but Miles isn’t far off. If Calafiori drops his levels, MLS is right there. This bodes well for the team.

Martinelli: Continues his purple patch. He leads the Gunners in G+A with 3G and 1A so far. If the competition is what’s made him more clinical in front of goal—I’m here for it. We need everyone to chip in significantly if we’re going to lift major trophies this season.

Raya: Never gets enough praise. Yeah, he has a solid defence in front of him, but whenever he’s called upon to keep us in a game or hold the line, he’s there. We rightfully questioned his preseason form, but this season he’s been excellent, and we need that to continue.

The Rest: Did okay. Nothing more to be said, considering Bar Arsenal, no other English side currently has 2W in 2 UCL games, you would say glass half full. However, a little but....

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The Not-So-Good

Let’s be real—the game hung in the balance for most parts. At 1-0, anything can happen—a magic moment or a calamitous mistake can flip things. So yeah, we understand the frustration. Arsenal needs to kill off these games earlier. I mean, go for the jugular when we are dominant in games.

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Momentum Matters

This is a great opportunity to build momentum. We've already tackled the harder games— Man Utd away, City at home, Liverpool away, Newcastle away—and we’ve come out of them with a net +2 point improvement compared to last season:

• Man Utd: +2

• City: -2

• Liverpool: -1

• Geordies: +3

Slight net positive. It closes some gap. If Arsenal are to win the league, the team knows we must do better than last season. 

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Westham Bounce Watch and Must-Win Territory

Next up, West Ham at the Emirates. Saturday, 3 PM kickoff. Mikel Arteta would be in the dugout for his 300th Arsenal game as a manager. From 2019 when he took over from Unai Emery, how time flies when you are doing good. He has done a fabulous job since coming on board, just the trophy haul left to crown things up for him nicely. Any coach that was going to succeed an 'Institution' like Arsene Wenger was always going to be under the microscope, just look at the mess at Old Trafford. Let's hopefully toast to a winning outing so Arsenal has to lock in. This is a big opportunity to gain ground if Liverpool slips up again against Chelsea on Sunday. The Hammers are with just 1win and a draw in six and just sacked Graham Potter, no surprises there. Nuno Espírito Santo steps in. I rate him, aside from that Spurs stint, look at his work at Wolves and even at Forest. He’s a good coach. I just hope he’s not good enough to bring that cursed "new manager bounce" to the Emirates. We absolutely can’t allow that.

They’ve won their last two league visits to the Emirates, which is… annoying. Time to set that record straight. Arsenal need to control this game, kill it early, and not let them hang around like Olympiakos did. They still have a few decent players in Bowman and Paqueta, with Soucek missing in their midfield, that's a plus for Arsenal, me thinks. This is a chance to build momentum. We’ve already faced the big boys — United, City, Liverpool, Newcastle — and came out with a net +2 points compared to last season. That’s progress. If we want to win the league, we must do better than last year. That starts with handling business against teams like West Ham.

Time for Ruthlessness and Squad Rotation

There’s a clear opportunity here. The next five games on paper are all winnable — no easy games in the Premier League, but Arsenal have to look at this stretch and target maximum points. The football is looking better — more fluid, more chemistry. Gyökeres is blending in nicely, though we still need to do more for him to get on the scoresheet, as we know he can. That means more Ødegaard through balls, better decision-making from the wingers — Saka, Trossard, Martinelli — squaring instead of shooting wastefully over the bar or into the side netting. There's also the numbers game regarding GD, it may boil down to that at the end of the season, so if there is an opportunity to boost the goal difference, I'd say seize it, lads. 

I’d like to see us start Saka, Eze, and Ødegaard together. Martinelli and Trossard off the bench — and yes, I know I’m reaching, but I still think Trossard would’ve buried one of those missed chances if he’d come on as a sub.  Saka would be starting his 200th Arsenal game, making him the 7th youngest to reach that milestone at 24 years and 29 days. Congrats to the Arsenal Vice captain and Star boy, now go cap it with a goal or two like Henry did on his 200th against Palace in 2005. Here’s hoping we kill the game early and get minutes for MLS, Nwaneri, and Downman. They need pitch time, and this is the kind of match that should allow for it, so we have to be ruthless from the get-go. So, lock in, boys. I want to see the team come out strong, hungry, ready to rip West Ham a new one, if nothing, for the hurt of killing our title charge last season at the Emirates. As alluded, here is my team sheet below, still leaves room for a strong bench of Finishers, let's hope we don't even need them to come change things.

#ARSWHA

On that note, it's a wrap from us at #Anaijagunner, let's cheer the lads on to hopefully another win to close that gap, even if temporary, mark Ateta's 300th game milestone, mark Saka's 200th too. Thanks for reading and remember to leave your thoughts in the comments, like and subscribe. Do enjoy the game wherever you are.... #COYG

Newcastle Match Review + Olympiakos Champions League Preview & Key Fixtures

Early Match Drama and Midfield Battle

The match starts with Saliba on the bench. Mikel went with Trossard and Mosquera on the left and center back, respectively, which was odd.  Arsenal went full flow and got a penalty in the 14th minute, or so we thought. The change in that decision still remains a head scratcher, PGMOL, we are looking at you! Anyway, the team switched through the gears after being wrongfully denied the pen,  Eze was having a game against Pope with quickfire shots off in the first 15 minutes—good job Pope, but only just. Trossard was almost crashing the post after a slick counter move, then found himself free at the back post from a Saka corner, but he should have done better to nod it to Calafiori. Arsenal was playing their best football since this season. Then, Mosquera had one of those moments, a miscued ball for a corner and Newcastle scored against the run of play

Newcastle worked the corner short and beautiful, with Tonali delivering a peach-perfect cross to give Woltermade a free header. Gabby was too soft on that—no complaints about the goal. Despite all our dominance, we were looking at 1-0 down. Deja vu at Saint James's Park all over again or not? Nope, not this time, the team picked themselves up to show that this Arsenal landed at SJP with a bit between their teeth, especially since Liverpool had slipped at Palace. Gyökeres looked up for it (more on him later), the team put in a wonderful shift—not fazed by the atmosphere or physicality of Newcastle’s midfield, Joelinton and Bruno at the heart of it. Big ups to Zubi, Rice, and Eze in the middle of the park. I wanted to see Nørgaard, but Zubi did very well—intercepting, winning headers against Dan Burn (imagine that), popping balls to the right flank of Saka, and that ball to Timber—how Pope saved that was unbelievable. Rice, though, what a machine in the middle—assist, chasing down Murphy, the Newcastle right back to block shots. Now, that’s the Rice we want, and he showed it. 

Gabby Wins It Late For The Gunners

We battled the Geordies until the breakthrough came in the 86th minute with that sumptuous cross from Rice for Merino to deftly head in off the post for the equalizer. The gunners weren't done though. Gabby turned his would have been 5.0 rating to an 8.0 game rating by doing what he does best in the opposition box, he scores the winner, breaking hearts across St James Park with that header. Massive shout-out to Odegard for the assist and pre-assist. Eddie Howie singled him out as the one who changed the game for Arsenal. That picture above tells you what that win meant to the lads, long may that hunger to win continue. 

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Key Moments, Mistakes, and Gabby’s Role

Typical Arsenal, most gooners would say. Big Gabby—what was that? Was the referee supposed to blow a foul for that? C’mon? Anyway, we went into the break 1-0 down, but the team was playing well. Saka was good, still not best electric. Timber was showing himself to be quite an attacking fullback—taking notes from Benny Blanco, it seems. It was a big game performance from the boys.

All the positive stuff being rightfully said about the team, I want to mention some defining moments that could have cost us. Our hero of the day, Gabby, was at the heart of it all. First, his lack of effort for the goal we conceded—I mean, really? Then Gabby had the nerve to appeal for a foul on Woltermade, like double, really? He didn’t even try to jump for the header, very, very unlike Gabriel Meghales.

The other moment was Gabby’s shove on Woltermade, making things personal, it seemed. I’d say he was mega lucky on that one, knowing how itchy-fingered refs appear to be against Arsenal in big games—that could have been costly. The last incident, which might seem harsh to criticize him for, was the last-ditch tackle he had against Malanga... on another day, that would have been inexplicably given against us as a penalty, but not today, I guess.

I won’t want to be negative, but we got lucky on those potentially bad situations Gabby put us in. Anyway, I thought I’d put that out there because those were some ''in the balance'' moments which I expect Arteta, on replay, should call Gabby and say, “Hey, you are one of my leaders on the pitch, I expect better, do better so we can win the league, especially after dropping silly points last season due to similar type of silly mistakes.” 

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Graft, Grit & Gyökeres; What Lies Ahead

Lastly, to Gyökeres—he played his best game so far for Arsenal, battling away with the Geordies and their physicality, but he wasn’t fazed. Holding up the ball, bringing other players into the game, he was much, much better.

Mark Ogden, who we all know is a Manchester United fan, summed it nicely:

“You can’t question the spirit of Gyökeres. He has been kicked, manhandled and wrestled by Burn, Botman, Thiaw, and now Lascelles, but he just keeps coming back for more.”  He is still getting to know the team, but by the looks of it, we got the right player here, not the other one we chased all summer.

The next five games are key for Arsenal: West Ham at home, Fulham away, Palace at home, Burnley away, and Sunderland away. Liverpool play Chelsea, United, Brentford, Villa, and City in their next five.  While it's important to note that we can't get too far ahead of ourselves, there is still an opportunity to build some momentum with Wins. On the flipside, things could get tricky if the team gets carried away by this win, so interesting times lie ahead. Up next is Olympiakos at the Emirates on Wednesday for a Champions League night.

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Olympiakos Game Preview

The action returns to the Champions League on Wednesday night as the gunners welcome perennial Greek champions Olympiakos to the Emirates in game 2 of this season's league phase. Having started with an away Win at Bilbao, I am sure Mikel would want to bank the home games as wins to give the team a great chance of finishing as high as possible in the group. I wouldn't say one knows much about the Greek side but, they are in the Champions League for a reason. Besides, they did knock Arsenal out of Europe a couple of seasons ago, although Mikel repaid them in kind two seasons later. In all, Arsenal has met the Greek champions twelve times in history, and it's even stevens between us both, 6 W apiece for both teams, no draws, pretty odd if you ask me. Now, I would also be keen to see a bit of rotation. Defensively, Arsenal must be wary of set-pieces. Olympiakos have a history of scoring from corners and free kicks, so concentration from midfield to the backline will be essential to avoid the kind of costly mistakes we saw against Newcastle.

Overall, this is a game where Arsenal’s quality and experience should shine through, but complacency is not an option. Calafiori and Timber are due a breather, yeah, they rested for Port Vale, but they have been racking up the minutes lately while still prone to an odd injury, let's avoid it. Saka still needs minutes to get up to speed,  as does Nwaneri. I may give Gyökeres a rest, please don't sh**t me, let's see Martinelli down the middle for a bit then Gyökeres can finish the match. Truth is, there are loads of games to go around and everyone would get a piece of the action. Here is my team selection below.

#ArsOly

Now I hear a lot of you thinking, why should we underestimate the Greek side by putting out a B team, or change so much from the winning side? I'd say that team is still solid with an attacking tilt. I also believe that a bit of rotation is good for those who need the minutes while looking after those who have played a bit more. We currently have Gyökeres as the main striker, should something happen to him....God forbid. Saka and Odegard need to get match sharpness, hence their starts, and Eze is learning to play with the team.. We have seen what less fancied teams do to known names; let's not get carried away.  As long as we remain rock solid at the back, disciplined in the middle, and clinical up front, we should be winning the game, a lot of ifs, buts, and maybes, I know. Before we go, we wish a happy National Day celebration to Nigeria as our country clocks 65 years of sovereignty. On that note, it's a wrap from us at #Anaijagunner, let's cheer the lads on to hopefully another win. Remember to leave your thoughts in the comments, like and subscribe. Do enjoy the game wherever you are.... #COYG

Arsenal Keep Winning Momentum, Saliba Signs New Deal & Newcastle Preview

 

Port Vale Breezed Past: Gunners March On

Mikel Arteta played his 297th game as manager, and his boys got the job done at Port Vale with a much-rotated side, securing a place in the next round of the Carabao Cup. The match saw Saka start as part of his recovery, while Ben White, MLS, Norgaard, and Keppa earned their first starts of the season, getting back to full match fitness. Martinelli slotted into the box in the 9th minute, with MLS dummied to allow the assist for Eze to score a well-placed goal past Gauchi in the Vale goal. Eze could’ve doubled his tally just after the 20th minute, but the Port Vale goalkeeper saved comfortably. The first half saw Arsenal go into the break with a one-goal lead.

A slight hiccup came in the 74th minute when Mosquera played a misguided a pass across the face of the backline, but nothing came of it thankfully. Trossard made sure the Gunners would leave with a comfortable 2-0 win in the 86th minute, calmly slotting home a sumptuous lob from Saliba. Bar that, the second half was uneventful, except for Arteta’s substitutions—Big Gabby, Gyokeres, and Rice all got some valuable game minutes. To be honest, the game didn’t have much of a "chess match" feel. Arsenal controlled possession comfortably, but the criticism here is that the team didn’t shift into second gear. I get it—Port Vale didn’t pose much of a threat, but as we head into the next round, we’ll need to be sharper against stiffer opposition like Brighton.

All in all, it was a solid performance. Fringe players got some much-needed match minutes, others got up to speed with new teammates, Eze found the back of the net, and Trossard kept being clutch. Plus, there were no injuries—a win in every sense.

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Saliba Signs: Arsenal’s Statement of Intent

Big news for Arsenal fans: William Saliba has signed a new 5-year deal, keeping him at the club until 2030. This is huge in more ways than one. Saliba is arguably one of the best center-backs in the world right now, and to fend off the likes of Real Madrid shows just how far Arsenal have come. How many players can honestly tell Madrid, “Buzz off, I’m staying”? Saliba’s message is clear: he’s here to win trophies at Arsenal. But this renewal isn’t just about Saliba—it’s a statement. With MLS, Big Gabby, Nwanneri, and others committing their futures, it’s evident that these players see something in Mikel Arteta and Arsenal that we fans may not fully grasp. It’s a positive sign for the future of the club, showing belief in the long-term project. 

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Berta is a Don. If he gets both Saliba and Saka to sign those renewals, Arsenal’s transfer window jumps from a solid 7.5/10 to a solid 9/10. The fact that players are eager to stay tells you they believe in Mikel’s vision. If they didn’t, they'd be seeking exits, and that’s not happening.

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Newcastle Preview: Must-Win for the Gunners

After the draw against City, Arsenal now face a must-win game at St. James’ Park against Newcastle. The importance of this game only grew with Palace's victory over Liverpool, so Arsenal needs to seize the opportunity and close the gap. Some fans say it's a tough place to go, but that’s the mentality we need to change. If Arsenal are serious about winning the league, they have to show up at places like this and take all three points.

Newcastle’s midfield trio—Joelinton, Bruno, and Tonali—will be a serious physical challenge. They’re robust, and they know how to play on the edge of the rules. They caused Liverpool problems, and while the Geordies are without Isak, they’re still dangerous. Liverpool only managed to run away with 3 points, but my word, the team gave a good account of themselves against the defending champions, you'd be forgiven if you thought Liverpool was the one down to 10 men, not the other way round. Gordon, in particular, likes to put on a show against Arsenal, so Timber and co. will need to be sharp.

Tactically, I’d consider leaving Ødegaard out for this one. He’s not fully fit, and we can’t afford to risk it in a high-pressure match. I’d go with Rice and NØrgaard as the base of a double pivot. Let them hold the fort while Saka, Nwanneri, and Eze do the creative damage in attack. That front line can be deadly if they’re given the space to run at the Newcastle defense. Up front, I’d stick with Gyokeres as the focal point, not many options with Kai & Jesus still out. I am tempted to bring on Benny Blanko for Timber for more attacking impetus, but let's keep it solid for the start

It's going to be a battle in the middle of the park, but with the right mentality and approach, Arsenal can come away with all three points. I am looking at Mikel Arteta here, go for IT! This game is huge in terms of momentum. If Mikel gets the tactics right and the players execute, Arsenal could be just 2 points behind Liverpool—and that’s an opportunity we can’t afford to miss. My starting 11 would look like this below:

#NCUARS

This leaves us still with a strong bench of Trossard, Martinelli, Zubimendi Mosquera, MLS,  and Ben Whites. Now just go there, keep it tight at the back, get the job done, and be back to prep for the Champions League game against Olympiakos in midweek. That's from us here at #Anaijagunner. Please like, subscribe, and don't forget to engage in the comments. Enjoy the game wherever you are #COYG.....Ciao