Arsenal Ends Up In Charge After Defensive Mishap

arsenal
arsenal

Arsenal left it late at Greece to secure a lead in their round-of-16 tie with Olympiacos. They managed to score two goals in the dying moments of the game after having given away their lead once earlier. The Emirates will see Arsenal host Olympiacos with an advantage of 3-1 the following week. The Gunner put in a good performance in Greece.

The first goal of the match was also the first goal for Arsenal by Martin Odegaard. However, an immense defensive error gifted Youssef El-Arabi of Olympiacos to equalize the score fifteen minutes into the second half. The team was visibly shaken. However, a span of six minutes saw them score two goals by Gabriel Magalhaes and Mohamed Elneny.

Arsenal’s Night In Greece

Last season, the English side had failed to advance through the same tie in the round of 32. Mikel Arteta’s side had managed a lead in the first leg last time around as well. The Gunners camp will hope that the same fate does not await them a second time.

This was the second time at Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in as many as fourteen days. The last time around it was the stage for their home game with Benfica due to covid restrictions. Arsenal now has more victories in the knockout stages of the Europa League at Olympiacos’ home than Olympiacos themselves.

Odegaard was playing the role of the number 10. However, he shot wide of the target in the early moments of the game. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was then kept out by a fingertip save by Olympiacos goalkeeper Jose Sa. The deadlock broke when a shot by Odegaard bounced off Sa’s wrist.

An alarming pass from Leno to Ceballos resulted in El-Arabi pouncing on him for the equalizer. Arsenal managed to rally themselves soon after and dampened Olympiacos’ hopes of getting a draw. Magalhaes headed in for the second while Elneny shot home the third with his first effort.