Morning all.
Arsenal totally cocked up the opening two fixtures in this group. Then a defensive master class at home against Bayern in a game which saw us win 2-0 gave us hope, not much, but some. A battering by the same side in Germany was little short of embarrassing and the hope was waning fast. We needed two victories in order to qualify, one at home against Zagreb, the other in Greece by a 2-0 scoreline. The first was easy and we got the much needed victory but the second was going to be tough, very tough….
The Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium was loud and hostile, the fans full of support for their team. They believed they were through into the knock-out stages of the Champions League, of that I’m pretty sure and when the game kicked off, it was Olympiacos who settled quickly. This was a side who’d won the last 12 games at home in the domestic league…
We on the other hand couldn’t get the ball, let alone keep it and even when we did, the passing was all over the place. Nerves perhaps as they knew what this game meant. Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker were busy as the back, as were Bellerin and Monreal, the latter appeared to be the man to beat as the home side targeted our right hand-side but as much as they attacked us, we stayed strong. We grew and only got better..
Kostas Fortounis was so desperate for an opening goal, he took a dive in the area and was rewarded with a yellow card. Good I thought, this ref is on his game…
Just before the half hour mark, Flamini nearly broke the deadlock but his shot took a slight deflection onto the crossbar. That move seemed to give the boys a bit more confidence and it wasn’t long before Ollie had a chance to take us into the lead but his header was straight at the keeper.
Then came the moment we were waiting for.
Mesut Ozil played a superb ball out to Ramsey on the left, he whipped a cross into the near post and there was Ollie in the right place at the right time – his header was strong, too strong for Roberto, who could only help the ball over the line and into the net. David Ospina must have been sat on the bench smiling…..
The home fans were suddenly a lot less vocal, the away team were well on top..
The returning Theo Walcott nearly doubled the scoreline but his shot fizzed just wide, then as the first half came to a close, Olympiacos had a good chance to equalise but Koscielny was too good…
Half-time, half the job done.
Soon after the restart and as Ollie burst into a sprint, (he did, honest) he turned his ankle. It looked nasty and I thought he was out for the rest of the game, perhaps longer too but no, a little bit of the magical spray and he was up and running. In fact within a couple of minutes, he’d scored a second, a goal which we so desperately needed. Joel Campbell was superb in the build up to the goal, he held the ball well and then delivered a wonderful reverse pass to the big Frenchman who finished the move off calmly.
Joel Campbell was involved again as he set Walcott up for another chance to increase the lead but his volley caught Da Costa and went wide. Fortounis nearly grabbed one back for the home side but Petr Cech made a fine save to keep his shot from distance out of the top corner.
We needed a third to put the Greeks out of the game as a late goal from them would see us out of the competition and around 66 minutes, that’s just what we got. Having let the home team players get away with far too much rough stuff, I was quite surprised when the Italian referee blew his whistle and pointed to the spot after a cross by Monreal had been judged to have hit the hand of Omar Elabdellaoui. ( yes, I had to look that one up)
There was only ever going to be one man to step up wasn’t there and what a calm penalty it was too. Bottom left hand corner and Ollie had bagged a hat-trick. It really was game over then as the home side now needed three goals to overtake us in the group and that just wasn’t going to happen. They knew it, their fans who were by now silent, knew it and every Arsenal player knew it too as they continued to press forward in search of more goals.
The Arsenal fans could be heard loud and proud and they cheered the boys over the line and what a night it must have been for them. A journey home in a much happier mood than most of the ‘experts’ would have predicted….
Football is a funny old game isn’t it, certainly when it comes to Arsenal as when the odds seem stacked against us, we somehow manage to come out on top. We do it every season to ensure we get into the Champions League and somehow, always seem to get through the group stage regardless of how muck we cock things up along the way.
After the game, Arsene Wenger said:
We had the perfect game. I told you before the game that it would be the ‘greatest escape’ but I must say I am very proud of the team because we needed to be right on the mental side and the tactical side as well.
It is a fantastic achievement for us. Not many people gave us a chance. But we are a real team. We are very close the in dressing room and could see this today.
This was one of the best performances we have given in Europe. The kind of performance we had tonight was absolutely outstanding.
I wouldn’t say it was perfect as at times our midfield was nowhere to be seen, and neither full-backs were given a lot of support in the early stages of the match but credit where it’s due, that changed because Wenger changed it and once Walcott and Campbell switched sides, we looked better, much better.
Campbell’s work ethic is very similar to Alexis and as much as Ollie will run away with the MOTM award, Campbell deserves a special mention imo. He was everywhere and had a really good game. Walcott’s defensive duties can’t go without a mention either, nor can Ollie’s – all three were digging in and helping out the defence when needed.
All in all, a good performance and a great victory…
One of Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Zenit St Petersburg, Wolfsburg and Barcelona await us in Monday’s Champions League draw.
Transfer gossip:
Arsene Wenger has his sights set on signing Lucas Perez according to The Telegraph. Not only him either. Antoine Griezmann and Karol Linetty are being linked, the latter has been watched by the scouting team on more than one occasion and the young Polish midfielder is very much an Arsene Wenger kind of signing…
That’s it for today guys, have a good one..
Europa, what Europa?
Good morning / afternoon all.
Nice article Rico.
Indeed it was a nice game to watch and our hats off, the boys did the job well…am glad.
I think Campbell was amazing yesterday as well as Ramsey,….I think Ramsey’s intelligent runs and passes won us the game
Have a lovely day everyone
Very good surmise…
I think you are spot on that JC deserved a huge mention. seeing as he got a standing ovation from his former club when he came off too….
All the baseless links to wingers makes me wonder if AW wants to move one of our attackers on…
Nicely written Rico.
I wonder how true Ospina link to Besikta is?
Good morning Lovelies and Hunkies.
Well done boss. I liked the report as much as I liked seeing JC improving with the ticking away of the clock.
I really loved seeing him play and Ollie get s hat trick.
How much did Ollie cost? And how much has he scored this season? And Marshall has beebeen considered a world class player by many. Lol
Griezmann would be interesting.
For 12 million quid, in today’s over-inflated market, Giroud is the find of the century! Yet, if citizen Kane scores tonight it will all be forgotten in a heart beat. Last night saw guts, skill and determination from a side decimated by injury. Watching was a pleasure by the end. BTW – Robbie Savage will probably get the sack from BT as he was quite complimentary all evening. Stunned!
As for Campbell, I think he was on it all night. If he plays like that every game. I can’t see Ox getting in over him.
Shame about United though eh? 🙂
Good all around performance once Theo changed sides and Ramsey calmed down a bit and did some defending. First time I have been impressed with Campbell, maybe he does have a future with us after all. The other big thing for me was Ramsey/Flamini generally looked a good partnership after the initial messy start. I hope Ramsey can replicate that defensive side a bit more often.
Just up for breakfast. There must be a kettle here somewhere. £ 1 for 50cl. Looks good. Taste ‘s good and by golly it went down last night.
Morning again all..
Thanks re the post comments…
Griezmann would be awesome Adam..
Campbell surprised me, and I may just end up having to eat a huge slice of humble pie because I didn’t think he’d do as well as he did last night.. Do that against the so called bigger sides in the league and Europe and he’s a stayer for me…
Loved his work ethic and not afraid to get stuck in.
Also loved Walcott tracking back, winning the ball and the next thing is, he’s in the box wanting the ball.. Why oh why couldn’t he have done that years ago instead of poncing around like he owned the place…
Good Morning to The Lady of the House and all fellow Gooners in residence.
A great game yesterday, but with a bit of a shaky start. It seemed that Arsene and the team expected Olympiakos to sit back and defend and hit us on the counter attack, but they seemed determined to score the opening goal and really put our team under pressure. Olympiakos were flooding the midfield and staying compact. After the first 15 minutes Arsene shuffled the pack and our team started to use the wings more and widened the field of play and they started to find their rhythm and penetrate the Olympiakos defence. It was just a matter of when they would score. Our opening goal silenced the home fans and it was text book Arsenal from then on.
Joel Campbell certainly is determined to take and make the most of his opportunities when injuries to our other players has given him them. He seems to be growing into his role and improving with each game. His passing and linkup play has certainly improved. I hope this continues through the season. If so, he will be a valuable addition to the first team squad.
Morning Cg…
Pretty much as I saw it. I too thought they’d sit back a lot more than they did and make it tough for us to break them down. Instead, they’d played right into our hands….
Great match report, Rico
My only criticism of Campbell is that he only seems to give his top 100% in European games – is it because he thinks he’s in the shop window?
Brian
Morning, good match report Rico,
Europa league, my Arse, It was never gonna happen, was it ?. Spent all day yesterday telling anyone who,d listen, we,ll get the result we need.
I was that confident.
Congrats to the whole team, but Kos, Ramsey who is improving with each game, The Wizard himself, Campbell and Giroud in particular, were fantastic and Kudos has to go to Wenger too,
Fantastic achievement to get out this group and just shows with a few players back and 1 or 2 additions, you,d have to be excited with what this group of lads can go on and Achieve.
Ozil for me although early days, has to be a serious contender for player of the year.
Morning all.
Quick one as I’m off to bed…early start.
I haven’t seen the game.
Still, Campbell is getting a run of games, and that can do incredible things for a player.
I reckon we all need to remember these guys can play the game, but some just need more playing time to show it.
Very, very happy Gooner at present.
If we can keep pinching results until our injury list diminished, we can go a long way in the League.
Catch you all tomorrow.
Ps…GIROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUD.
Brian, good question but I’m not sure he’d be thinking about that – but you never know in this sport…
I bet Vardy steals it if he keeps scoring Dublin, but Ozil has to be up there in contention as it stands now, Alexis too maybe…
Re Ramsey, just hope when he’s playing against a better attacking force, he’s prepared to sit back a bit and help Flamini, as otherwise, we are going to struggle…
Hi and bye Scott, sleep well…
And Kudos must also go to Monreal who has been outstanding for us, for well over a year now, he,s form has never dipped, and he continues to be solid and dependable.
You,d have to think if AW is genuinely serious about winning the League and Champions league, he simply must show intent and do something in Janurary.
Greizmann, my son and i were only talking about him yesterday, I rate him highly but begs the Question, Why didnt Wenger go in for im before he went in for Welbeck, when the opportunity was there.
My wasn’t that a pleasant surprise. And yes, am humbly chewing on this pie as I take back my ‘Giroud is shit’ words. He actually ran! His second goal was a WC striker esque. One min he’s limping outside the next he’s sprinting and calmly slotting in to come the nerves. Ollie had a good game.
Another lad I’d written off; Campbell, wow! That was a superb assist. He can play two games in a row. How many starts has he had with Arsenal? – I bet they’re less than 20 – yet he’s making such major strides.
We couldn’t play in the midfield for obvious reasons but it was an awesome game. Thank you arsenal for not dumping us in the same tournament with spuds, #foreverInourshadows. Kudos to Ollie and the lads.
Stubborn old AW will know that most of the injured will be back for the CL KO stages, all barring Coquelin and Cazorla – just hope he doesn’t look at the squad and think we’ll cope because we won’t…
A CM at least is surely a must in Jan…
Afternoon, good report rico. Bet Sanchez wasn’t over-confident of playing another CL game this season!
Marshall, I’ll share a pie with you… 😉
Giroud, 120 games 33 from the bench.
71 goals and 28 assists,
Not bad for 12 million, heh.
I bet he wasn’t Andrew….
Apparently Giroud’s first hattrick for the club last night. If true a nice time to get it.
Not bad for a squad player… 😉
It’s true Pige..
Off topic, just looking at Donald Trumps latest polling figures,
Jeez only in America can a presidential candidate actually increase votes for being a Bigot and a Racist.
Quite extraordinary.
Have a good day.
He is like a modern day Alf Garnett. Although Prince Philip says some outrageous things without gaining any sort of popularity. Only in America i suppose.
I dunno, we got a few racists over here, look at that Anjem Choudrey, what a wonderfully peace loving fellow he is…
A delightfully decent individual…
Roy Keane had it right on Giroud I think.
Fury is trying here too… 😉
I’m off out, have a good afternoon guys…
‘Decent’ Adam?
Laters…
Christmas shopping Rico?
Definitely decent Rico.
Afternoon Al…
Great report Rico…
I was happy when I saw the team was not in any hurry…they took time to settle down and started letting in the screws as their class told.
Campbell…only one who didn’t watch him in the World Cup would believe he’s below average…all he needed, like any other player for that matter, was a run of games…and yesterday…he’s the deputy-man-of-the-match after Giroud of course.
Sorry goonster…but big teams don’t play Europa…it’s all about class, which is permanent…unlike form. Never seen Barca, Madrid, Bayern play Europa…why should Arsenal?
I’d take a 10-0 aggregate bow at next CL stage than win Europa…
I’m sure Wenger won’t want to be humiliated again in the CL…he’d get a DM…one even better than Coquelin…and perhaps a winger…for even Campbell is a top striker!
Dg- appaently Barca and ath had a gentlemans’ agreement re Turan and Greizman.
If Turan had joined us then Barca would have signed Greizman….
he turned us down before he joined Ath Madrid though…
Hey Ts!
Pires turned us down when he moved from Metz to Marseilles…
3 victories yesterday:
1 – over Olimpiakos
2 – Be in the next leg
3 – Won versus a Portuguese manager (Finally!)
Campbell was good but is very physical weak.
Bellerin is miles away of is normal performance. and TW too
My faith in Giroud never once wavered. 😀 And my, hasn’t it been repaid?
Hello stranger. 🙂
Adaaaam!! Howdy? How’s Mrs A? So chuffed for Giroud!! He was just bristling with purpose wasn’t he?
True Kev but if Bobby’s move to OM had worked he wouldnt have joined us…
Greizman is doing very well in that league…
will his size but suitable going to Stoke and WBA etc?
Hi Agag. She has unfortunately broken her foot and is laid up for several weeks joining Jack, Danny and many others on the treatment table. As you know, I am not Giroud’s greatest fan but he was excellent last night for sure 🙂
Oh nooo. Poor Mrs A!! Make sure you are at her beck and call!! She needs some spoiling!!
As for Giroud, he’s my version of rico’s Theo. 😀 😀
Agag. I reckon she would agree with that:)
I’ll take your word on it as far as Olivier Le Magnifique goes 🙂
That’s not the point Ginge, Wenger doesn’t give up on a player if he gets a refusal…
Griezmann is like Pires in that neither of them are physical, nor was Ozil, but they can learn to adapt.
It’s also down to finance, and there’s no reason, following the signings of Ozil and Sanchez, that Arsenal cannot afford him.
Feed her grapes while she props up her feet lying on a divan. ? Giroud will always divide opinion. He doesn’t have the natural talent or elegance of Henry or RvP but A for effort — he does try hard
Kevvvvvv!! I saw a BBC news article that Manila is the worst city to drive on Earth. ? I had a laugh and then realized that it was only too true!!
Hey Ms J.Choo, how are you? ?
I You Tubed some Manila traffic vids a couple of years back. I just sat there laughing at some of the driving, Shopping Buddy it was mental… ?
Do you drive?
On the injury front, Arsenal are not in the top three anymore with our 7 injuries…
ManUre and Bournmouth are both on 9 injuries and Newcastle are top with 10 injuries…
Evening all…
Long time no see Agag, hope life treats you well..
Kev, Christmas shopping was finished long ago… 🙂
Schweinsteiger banned for three matches for elbowing Winston Reid, that wouldn’t have happened in Fergies day… Lol
Happens to the best rico, the legs start to go and the elbows come into play, the Great Dennis Bergkamp had a bit of a mean streak about him towards the end.
Schweinsteiger is fast heading the same way.
Everything that can be said has been said 🙂 I would just likke to add what Jimmy Greaves is acredited with saying “it’s a funny old game”
This will go in the archives as one of Arsenal’s greatest nights whatever happens next.
Giroud has just boosted his CV.He may well now be worth over a million 🙂
Ha ha Micko, I recall Dennis and his elbows….
Kelsey, who could ever forget last night, even Houdini couldn’t have managed that…
Night guys, catch up tomorrow….