Arsenal earned a hard-fought 2-0 win over Olympiakos to make it six successive group stage Champions League victories for the first time since 2005.
The Gunners outclassed their Greek opponents at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night to make it back-to-back victories in the league stage this season.
How Arsenal’s win over Olympiakos unfolded
Gabriel Martinelli‘s 12th-minute strike got the hosts on their way to three points, although it was Viktor Gyokeres who did the hard work for the opener.
Martin Odegaard played Gyokeres through on goal, who held off multiple defenders before shooting.
Olympiakos goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis got enough to take the sting off Gyokeres’ effort, which ended up rolling into the post.
But Martinelli was ready to pounce on the rebound as he tucked the ball away from just inches in front.
Olympiakos thought they found an equaliser just after the hour mark via Chiquinho, who had the ball in the back of the net after David Raya kept out Ayoub El Kaabi’s header.
Sadly for the visitors their goal was chalked off as El Kaabi was found to be offside in the build-up.
Bukayo Saka, who came on as a second-half substitute, made the result safe when he squeezed his strike between Tzolakis’ legs from close range in stoppage time.
Unfortunately for the Gunners, their win may have come at a cost as star defender Gabriel came off with an injury in the 75th minute.
Arsenal are now one of six teams in the 32-team league stage to have won both of their European Cup matches this term.
It follows their 2-0 victory away at Athletic Bilbao a fortnight ago in what was a first competitive meeting between the two sides.
Martinelli gave Arsenal the lead with this cute finish on the reboundGetty Before Saka secured the laboured victory in stoppage-timeGettyMatchDay Live
Mikel Arteta‘s men now sit fjfth in the table ahead of their next encounter against Atletico Madrid on home soil on October 21.
What 20-year first have Arsenal achieved?
Their triumph over Olympiacos has seen them equal the feat they managed under Arsene Wenger between December 2004 and November 2005.
For the first time in 20 years, Arsenal have claimed all three points in six consecutive group stage/league phase encounters.
Arsenal’s current stretches back to last campaign, where they beat Paris Saint-Germain, Shakhtar Donetsk, Monaco and Dinamo Zagreb in front of their own fans.
The Premier League title challengers are currently enduring a brilliant Champions League run in the group stages.
They have now emerged victorious in their last eight home Champions League group stage matches.
And they are also unbeaten in their last 13 group fixtures in Europe’s premier competition.
Arteta’s got Arsenal flying in the Champions League this seasonGettyPotential banana skin
Arsenal’s victory over Olympiakos has also ended their hoodoo against the Super League outfit on home soil.
Their last Champions League group stage defeat came at the hands of the Greek champions in September 2015.
That loss inflicted an unwanted first on Arsenal who lost their opening two matches in the European Cup for the first time in their history.
Olympiakos inflicted more woe on Arsenal in their next two trips to England’s capital.
In February 2020, Olympiakos caused one of the darkest days for Arsenal in European football.
A dramatic 2-1 Round of 32 second leg victory knocked the Gunners out of the Europa League on the away goals rule.
Olympiacos made Arsenal work for their eighth victory over the Greek clubCameraSport via GettyWith the game deep into extra-time, Arsenal equalised through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s acrobatic scissor kick in the 113th minute.
But the visitors restored their lead on the night six minutes later when Youssef El-Arabi slid in to spark wild scenes in the away end.
And to make matters worse, Aubameyang then missed from seven yards out with the goal at his mercy with the final kick of the game.
Olympiacos then ran out 1-0 winners the following year, but fortunately for Arsenal, they won the previous Europa League last-16 first leg tie 3-1.
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