As a result of Gabriel Martinelli’s outstanding Champions League debut, the Brazilian forward led Arsenal to a 2-0 victory against Olympiakos on Wednesday.
Arsenal defeated Athletic Bilbao 2-0 to keep their 100 percent league record in place after sealing victory at Athletic Bilbao in their Champions League opener.
In the closing moments, Bukayo Saka scored the points and Martinelli scored in the opening period.
Although the north Londoners struggled to perform at their best, they did manage to record a seventh win out of nine games this year.
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In their final 13 matches, Mikel Arteta’s men have recorded their 10th clean sheet, improving their impressive home record in the Champions League.
As part of their bid to close the two-point deficit with Premier League leaders Liverpool, the Gunners will play again on Saturday against West Ham.
Arteta, who faced Jose Luis Mendilibar, one of his childhood coaches, took a welcome trip down memory lane with Olympiakos.
Arteta, age 14, was a youth athlete for the Athletic Bilbao program under Mendilibar, who is now the Olympiakos’ coach.
Arteta continues to use the lessons he learned from his football education in Spain to benefit his mentor at Arsenal.
As a result of Martin Odegaard’s return to the starting lineup following a shoulder injury, England trio Saka, Declan Rice, and Eberechi Eze were all called off by Arteta.
Sublime Odegaard  
Arsenal should have taken the lead within 90 seconds thanks to Arteta’s squad rotation, which had the desired effect.
Myles Lewis-Skelly ran unchallenged across the unmarked Martinelli, who fired wide from six yards in the direction of the Olympiakos penalty area.
In the 12th minute, Martinelli made amends for his error.
A pin-point pass from Odegaard to Viktor Gyokeres cut through the Olympiakos defense.
Gyokeres snipped his marker away and fired a fierce strike that could have saved Martinelli from close range.
Odegaard’s importance to the Gunners was highlighted by the sublime ball that launched the comeback in a 2-1 win over Newcastle on Sunday.
Arsenal deserved more for a lively start than Martinelli’s third goal this season, but they were fortunate to hold on for good.
For a volley that forced a superb save from David Raya, former Wolves winger Daniel Podence eluded the Arsenal rearguard.
Gyokeres was being prepped for a more dangerous raid by Odegaard, but the striker’s shot went over.
After the break, Leandro Trossard, who had a chance to double the lead, was denied by the Olympiakos keeper who had pushed him in from close range.
Olympiakos were only denied an equalizer by a tight offside decision that ruled out Chiquinho’s finish despite only scoring once in their previous six Champions League matches.
In stoppage time, Saka came off the bench to add a flattering gloss to the scoreline before Tzolakis made a brilliant double save to stop Odegaard.
Saka was found by Odegaard for a powerful shot that should have been îndreptated at Tzolakis, who made it squirm through his legs into the net.
Source: Channels TV
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