Olympiacos produced a thrilling performance to defeat Arsenal 3-2 in UEFA Champions League Group F and win for the first time in in 13 attempts in England.
With Olympiacos looking to hit Arsenal on the break, both sides created chances in the early stages, with the best falling to Arsenal and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott in quick succession as they surged forward following Olympiacos attacks.
Olympiacos looked compact in defence with Esteban Cambiasso shielding the back four, and with Patjim Kasami and Kostas Fortounis prepared to break at speed they also threatened going forward. Arsenal in contrast looked hesitant at the back, and when no one picked up Pardo from a 33rd-minute corner the forward drilled in a deflected shot from the edge of the area.
Arsenal hit back immediately, with Alexis Sànchez on the left threading a pass through to Walcott to fire in off Roberto. Olympiacos did not lose their composure and from another corner restored their lead five minutes before the break, as Ospina dropped Fortounis’s high cross into his net.
Arsenal picked up the pace after the break with the introduction of Aaron Ramsey for Francis Coquelin on the hour and within minutes both Per Mertesacker and Santo Cazlorla had come close. Sànchez drew Arsenal level on 62 minutes when he headed in Walcott’s cross, but Olympiacos were back in front within a minute.
Olympiacos went straight up field from the kick off and Pardo crossed low for substitute Alfred Finnbogason to knock in at the near post. With a pair of matches with Bayern to come and still no points on the board, Arsenal have a mountain to climb, whole Olympiacos travel to Zagreb invigorated.
source:uefa.com
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 