"They like to talk about invincibility in this part of north London and it remains the only way to describe Mikel Arteta's record with Arsenal in European group phase ties at the Emirates Stadium. It is now eight wins out of eight in the Champions League with zero goals conceded. If you want to add in the Europa League from earlier in his tenure, it is 14 victories out of 14 with two goals gainst. Olympiakos had pitched up with a remarkable statistic of their own. They had won on their past three visits to this ground, the most recent two coming in the knockout rounds of the Europa League, even if the second in 2020-21 did not prevent an aggregate exit."
"Nobody expected anything other than another home success, the latest demonstration of Arsenal's power and depth despite this being a decent Olympiakos vintage. It was nervier than the home crowd would have liked in the closing stages, the visitors pushing and making for a few scares. But this Arsenal team is not easily breached. We are into October and still they have let in just three goals in all competitions only one of them in open play. Gabriel Martinelli scored for them in the 12th minute with Bukayo Saka, on as a substitute, taking a pass from the excellent Martin degaard to make things safe in stoppage-time."
"Arsenal had to go back to November 2019 for the previous time they had failed to win a group tie at home in Europe; a loss to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League which led to the sacking of Unai Emery, the caretaker stint of Freddie Ljungberg and the arrival of Arteta, whose first European assignment would be against Olympiakos in the last 32. It ended in a last-gasp extra-time defeat here and an away goals exit."
Arsenal have won all eight Champions League group-stage matches at the Emirates under Mikel Arteta without conceding a goal. Including earlier Europa League ties under Arteta, the club has 14 group-phase victories with only two goals conceded. Arsenal beat Olympiakos 2-0, with Gabriel Martinelli scoring in the 12th minute and Bukayo Saka adding a stoppage-time finish from Martin Ødegaard's pass. Olympiakos had won their past three visits to the ground and produced late scares, but Arsenal's defence held firm. By October Arsenal had conceded only three goals in all competitions, just one in open play.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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