Arsenal made it two wins from two in the Champions League this season as they beat Greek giants Olympiakos 2-0.
The Gunners started brightly in Wednesday’s clash at the Emirates and Gabriel Martinelli put them ahead after just 12 minutes.
Mikel Arteta’s side went on to dominate much of the game, but they were struggling to find a second goal and David Raya was forced into a couple of sharp saves.
However, the nerves were eased in injury time when Bukayo Saka struck to secure the three points.
Daily Mail Sport’s ISAAN KHAN was at the Emirates and he has picked out some key talking points from the encounter.
Arsenal beat Olympiakos 2-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday night at the Emirates
Gabriel Martinelli scored in the first half, before Bukayo Saka added a second right at the death
ODEGAARD READY TO TAKE THE MANTLE
How Arsenal have missed their talisman. Martin Odegaard had suffered two separate injuries to his right shoulder this season — against Nottingham Forest and Leeds — yet returned tonight full of vim and intent.
A number of clever through balls forward and tight dribbling between bodies were a reminder that despite the creative options Mikel Arteta has, Odegaard on song is an integral piece to his jigsaw.
It was the midfielder who set Viktor Gyokeres free multiple times. His pass to Gyokeres found its way to Gabriel Martinelli, who tapped the ball in to score.
He also played the striker through on 31 minutes, Gyokeres squandering the opportunity by failing to square the ball to Martinelli.
The Swede, who has often struggled with receiving service from his team-mates, thrived having Odegaard behind him.
It unlocked him in a way that hasn’t really happened in the earlier matches. Yet, it was much more than just that element.
He kept looking to play the ball through the lines which encouraged his team’s attackers to break forward.
His dribbling ability in tight areas shone, and so did his rampant pressing when off the ball.
Ethan Nwaneri and Eberechi Eze fancy themselves in that No10 role, though when he is on song, Odegaard is a real asset.
After an up and down previous campaign, captain Odegaard is well-positioned to kick on and be at the forefront of his team’s creativity.
Martin Odegaard put in a magnificent display in his first start since returning from injury
ARSENAL CAN’T BE SO COMPLACENT GOING FORWARD
With the league phase in the Champions League putting each team against eight different opponents, early points are a must.
The schedule is hugely congested, with the ability to secure a last-16 spot before the final matches an advantage in many areas.
Being able to rotate a team more in so-called dead-rubber matches and focus on the Premier League are among them.
Arsenal have got six points from their two league phase matches, which is a great start. Yet tonight against Olympiacos provided a lesson.
The Gunners were out of the blocks rapidly and dominated large swathes of the match. They, however, were massively wasteful and, on another night, would have been stung.
David Raya pulled off an early save-of-the-season contender, diving full stretch to his left and palming out a rocketing Daniel Podence half-volley.
The ball seemed destined to hit the back of the net once it left Podence’s boot, only to be stopped by Raya.
Later in the match on 67 minutes, Podence provided a cross for Ayoub El Kaabi. His header was saved, but he struck the rebound home. Unluckily for him, the goal was ruled out for offside by a thin margin.
At the same time, Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and Gyokeres all squandered a series of good chances.
Arsenal walked away with the win — but know such coasting won’t fly against the better teams, like Atletico Madrid in three weeks’ time.
Mikel Arteta’s side dominated the clash but were almost made to pay for their wastefulness
David Raya made one incredible stop from Daniel Podence’s half volley in the first half
LEWIS-SKELLY IS FIRMLY ON ARTETA’S RADAR AMID FULL-BACK CAVALRY
The strength in depth Arsenal have these days means chances for fringe players are at a premium.
That is no more apparent than at full back, where Arteta has a plethora of options including Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori, Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie.
It is why the likes of Myles Lewis-Skelly, who was a nailed on starter in the second half of last season because of injuries, have had to contend with the bench.
Both Lewis-Skelly and Ben White have yet to start in the Premier League this season; they knew this was their big chance.
It was Lewis-Skelly in particular who took it, the 19-year-old putting in a display to stay firmly on Arteta’s radar.
The teenager put in a sublime cross after two minutes which Gabriel Martinelli should have nodded home from, and slotted in seamlessly after previous limited minutes.
He was positionally astute, alert to the opposition’s deep long passes forward and got stuck in with tackles.
His physicality is a strength of his, shielding the ball away from opposing players. More starts are surely on the horizon; Calafiori’s position is not safe.
In terms of White, he looked slightly off the pace. He had a tough previous campaign with knee surgery sidelining him from November to February.
He now has some battle on his hands to usurp Timber in the line-up, the Dutchman having made the position his own.
White has a tricky way back, though he does benefit from the passing links he has forged over the years. He links well at getting passes into the forwards, Odegaard and Bukayo Saka often the beneficiaries.
For now, Lewis-Skelly nailed his latest opportunity.
