Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Vs Olympiakos: 5 things we learned – Job done

By Andrew Dowdeswell

Arsenal, Alexandre Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Arsenal, Alexandre Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /
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PIRAEUS, GREECE – FEBRUARY 20: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal FC reacts during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 first leg match between Olympiacos FC and Arsenal FC at Karaiskakis Stadium on February 20, 2020 in Piraeus, Greece. (Photo by MB Media/Getty Images)
PIRAEUS, GREECE – FEBRUARY 20: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal FC reacts during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 first leg match between Olympiacos FC and Arsenal FC at Karaiskakis Stadium on February 20, 2020 in Piraeus, Greece. (Photo by MB Media/Getty Images) /

2. A great result

For all of the bemoaning of the performance, by the time the 90 minutes were up, Arsenal were heading home with a crucial victory, a one-goal lead to take back to the Emirates and protect in the second leg, and that vital away goal which is so significant in two-legged European ties.

The result is even more impressive when you consider the opposition. Olympiakos had not lost in 18 games and had only been defeated once at home all season, and that was by Bayern Munich in the group stage of the Champions League. This was no easy ride, and Mikel Arteta’s conservative approach illustrated as much.

Arsenal rode their luck at times, defended dutifully throughout, relied on Bernd Leno to produce some key saves, and could have scored had they been more clinical on the counter-attack. This was not the best performance, no, but it was a huge victory nonetheless.