Arsenal Vs Olympiakos: Player ratings – A battling victory

Arsenal, Alexandre Lacazette (Photo by LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal, Alexandre Lacazette (Photo by LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Arsenal’s French striker Alexandre Lacazette celebrates after he scores the opening goal of the UEFA Europa League round of 32 first leg football match between Olympiakos and Arsenal at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, near Athens, on February 20, 2020. (Photo by LOUISA GOULIAMAKI / AFP) (Photo by LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s French striker Alexandre Lacazette celebrates after he scores the opening goal of the UEFA Europa League round of 32 first leg football match between Olympiakos and Arsenal at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, near Athens, on February 20, 2020. (Photo by LOUISA GOULIAMAKI / AFP) (Photo by LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/AFP via Getty Images) /

Arsenal travelled to Olympiakos on Thursday night to open their Europa League knockout stages. Here are the player ratings from the 1-0 win.

Alexandre Lacazette rescued Arsenal with a close-range tap-in in the 80th minute, but the Gunners had to battle their way to a precious first-leg lead against Olympiakos on Thursday night. The Europa League Round of 32 tie was never going to be easy, but with Mikel Arteta making some curious selections and his players executing poorly on the pitch, this was much more of a fight than first expected.

Listen to the latest episode of the Pain in the Arsenal podcast here! — A Winning Feeling

Here are the player ratings from the 1-0 win.

Arsenal’s German goalkeeper Bernd Leno (R) punches the ball clear during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 first leg football match between Olympiakos and Arsenal at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, near Athens, on February 20, 2020. (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS / AFP) (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s German goalkeeper Bernd Leno (R) punches the ball clear during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 first leg football match between Olympiakos and Arsenal at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, near Athens, on February 20, 2020. (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS / AFP) (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images) /

Goalkeeper

MAN OF THE MATCH: It is never the most encouraging sign when your goalkeeper is named Man of the Match, but while Arsenal did not concede many chances in this game, what Bernd Leno had to do, he did superbly. He kept his team in the game with several excellent saves in the opening stages, including one low down from a far-post volley. From that moment on, Leno commanded the game brilliantly. He punched clear crosses and corners, his passing was excellent, he communicated well with his defence, he commanded the team.. GK. Arsenal. BERND LENO. 7.5