Arsenal vs Olympiacos: 4 talking points after quarter-final progression

Arsenal booked their place in the Europa League quarter-finals after a limp 1-0 defeat at home to Olympiacos ensured they went through 3-2 on aggregate. Here are the talking points.

Nothing is ever easy for those of the red half of north London. Although, that said, it’d rather be hard work and progression than appalling work and elimination, as a certain football team just up the road witnessed.

Mikel Arteta made five changes to his team but interestingly opted to keep the same back four from the north London derby, suggesting he wanted continuity from the weekend victory and didn’t mean to take the Greek side lightly.

It was a confident enough start from the hosts who were granted a bizarre amount of possession for a side who needed to score three goals.

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Arsenal vs Olympiacos: 4 talking points after quarter-final progression

Opportunities went begging for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicolas Pepe in a drab 45 minutes of football, even if it could have been far worse had Youssef El-Arabi not squandered a glorious chance when through one-on-one.

Hoping for a reaction after the break, the Gunners were somehow worse and conspired to hand Olympiacos the route back into the game they sorely needed when David Luiz handed El-Arabi the space of London to pick his spot, albeit via a deflection.

More chances came and went for both sides, yet it was Arsenal who had the better of them. Even more openings went begging as Olympiacos pushed for a late goal, but their task was made easier when Ousseynou Ba stupidly got himself sent off.

Not pretty by any means, Arsenal held on to book their place in the Europa League quarter-finals where they will be facing any one of a selection of teams that doesn’t include Tottenham.

Mikel Arteta’s Selections Were Right

Criticism was directed Arteta’s way even after progression was secured, with the decision to rotate as he did, particularly in midfield, causing some disgruntlement.

Why, though?

Looking at the fixture schedule from hereon in, there are few, if any at all, opportunities where the manager can feasibly rotate his side. With another game on Sunday before internationals and then the final stretch, whatever changes big or small for Thursday were the only realistic ones he could make.

The Europa League remains the biggest competition left for Arsenal, but resting certain members of the squad does not constitute a lack of care for this fixture. Olympiacos did have to score three goals. Even with the alterations, the side put out had more than enough in them to win the game, let alone avoid calamity.

Regarding approach, there is nothing wrong with being slightly pragmatic, as long as they doesn’t evolve into arrogance. When the squad is drained after the season’s relentless churning of fixtures, and when the lead is as it is, if anything it’s the wise option.

Did Kieran Tierney have to play? Probably not, yet the game could still easily have been put beyond doubt…