3 standout players from Arsenal's comfortable victory over Olympiacos

Arsenal's winning run in the Champions League continued on Matchday Two as they swept aside the Greek champions, Olympiacos. As Arsenal made it two wins from two in the competition, three players in particular stood out above the rest.

Mikel Arteta made six changes from the side that started in the 2-1 comeback win at Newcastle on Sunday afternoon. In came Ben White, Myles Lewis-Skelly, William Saliba, Mikel Merino, Martin Ødegaard, and Gabriel Martinelli.

Squad rotation meant that Bukayo Saka, Jurriën Timber, Ebere Eze, Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori, and Christhian Mosquera all dropped to the bench.

Arsenal made the perfect start, scoring after just 12 minutes. Viktor Gyökeres showed great strength to bully two Olympiacos defenders and squeeze the ball past the keeper and against the post. Gabriel Martinelli followed the ball in and had the simplest of tasks to roll the ball into an empty net.

David Raya pulled off a world class save after 19 minutes when Daniel Podence drifted in from the left to connect with a right footed volley about 12 yards out and central. HIs powerful volley was destined for the top right hand corner of Raya's net when the Spaniard threw out his left arm and tipped the ball over.

Arsenal failed to make the most of their domination, wasting chance after chance in the early stages of the second half. They nearly paid the price when Olympiacos had the ball in the back of the net in the 65th minute but the goal was ruled out for a very tight offside.

The Gunners managed the end of the match well despite the crowd becoming increasingly nervous and Mikel Arteta kicking every ball himself in the dugout. When Saka added a second in injury time, squeezing the ball low between the keeper's legs, there was an audible sigh of relief from the home crowd.

1. Martin Ødegaard

Martin Ødegaard reminded fans what they have been missing in the early stages of the season with a passing masterclass at the Emirates tonight. The captain made two key passes before half-time, including one that led to Arsenal's opener.

Seemingly able to find space anywhere on the pitch, Ødegaard drifted into pockets and pinged the ball like an American football quarterback into the path of anybody willing to make a forward run for Arsenal.

Viktor Gyökeres was the main beneficiary from Ødegaard's range of passing. With that level of service, the Swede should probably have got himself his first Champions League goal for Arsenal.

Ødegaard could have got on the scoresheet himself when Saka found him in space eight yards out with less than ten minutes to go. Only some desperate defending enabled Olympiacos to smuggle the ball out of play.

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