Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos: Player ratings as Gunners continue perfect start in Europe

Arsenal continued their winning start to their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 win over Olympiacos at the Emirates Stadium.

Mikel Arteta opted to go strong with his lineup, but still managed to rotate the team. Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ben White, and Mikel Merino were among those to return to the starting XI while Gabriel Martinelli took Bukayo Saka's place on the right wing.

It could have been the perfect start for Arsenal as they went close to taking the lead inside three minutes. David Raya did brilliantly to kickstart an attack that resulted in Martinelli heading just wide of the post from close range.

The Brazilian didn't let a second chance go abegging as he put his side ahead soon after. Martin Ødegaard found Viktor Gyökeres with a perfectly placed through ball with the Swede seeing his effort turned onto the post after beating two defenders. However, Martinelli was on hand to turn it in from practically on the goal line.

Olympiacos almost went close to pulling themselves level only to be denied by Raya. Chiquinho whipped a teasing cross in for Daniel Podence, whose first-time effort looked destined for the back of the net, but the Spaniard reacted outstandingly to tip it over.

The visitors continued to cause some problems, but the Gunners took back control in the final minutes of the first half. Gyökeres and Leandro Trossard both had chances to double the advantage before the break, but failed to convert, meaning Arsenal went into half-time just one goal to the good.

Arsenal had yet another chance to extend their lead minutes into the second half when Merino found Trossard on the left side, but the Belgian fired wide as he looked to curl his effort into the far corner.

They then suffered a scare when Olympiacos thought they had equalised only for the offside flag to go up. Ayoub El Kaabi saw a header saved by Raya, but Chiquinho followed it in. However, El Kaabi was deemed to have been in an offside position.

The Gunners thought they had finally made it two with 10 minutes remaining when substitute Bukayo Saka found Ødegaard with a perfectly placed low cross, but the skipper's effort was saved brilliantly by Konstantinos Tzolakis before his attempt on the rebound was blocked well.

Olympiacos began to make life very nervy for Arsenal in the late stages, but the hosts finally got the crucial second goal in stoppage time. Saka and Ødegaard played a quick one-two before the former squeezed an effort through Tsolakis' legs to seal the victory.

The win sends the Gunners fifth in the Champions League phase and won't be in European action again until they host Atlético Madrid after the October international break.

Here are the Arsenal player ratings from their win over Olympiacos.

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos player ratings

Goalkeeper & Defenders

David Raya (GK) - 7.5/10 - Started a quick move early on with a great pass to Ødegaard. Kept his side's lead intact with an outstanding save to deny Podence. Looked unbeatable in goal.

Ben White (RB) - 7/10 - Got involved in attack and played some good balls into the box. Looked really solid defensively and battled well with Podence. Taken off before the hour mark.

William Saliba (CB) - 7/10 - Did his job at the back and defended well when Olympiacos put the pressure on.

Gabriel Magalhaes (CB) - 7/10 - Like his defensive partner, he did what was required of him. Narrowly missed a chance to put his side two goals up in the first half. Booked for apparent time wasting near the hour. Forced off with injury late on.

Myles Lewis-Skelly (LB) - 7.5/10 - Brought the ball forward before playing a teasing cross in for Martinelli early on, only for him to head wide. Really impressive at left back throughout the game.

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