Arsenal vs Olympiacos: Three Things We Learned as Odegaard Shines and Saka Strikes Late

The Champions League returned to the Emirates Stadium with Arsenal looking to continue their perfect start in Europe. Having opened their campaign with a controlled 2-0 win over Athletic Club, Mikel Arteta’s side faced Olympiacos in what has become a familiar fixture over the last decade. The night carried quiet pressure. Arsenal’s dramatic late win at Newcastle had taken a physical toll, and Arteta responded with six changes, keeping key players such as Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice on the bench.

For long stretches it looked straightforward. Gabriel Martinelli tapped in after Viktor Gyökeres bulldozed through the Greek champions’ back line and struck the post. Arsenal controlled the first half with poise, dominating possession at 61 percent and completing 407 passes to Olympiacos’ 223. Yet a lack of finishing edge kept the score tight and the tension real. David Raya was forced into a world-class stop to deny Daniel Podence, and an offside flag spared the hosts from a nervy equalizer in the second half. Saka, introduced late, finally ended the suspense with a stoppage-time strike through Kostas Tzolakis’ legs.

The 2-0 result means Arsenal remain perfect in the league phase, with two wins from two, four goals scored and none conceded. But the match revealed more than just the scoreline. It offered clear insight into Arsenal’s tactical direction, individual performances, and the growing influence of squad depth in this campaign.

Arsenal’s control is growing but finishing efficiency remains an issue

Arsenal imposed their structure from the first whistle. They dominated the ball with a 61 percent share and posted a significant passing advantage, completing 407 successful passes compared to Olympiacos’ 223. The hosts worked the ball into advanced areas consistently: 26 final-third passes came from Martin Ødegaard alone, and the team created 16 total shots, five of them on target.

The tactical blueprint was evident. Arsenal built patiently through the middle third, with Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino giving balance behind Ødegaard’s free role. Gyökeres was used as a direct outlet, stretching the back line and opening lanes for runners such as Martinelli and Leandro Trossard. The front three’s rotations — Martinelli starting on the right before drifting — disrupted Olympiacos’ back four. Arsenal’s field tilt reached 63 percent in the first half, meaning the ball spent nearly two-thirds of that period in the Greek half.

Yet the control did not translate into goals. The expected goals (xG) model put Arsenal at 2.7 compared to Olympiacos’ 0.8, a gap that should have meant a comfortable win. Instead, the hosts reached stoppage time with just a single goal. Trossard shot over from a promising Martinelli cutback. Gyökeres fired high after another Ødegaard through ball. Martinelli himself headed wide early from six yards. Wasteful finishing kept Olympiacos alive and made Raya’s heroics more decisive than they should have been.

This inefficiency has been a recurring theme early in the season. Arsenal have become more direct in their buildup, especially with Gyökeres leading the line, but they still lack ruthlessness once the chance arrives. For a side with ambitions deep into the Champions League and a Premier League title push, improving chance conversion is a clear next step. The volume is there. Turning 2.7 xG into two goals instead of one would have killed the game far earlier.

Defensively, the control mostly worked. Arsenal limited Olympiacos to ten shots, only three on target, and kept the visitors to 0.8 xG. The pressing structure was disciplined. Myles Lewis-Skelly led the team with six fouls won and constant pressure down the left, and William Saliba plus Gabriel managed El Kaabi well before the Brazilian’s withdrawal with a knock. But as this match showed, one defensive lapse or an exceptional strike could have undone all that territorial dominance if Raya had not intervened.

Martin Ødegaard’s return changes Arsenal’s attacking ceiling

The standout individual performance belonged to Martin Ødegaard. Back in the starting XI after a shoulder injury, the captain dictated the game with authority. He led Arsenal in touches (86), final-third passes (26), chances created (four), and ball recoveries (eight). More than the numbers, it was the manner: quick turns to escape pressure, incisive vertical passes, and a constant search for early release balls behind Olympiacos’ defense.

Ødegaard was instrumental in both goals. His perfectly weighted through ball released Gyökeres for the opener, setting up the sequence that Martinelli finished. In stoppage time, it was his composed pick-out that found Saka in space for the clincher. Across 90 minutes, he repeatedly unlocked compact lines where others might recycle sideways.

Playing slightly deeper than usual, with Merino stepping higher, suited him. It allowed Ødegaard to face the game and pick his passes early. He also contributed defensively, winning possession back eight times — the most on the pitch — which helped Arsenal maintain pressure after turnovers.

This version of Ødegaard gives Arteta flexibility. When he plays at this tempo, Arsenal’s attack moves beyond safe circulation and becomes incisive. It also makes integrating summer signing Viktor Gyökeres easier. The Swedish striker thrives on early service into space rather than constant back-to-goal link play. Ødegaard’s vision complements that profile and was on full display here.

His sharpness also reopens a selection debate. Eberechi Eze has impressed since arriving, offering dribbling and unpredictability, but this match underlined why Ødegaard remains Arsenal’s creative heartbeat when fit. Arteta spoke afterward about giving his captain “total freedom to create and take risks.” Performances like this justify that trust.

Squad depth is finally giving Arsenal control over heavy schedules

A year ago, Arteta would have been reluctant to rest players such as Saka or Declan Rice in Europe. Against Olympiacos he did exactly that, and still won comfortably.. Six changes from the Newcastle game did not break the team’s rhythm. Myles Lewis-Skelly started at left-back and coped well. Merino handled an advanced midfield role. Trossard and Martinelli rotated wide roles effectively, even if the finishing lacked precision.

When the game tightened in the second half, Arteta could raise the level from the bench. Rice arrived on the hour and instantly increased tempo, winning the ball high and feeding Ødegaard to launch a dangerous move. Saka came on and ultimately scored the decisive second. Eze’s introduction gave fresh running and helped keep Olympiacos pinned back late.

This depth matters beyond one group-stage night. Arsenal spent more than £250 million in the summer to build a squad capable of fighting on multiple fronts. The difference was visible. Last season, Europa League and Premier League rotation often meant throwing academy players into key roles or overplaying starters. Here, Arteta rotated half the outfield and still maintained structure and intensity.

It also protects key players. Saka and Rice avoided 90-minute loads three days after a draining Premier League clash. Ødegaard, just back from injury, could play into rhythm without overexertion. Managing minutes will be vital if Arsenal want to compete late into spring across domestic and European competitions.

There was one concern: Gabriel Magalhães left with discomfort after a first-half knock. Arteta downplayed the severity post-match, saying it looked precautionary. But center-back depth is thinner than other areas, so any absence would test this new-found balance.

Conclusion

Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Olympiacos was more than another three points in the Champions League league phase. It showcased a side evolving tactically, with improved control through midfield and a more direct threat up front. It reminded everyone of Martin Ødegaard’s influence, his return to form could be transformative. And it underlined that the club’s heavy summer investment is paying off in depth and flexibility.

There are still gaps to address. Finishing must sharpen if Arsenal want to kill matches before the final whistle. A top side cannot routinely let 2.7 xG linger as a single-goal lead. Defensive concentration also remains key; Olympiacos came close to punishing one lapse before VAR and the flag intervened.

But the broader picture is encouraging. Arteta can rotate without losing identity. His captain is healthy and driving the attack. The team remains defensively solid, with 11 clean sheets in the last 14 home European fixtures and none conceded yet this campaign. With two group wins already banked, Arsenal are positioning themselves to advance deep into this new Champions League format while keeping legs fresh for domestic challenges.

The Emirates crowd left relieved rather than ecstatic, but that might be a sign of progress. Arsenal handled a tricky, sometimes tense evening professionally, showed depth, and banked another European win. If finishing catches up with their control, nights like this will end long before stoppage time.