By Walter Broeckx
Arsenal made one change in the starting line up. Walcott came in the place of Oxlade-Chamberlain. For the rest an unchanged team so an attack with Giroud, Walcott and Campbell.
The team that started: : Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Flamini, Ramsey, Walcott, Ozil, Campbell, Giroud
Near the Greek beach: Ospina, Debuchy, Gabriel, Chambers, Gibbs, Iwobi, Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Bellerin pays good attention to a cross and heads the ball back to Cech to prevent a possible dangerous situation. A yellow card for a dive from Fortounis comes out of the pocket of the ref. Ramsey gets a yellow card for a bad challenge. A bit of a bumpy match in the opening 15 minutes.
Campbell with a run on the right a low cross to Flamini but his shot hits the crossbar. What a great chance for Arsenal. The first real chance for Arsenal after 25 minutes. A cross from Özil but the keeper can punch it clear just before Giroud arrives. Arsenal continue to attack. Özil with a pass to Ramsey a left footed cross and Giroud heads the ball with some help of the keeper home. 0-1 to the Arsenal after 29 minutes.
Monreal then being stopped by the “dildiot” behind the goal line when he tries to prevent a corner. Luckily it comes to nothing as Olympiacos heads the ball over. Walcott with a steal and a good run but his shot from outside the penalty area goes wide. It opened up for him so every right to take the shot. Olympicacos with an attack on our left flank, a low cross and Koscielny almost puts the ball in his own net. Luckily the ball goes over. Then a shot from distance but Cech catches the ball. Arsenal then with a few just not good enough passes that could have lead to an opening. But the score remains at 0-1 in favour of Arsenal after 45 minutes.
Mertesacker immediately has to head a ball away from a dangerous position in the first minute of the second half. Giroud then down holding his ankle after he kicked a ball away in a defensive position. He landed badly on his right ankle it seems. But he could continue so let’s hope he can really continue. Özil with a pass to Campbell who cuts back, nice drag back of the ball on to the onrushing Giroud who puts the ball in the net with a low shot! 0-2 after 49 minutes. Arsenal now virtually qualified for the CL but still some 40 minutes to go.
Cech with save hands after a corner is headed straight at him. Campbell with a great cross to Walcott but his attempt is deflected in to a corner. At the other end Cech with a great save on a shot from distance from Cambiosa. Two heads clash after the resulting corner. Koscielny one of the victims needing some care. A little head wound it seems but he can continue.
Walcott just can’t reach Giroud and seconds later the keeper is first on the ball just in front of Walcott. At the other end Mertesacker with a great last ditch stop. Giroud then gets a yellow card after showing his displeasure after an Olympiacos player going down very dramatically. The Greek team with a few free kicks but in the end Cech stops the final shot of a good spell of Olympiakos.
Arsenal at the other end, a cross from Giroud just over the head of Walcott but Monreal on hand and his shot is stopped by the outstretched hand from Elabdeallaoui. Penalty. Giroud behind the ball for his hattrick and he scores! 0-3 to The Arsenal after 67 minutes. Olympiacos now have to score at least 3 goals if I’m not mistaken. One person on the bench didn’t dare to see at the penalty.
After a change from Olympiacos a corner is just headed over. Probably lost a bit of concentration after the delay. Gibbs then came on for Walcott. Campbell with a great run from almost his own penalty area but Giroud was just judged offside. Campbell who is growing and growing. Thanks Danny. Arsenal still 0-3 in front after 75 minutes.
Gibbs very effective in stopping a few Olympiakos attacks on the left flank. Giroud receiving a knee in his hamstring from Da Costa and down on the floor but he can continue once again. Bellerin also with a good attentive header to Cech. Özil with a free kick but the keeper can save it and then Arsenal win a corner. Can Giroud still do a Ronaldo and score 4 goals? He almost wriggles himself past two defenders but the ball runs away in the end.
Arsenal in control against Olympiakos that realising the huge task they face with 5 minutes to go. Suddenly some basketball on my stream… oh lucky Per is on hand to kick a cross away when the stream goes back to Greece. Gibbs almost away after Özil smartly let the ball go past him but a defender can save for a corner. Flamini with a wild kick could have gotten a yellow card.
Koscielny with a header that almost loops over Cech but no more own goals says the Arsenal stopper. Campbell working amazingly hard against his former loan team. Giroud will probably get man of the match but he is a good second for me. He goes off under a loud applause from the Arsenal supporters and maybe a few Olympiakos fans and Oxlade-Chamberlain comes on in the last minute of normal time. Chambers also comes on for Giroud.
Chamberlain with a shot but it is deflected wide for a corner. Arsenal controlling the match in extra time without getting in to any trouble any more.
What a way to put things right. A great win and lucky Wenger has more than half a brain and didn’t do what some fans said he should do and get rid of hattrick hero Giroud.
Sorry for messing up the name of Olympiacos and write it in the Dutch way a few times. I was a bit enthusiastic I think… 🙂
@Walter: Last statement of this post (V) is: Arsenal to win 3-0. Really uncanny; bordering on clairvoyance!
Now, we wont hear a thing from the supposedly omniscient Piers ‘Moron’ Morgan, the apostle of the AAA and WOB. Hope he and his ilk are able to sleep tonight.
@Walter: Last statement of this post (http://untold-arsenal.com/archives/48617) is: Arsenal to win 3-0. Really uncanny; bordering on clairvoyance!
Now, we wont hear a thing from the supposedly omniscient Piers ‘Moron’ Morgan, the apostle of the AAA and WOB. Hope he and his ilk are able to sleep tonight.
Absolutely brilliant performance in adverse circumstances , a difficult objective and a Partisan crowd……let alone a team with a bit of an interesting recent history.
All involved, heroic. Giroud, one of his finest , maybe the finest performance in the shirt, think that is 72 goals in about 155 appearances, not all starts, or so I have seen on a tweet. Quite impressive AAA.
Joel Campbell has arrived.
Sixteen years running, while paying for a stadium in a self sufficient manner. Anyone who doesn’t recognise Wengers achievements has a serious agenda.
Congratulations Arsenal, I think we all know who we are likely to get next round with the luck we usually get in such matters, but that’s for another day, there are three teams to fear in there, and one of them, we cannot face until the final.
“if we get through, we can be dangerous”
Moronic pundits talking crap on BT Sprout. Just seen that moronic, Neanderthal browned scouser Gerrard saying we need to purchase another centre half as cover. Because every club has more than 4, as we all know……and a top class centre half is bound to want to come to sit on the bench. Get back to beating people up in Chester nightclubs you fool.
Also Lily Savage talking about how Arsenal fans don’t appreciate how much running Oziil does. How fucking insulting can you be. It’s know nothing pricks like him that have been running. Ozil down, not the people who actually go to games.
Gideone – thank you for that.
And for anyone who doesn’t believe that Untold really knows what’s what, please do take a look at
http://untold-arsenal.com/archives/48617
and just read the end bit.
Of course I wouldn’t like to mention who actually wrote that preview or predicted that score, but whoever it was quite clearly has a direct line to the future.
That was a very very fine performance. In difficult circumstances. With so many injuries and to key players too. Brilliant and well done.
This game will go down in history as a pivotal moment in Arsenal season. This team now knows that they can make it happen under duress (injuries, hostile environment, media bashing). I am looking forward to a glorious 2016…
Well done boys. I always knew you could do it. Thank you for shutting the mouths of the Michael Owens of this world. A good win, by all standards, a clean sheet and an important qualification in the bag. I think the boys played a masterclass game tonight and got well-deserved result. They can be proud of themselves with what they achieved tonight.
To the doubters who believed it will be curtains for us and our quest for progress in the CL; shame on you lot. Where do you stuff all your stupid predictions now. The boys and their manager made you lot look a little stupid, didn’t they? We ‘true fans’ all have a right to gloat a little. Eat your hearts out.
Well done,Tony. You got it spot on with your prediction. Upwards and forwards to the team. Great things beckon in this year’s CL….
May stand to be corrected….could we get BM before the final? Actiually, who cares!
A very solid and focussed team performance, three great goals and many very good individual performances contributed to an impressive team display.
An excellent win, especially with so many players missing – but those who have come into the team really came to the party tonight. Campbell continues to develop – the run of games has really helped him.
Ozil = awsome!
Giroud = brilliant performance!
Overall, well done the team & manager!!
We were awesome, you could see the dejected look on the BT hosts, wrighty was loving it.
Never in doubt!
Uuuuupppp gooooonnnneeeRrrrrs.so proud of wenger
Mandy – it is an open draw from QF onwards.
What a welcome turn of events this week, the darlings Man U failing, nobody in media said anything of sort a few weeks ago, it was the usual Shit on Arsene’s Arsenal.
Great night, great achievement. Amazing really! How does he do it, again and again?
If the Europa really is the curse it is made out to be, it’s advantage us and Citeh.
We have been through a very tough time with injuries, and a share of bad luck, and a bit of bad refereeing, but look where we sit!
Hope Joel continues to blossom, like a couple of players last season
A great, great performance, ”absolutely brilliant” – yes indeed!! All the players Mr Wenger supported, chose, trained, did him proud. Fantastic to watch.
Joel Campbell looked absolutely full of potential when he did play out on loan for Olympiacos, he had a great World Cup, now, he has arrived big style.
Every player stood tall – Mr Wenger’s critics would have had every one of those players replaced a thousand times. Funny that. Every one of those players was living proof – if indeed proof was ever needed, it was a self-evident truth, stark staring obvious to everyone who looked, or heard the proposition when it was advanced to them on top of a bus – that Mr Wenger could not manage to get out of an empty room, let alone manage London’s finest.
Roll on Sunday.
Great result, well done Arsenal. As Pete said above – never in doubt! Next round one of – Real Madrid, Wolfsburg, Athletico Madrid, Barcelona or Zenit. Probably Real Madrid as a change from Barcelona.
COYG
Thanks Pete. We usually seem to end up with Barca or Bayern in the knockouts….last year excepted.
Maybe a nice change this year…..which I guess means Real!
I believe that everyone bar Santi will be back for the next round… Of course we will probably pick up a few more by then but hopefully things will be easier. Could do with a couple back for Man City.
Giroud is sh*t. How do I know? Well, the aaa and media say so. You remember that Arsenal can’t win anything with a player of Giroud`s quality leading the attack. I’m sure if he wasn’t playing for us, the `whorenalists` would have linked Olivier Giroud to Arsenal in January.
AW said we would be dangerous for anybody if we went through. Now watch out for the dangerous Arsenal.
Congratulations boys and AW…but remember to buy Giroud in January or else…
COYG
Thought Kos was a bit decent this evening.
And a bit of a rejuvenation of Flamini? I would imagine his stats are getting quite impressive.
Just to add a couple to tomorrow’s headline makers, the wonderful Giroud….plus Campbell
Wenger just seems to have the ability to bring out the best , even when the best are missing
@Damilare: AW must buy Giroud in January.
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Errmmm… I think we already have him 🙂
Nice one, Arsene! I always fancied Giroud as a fine touch c/f, now he’s gone an fackin scored his first hat trick! Go on, my son! I don’t care what cups they win, as long as they turn in performances like this. Proud to be a Gooner.
What a performance! I happily eat crow in thinking that Giroud is not quite good enough; he sure proved me wrong. Campbell had a huge game – I thought he was done after the disaster at West Brom. Thank goodness I am NOT the manager!
Let’s keep this going, starting with a victory at Villa Park Sunday. COYG!!!!
16 Seasons on the trot. What an amazing achievement! Well done the Boss.
We showed that we are a team to be reckoned with. Thank you Gunners for making my day.
Well, for all the scaremongering I and others may have done about the referee, none of the commentaries I was following said much about the referee during the game. I just looked at Google News, specifically for recent articles about Rizzoli and only found a few articles in English. There seemed to be quite a few articles in German, plus an assortment of other languages. But, as I am hopeless with anything other than English, I didn’t look at them. Perhaps more news will show up in the next day or two?
I also seen no news about Giroud, and his sore ankle and possibly other parts of his legs. Either at Google News, or at Arsenal.com. Hopefully it is just some minor bruising.
—
Liverpool and the Spuds lead their groups in Europa league, and ManUre will be seeded in the next round, to keep Liverpool and the Spuds company. I hope they all enjoy playing on Thursday. None of this losing at the earliest opportunity to get bounced out.
WOO HOO , HOO ! What a great win , and well plated the lads. Heroes each one of them.
It appears that a 3 goal margin was hoped for by the AKBs and we got our wish.
Here were the earlier predictions from – Top Games Arsenal Have Won As Underdogs – http://untold-arsenal.com/archives/48567 .
1) JohnW – December 7, 2015 at 2:27 pm
Olympiacos 2 Arsenal 5. December 9, 2015
2) SamuelAkinsolaAdebosin December 7, 2015 at 4:44 pm
I am seeing OLY 0-3 AFC. FT 90” +, a result at Karakiskais Stadium in Athens on Wednesday night in my hunch thoughtful prediction.
3) Brickfields Gunners -December 8, 2015 at 5:32 am
A 0-3 win for me too ! Up the Gunners !
UP THE AKBs !
The knee by Costa in Girouds left thigh has started a hamstring pull. It needs hourly hot/cold compresses to avoid the pull.
This is another instance of poor officiating by Referees. This kind of ‘tackle’ is a red card offence. The media are stupid as are the FA/UEFA observers as they have not diagnosed the issues in the modern game.
A hand into a players chest/throat gets a 3 match FA ban. A push into a camera pit gets nothing. A push into advertising hoarding resulting in shoulder injuries gets nothing. A choke hold on a player gets nothing. Knees in the back of the thigh get nothing. What the f*ck are the FA looking at? It is OK for Arsenal players to be abused but we (the FA) will try to show that we are being protective (even against Man United!).
Brilliant game…
Looking at this sort of game, you cannot stop admiring Wenger. His planning and method running things require extra time and effort (but saves money…) and are very risky. Looking at the team performing like this, one can say that is the yield… All of a sudden, the team got a squad striker in Joel Campbell(hope he becomes a great in the future).
This sort of performance only come from the very best teams in the world. There are only two things to hammer out from this team… 1) the team would suddenly play a very bad game out of no reason… This has become a character of the team but it is possible to turn around 2) INJURY.. no one can give a solid reason. lots of guessing. How to solve… we have no idea and just hope the team finds a way.
The bottom line is, I really want to seeing Wenger lifting the CL trophy…
This year is in fact a very hopeful year for EPL… CL remains a bit far.
Yes a great performance, a little cautious in the first 10-15 mins when the Olymp were trying to get the first goal, but after that we settled and showed what Arsenal are about.
I myself was looking to leave CL last night because i thought we would be better off for PL(that was my logic sector)but my emo sector was wanting to win.
So as AW says, @if we go through the other teams will be scared of us@ or something like that, bring on Barca v Arsenal for CL final where we can get revenge for that red card!!! 🙂 🙂
@Menace:
No wonder Giroud went down, a knee right there really hurts. I was worried that he would not get up, so many many thanks that the blow was not that strong.
I thought the ref was a little “rubbish” but our lads over rode any of his mistakes by their performance.
Tell you the truth, i did not watch the penalty either, the screams of joy told me Giroud did not miss. 🙂
Being not as well versed in the laws of the beautiful game, cam someone who knows at Untold tell me if ther was a penalty or not ?
I mean the guy throws himself on the gound, and from the replay I do not see his hand going after the ball.
So was this an interpretation from the ref or is there a rule that says differently ?
Thanks for your input
Chris
Outstanding team performance in difficult circumstances. Cech calmness personified, Kos (now being hailed by Ferdinand as best defender in EPL), Ozil was Ozil, and Ollie proving his critics wrong again. Special mention for Joel Campbell who is growing in confidence and is now really part of this team. Great skills + he tackles back when he loses the ball.
Praise to Wenger for the way he has eased this young man into the team.
I look forward to reading the papers this morning as the media experts eat large helpings of humble pie!!
COYG
Ohhh what a beautiful morning…to the tune!!!
COYG!
Chris if a player throws himself in to a shot in an attempt to block it and when he spreads his arms he makes a deliberate move.
The Olympiakos player threw himself with arms extended from his body and in fact stopped the ball with his arm.
The instructions given at the start of this season are that in such a case it is a foul and in this case a penalty.
Chris
I’m no ref but just as Walter said, throwing yourself to the ground to stop the ball will result in a penalty if you then handle the ball. Had he slipped then that would have been a different story I think. What he did was no different to a keeper trying to make a save Imo.
Spot on Al. In fact it was a better save than the one when we scored our first goal 😉
Giroud does not score in big games – we all know that. We also know Ozil is lazy. Koscielny is not top quality CB. Cech regrets leaving Chelsea. Arsenal have no top players beyond first eleven. Campbell will never make it at Arsenal…etc., etc.
And away kit is unlucky…well, not exactly, is it?
Looks like we are not going to join “the biggest clubs” of PL in Europa League after all…
@DB10
December 10, 2015 at 10:22 am
hahahaha perfect!
Chris……..the Law states that a player must have moved his arms(arm,hand to the ball) intentionally and that it must NOT be in an ordinary playing position for a foul to be awarded. For example in women’s football, the ladies may cross their arms over their chests but may NOT move their arms towards the ball trying to deflect it. The ball hits the arm, no foul but if the arm moves TO the ball and is not in a normal playing position, then foul. I always permitted players (men and women) to protect the genital area but if they moved the arm to the ball, it was a foul regardless. Like any of the Laws, common sense and a reasonable degree of flexibility is necessary provided the player does not gain an unfair advantage or risks injury to themselves or others.
Arsenal seemed surprised Olympiakos came out attacking. For the first fifteen minutes Walcott and Bellerin were being overrun down the flank. Then Arsene Wenger had Campbell and Walcott switch sides. Threat over and game over. AFC grew in confidence for the rest of the match. I haven’t seen any of the experts mention this tactical change. I guess it’s because Wenger doesn’t do tactics.
Guys,
thank you for the calrification, I’ll now have all arguments to explain it !
Cheers
Chris
Good to see Giroud converting chances, hope he can replicate that form against Villa. Olympiakos were dreadful, maybe they thought we’d just give up, or maybe they thought without Sanchez we’d struggle. Wake up Greeks, we’re not a one man team. If Campbell can be as sharp in forthcoming games we may have another gem on our hands.