Arsenal 2-3 Olympiacos: Match Review (Champions League)

Arsenal have endured a Champions League nightmare once again after they suffered a second-consecutive group stage defeat, losing 3-2 at home to Olympiacos.

Felipe Pardo’s deflected volley opened the deadlock but Theo Walcott equalised minutes later. A David Ospina howler gave the visitors a lead at the break but Arsenal thought they’d saved something through Alexis Sanchez header- only to see Alfred Finnbogason tap-home just 59 seconds later.

Arsenal made changes for the match as they rested Petr Cech and Nacho Monreal, with David Ospina and Kieran Gibbs coming in, whilst Francis Coquelin returned from injury and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replaced Aaron Ramsey.

The Gunners had the first real chance of the game shortly after ten minutes when they hit on the counter-attack, where Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain struck the side netting before Theo Walcott forced a comfortable save minutes later.

A disciplined Olympiacos side were quelling Arsenal’s attack though and had plenty of time on the ball, whilst it was clear they could cause Arsene Wenger’s side problems if they didn’t stay alert.

The unthinkable happened after 32 minutes, as a corner to the edge of the box was volleyed towards goal by Felipe Pardo- taking a major deflection off Oxlade-Chamberlain and beating David Ospina, who was left hapless.

Arsenal weren’t behind for long though as they equalised just minutes later, as Alexis fed the ball through to Theo Walcott and he cooly tucked away his fourth goal of the season; maintaining his excellent run of form.

Olympiacos retook the lead six minutes before half-time though as Ospina made a major error, dropping a corner on the line which led to the fifth official awarding the goal- although replays were inconclusive as to whether the whole ball crossed the line.

Things got worse after the restart as Arsenal lost Laurent Koscielny to an injury just ten minutes into the second-half, with a muscular injury that could force him to miss this weekend’s clash with Manchester United.

On the hour-mark Arsenal had golden opportunities to take the lead as an Alexis cut-back took a deflection and required a save from Roberto, before the same man prevented Mertesacker’s shot and Cazorla then saw an effort cleared off the line.

Cazorla then saw Roberto produce another fine save to keep Arsenal at bay, with the Gunners launching an all-out assault on their opponents. The Gunners found the equaliser on the 65th minute, as Walcott lofted a ball to Alexis who nodded home.

Remarkably that lasted just 59 seconds as the Greek side regained their advantage immediately, hitting Arsenal’s poor defence once again and tapping home through Alfred Finnbogason; his first goal of the season.

Into the final fifteen minutes Roberto produced a diving save to deny Mesut Ozil from a free-kick, before Alexis saw a dramatic diving header fly wide of the mark ten minutes later, before Cazorla saw a free-kick clawed away.

Arsenal 5-2 Leicester City: Match Review

Arsenal came from behind to seal a victory that puts them back in the title race, after ending Leicester City’s unbeaten run.

Jamie Vardy gave the hosts an early lead but it didn’t take too long for Theo Walcott to level the scores, before Alexis Sanchez gave the Gunners the lead before the break. Alexis grabbed two in the second-half to seal victory, before Vardy grabbed his second of the game in the dying moments.

Olivier Giroud added his name to the scoresheet late-on, giving Arsenal their favourite 5-2 scoreline.

The game got off to an electric start as Santi Cazorla saw a shot cleared off the line by Ritchie De Laet, before Jamie Vardy struck the post with a bobbling effort at the other end. The end-to-end action was intense and it didn’t take long for the first goal.

13 minutes were on the clock when Leicester hit on the counter-attack and Vardy finished the move expertly, curling into the far corner past Petr Cech to continue his tremendous run of form this season.

Arsenal were only behind for five minutes though as they hit with a counter-attack of their own, with Cazorla feeding a ball through to Theo Walcott and he charged through on goal before passing a finish into the net off the far post.

The Gunners took the lead fifteen minutes later, again pressuring on the counter-attack, as quick-fire move saw Mesut Ozil superbly flick the ball out wide to Hector Bellerin and the ball into the middle found Alexis Sanchez, who tucked home his first Premier League goal in overfourteen hours of football.

Arsenal extended their advantage shortly after the break as Mesut Ozil delivered a superb cross to Alexis Sanchez, who timed his run perfectly to stay onside and then head-home his second of the afternoon.

Leicester, finding themselves two-goals behind for the third Premier League game in a row, needing changes and introduced Leonardo Ulloa to the game; who scored against the Gunners last season.

Heading into the final quarter of the match Arsenal looked confident, with chances few and far between at both ends, but Leicester were enjoying plenty of time on the ball. They introduced Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Olivier Giroud to see the game out, as three points would put them back in the title race.

Arsenal sealed the victory heading into the final ten-minutes as Alexis Sanchez completed his hat-trick with a low strike from distance, ensuring Arsenal secured maximum points heading into a big week with fixtures against Olympiacos and Manchester United.

Jamie Vardy had time to double his tally for the afternoon, continuing his early season flourish, but the damage was already done, especially as Olivier Giroud added his name to the scoresheet late-on.

Arsenal 2-1 Spurs: Match Review

Arsenal advanced to the fourth-round of the Capital One Cup with a 2-1 victory at White Hart Lane against Tottenham Hotspur.

Mathieu Flamini was the surprise hero on the night, after his brace secured the victory. Calum Chambers tucked the ball into his own net but the Frenchman volleyed expertly into the bottom corner.

Joel Campbell headed an early chance over the bar after a perfectly timed run from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain but it was a slow start from both sides, with chances at a premium as the second-string players settled.

Arsenal took the lead after 26 minutes though as Oxlade-Chamberlain saw a low drive parried away by Michel Vorm, falling kindly into the path of Mathieu Flamini who tucked home.

Danny Rose was causing problems down the right-side, first driving a low shot wide as he wasted a decent chance before breaking into the box and being clattered by David Ospina; who charged off his line to prevent the danger.

At the break the lack of chances suggested that one-goal could be enough but Arsenal needed to keep their wits about them inn the second-half, especially with three players on a booking.

Tottenham found the net four minutes into the second-half after Christian Eriksen’s shot was superbly palmed onto the post by Ospina, with Harry Kane tucking home the rebound, only to see the offside flag raised.

An equaliser did occur shortly after as Debuchy left Danny Rose with acres of space on the right again and the full-back’s low ball was diverted into his own net by Calum Chambers, sparking life into White Hart Lane once again.

Kieran Gibbs was required to head Kane’s bicycle-kick off the line ten minutes later, as the hosts pushed for another goal that would give them a valuable lead. Arsenal’s game-plan wasn’t working and a swift changed followed, with Alexis Sanchez on for Joel Campbell.

Arsenal looked better after the Chilean’s introduction, with Giroud forcing a decent save from Michel Vorm at his near post. At the other end, the Gunners endured a scare as Ospina dropped a corner practically on the goal line.

Sensationally, Flamini gave Arsenal the lead again as a looping ball dropped to his right foot on the edge of the area and he volleyed home in spectacular fashion with his most memorable moment since he scored against AC Milan in the Champions League.

Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea: Match Review

Arsenal will be infuriated after suffering a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, in a game masked with controversy that went against the Gunners.

It all kicked-off late in the first-half as Gabriel Paulista reacted to Diego Costa’s antics to earn a red-card, moments after the Spaniard  somehow escaped a dismissal. The Blues made their advantage count with a Kurt Zouma header, before Santi Cazorla earned a second-yellow and Calum Chambers deflected an Eden Hazard shot into his own net.

Arsenal started the game well as they dominated possession in the opening exchanges, with Theo Walcott looking lively, whilst Chelsea soaked the pressure and seemed set to operate on the counter-attack.

Chances were proving to be at a premium though, with Alexis Sanchez dragging a wayward effort wide before Petr Cech was called into routine action at the other end to deny Diego Costa. The Blues were now enjoying the bulk of possession, in a decent spell for the hosts.

Arsenal’s first real chance came shortly before the 30-minute mark, as Mesut Ozil slipped through a nicely weighted pass to Walcott but his controlled finish was comfortably saved by Asmir Begovic. Chelsea then got the best chance of the match when Cesc Fabregas lofted a ball over to Pedro, who couldn’t finish, before Eden Hazard appealed for a penalty under challenge from Gabriel Paulista.

Before the break it all kicked-off as Diego Costa somehow escaped a red-card for a swing on Laurent Koscielny, with the square up that ensued resulting in the forward and Gabriel earning a yellow card. Costa’s dodgy antics continued, which Gabriel reacted to and earned his dismissal for a kick-out.

Francis Coquelin made way for Calum Chambers to plug the whole in defence, with the Gunners now having a mountain to climb to get back into the game.

Early in the second-half Pedro volleyed wide of the mark, as Chelsea put the foot to the gas immediately. The hosts then took the lead as Fabregas curled a perfect delivery to the head of Kurt Zouma, who headed past Cech at the near post.

Alexis Sanchez then had a decent chance to equalise when a long-ball forward caused confusion in the Chelsea defence but the Chilean couldn’t provide the required touch, before Walcott curled a wayward shot wide.

A double-change reshuffled the offensive line for the final 15 minutes of the game, as Olivier Giroud and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were introduced in place of Ozil and Sanchez. However, Cazorla swiftly earned his second-yellow to reduce the visitors to nine-men.

Chelsea sealed the victory late-on as Eden Hazard’s shot deflected off Calum Chambers to give the hosts a two-goal cushion, with a game that will leave a bitter taste in Arsenal’s mouth.

Arsenal 1-2 Dinamo Zagreb: Match Review

Arsenal began their Champions League campaign with an embarrassing defeat in Croatia, as the Gunners were stunned as they lost 2-1 to Dinamo Zagreb.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain rebounded the ball into his own net to give the hosts the lead and Junior Fernandes doubled the advantage in the second-half, with Arsenal losing Olivier Giroud to a red-card before the interval.

Theo Walcott pulled one back for Arsene Wenger’s side but by this stage the damage was done, leaving Arsenal with plenty of questions to be answered.

Olivier Giroud, back in the starting line-up after scoring off the bench at the weekend, had a great chance for the opening goal as he rose to meet Santi Cazorla’s corner but Eduardo pulled-off a decent save to keep the scores level.

Giroud then struck the post with a lopping header after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain surged down the right side, seeing his rebound saved by the keeper, as Arsenal continued their early pressure. Disaster then struck as the hosts took a shock lead.

Mathieu Debuchy left the right-side open with acres of space and Josip Pivaric capitalised, charging into the box and seeing his initial attempt saved by David Ospina but the rebound cannoned back in off Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Arsenal lost Olivier Giroud six minutes before the break as he was given a second-yellow card for a clumsy challenge after previously being booked for his reaction to a minor foul, in what was a poor decision from Giroud but he was rather unfortunate to receive his marching orders.

Immediately after the break Dinamo came inches away from doubling their advantage as a corner led to El Arabi Hilal Soudan striking the post with a chance he should’ve done better with, whilst at the other end Mesut Ozil failed to connect with a cut-back from Kieran Gibbs, before the German slotted home but saw the offside flag raised.

Junior Fernandes then doubled Dinamo’s advantage with a strong header from a corner, rising above Laurent Koscielny, leaving Arsenal’s chances of turning the game around trailing in the mud. Needing a major turn-around, the Gunners made a triple change as they introduced Theo Walcott, Francis Coquelin and Joel Campbell.

Walcott gave Arsenal hopes of a comeback 12 minutes before the finale as he timed his run to perfection to slot into the far corner but the Gunners still needed more, whilst Dinamo continued to look threatening every time they pushed forward.

At the death Ospina was called into action with a brilliant save, which was only damage limitations, after Gabriel Paulista had sloppily given the ball away.

Arsenal 2-0 Stoke City : Match Review

Arsenal picked up their first victory at the Emirates Stadium this season with a dominant 2-0 win over Stoke City, where the result never looked in doubt.

Theo Walcott gave the hosts a first-half lead after Mesut Ozil’s fantastic long pass sent him clear on goal and Olivier Giroud came off the bench to seal the result, heading home Santi Cazorla’s inch-perfect free-kick delivery.

Arsenal started the game in impressive fashion as Alexis Sanchez’ header forced Jack Butland to palm the ball onto his own post but Theo Walcott put the rebound wide of the goal. Alexis was in on the action again as his free-kick forced Butland into action again, before the Chilean struck the post once again.

Walcott then headed a Hector Bellerin cross over the bar before Laurent Koscielny struck an effort from distance, with it beginning to look like it could be one of those days for Arsene Wenger’s side.

However the breakthrough finally came shortly after the half hour mark. Francis Coquelin won possession for Mesut Ozil, with the German lofting a superb ball over the top of the Stoke defence to Theo Walcott; who netted his first goal of the season.

Arsenal’s dominance continued into the second-half but Stoke fired some warning shots, with Xherdan Shaqiri testing Petr Cech with a low-drive from a tight angle; which was an easy save for the veteran, making his 500th appearance in English football.

Walcott couldn’t get the required connection to a Bellerin cross as Arsenal pushed for a second, with Ozil then forcing Butland into another fine save. Gabriel Paulista was fortunate to get away with swinging an arm at Marko Arnautovic at the other end, which may be looked at after the game.

Olivier Giroud came on for the final 15 minutes and his struggles continued with his first chance, as he dragged an effort wide of the goal after being gifted the opportunity by the Stoke defence. However, he soon made up for that error as he headed home Cazorla’s perfect delivery to seal the victory.

Koscielny came close shortly after with another header from a Cazorla free-kick but the work was done for Arsenal, who now face a busy week away at Dynamo Kiev before next weekend’s London derby against struggling Chelsea.