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.
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