Maniatis and Greco were in the midfield, Abdoun was the left winger, Machanto was the right winger, while Rafik Djebbour played at the top of the offensive line.
In 11’, Olympiacos missed a big opportunity to take the lead. Abdoun entered the box area from the left and crossed the ball to the goal area, exactly where Djibbour got it, but Vermaelen was there and cleared to a corner kick before it was too late for his team!
In 17’, Arsenal came close to scoring a goal. Chamberlain crossed from the left, Szamak laid the ball with his head and Ramsey attempted a shot, but his effort was clumsy and the defenders of Olympiacos took advantage of it and managed to clear.
In 20’, Olympiacos reached 1-0. Following a corner kick by Machado, Torosidis took the header and Rosicky cleared at the post before the ball was netted, as it seemed!
In 24’, Abdoun and Greco made an exemplary combined move from the left; Abdoun received the ball and took a shot, but Szczesny cleared and Arsenal’s defense turned away for a corner. Following that, Abdoun took the corner kick and Djebbour achieved a wonderful twisted header, but Szczesny blocked it instinctively!
Olympiacos were constantly attacking and Abdoun… was on fire! In 25’, he made a marvelous individual move, dribbling past four players of Arsenal, and entered the area. He stopped, turned his body and passed to Torosidis. The later stopped the ball and took a shot, but he missed.
Until 35’, the pace became a bit slower and our side’s most dangerous player was Djamel Abdoun, who kept creating problems to the opposite defense every time the ball reached his feet. In 38’, Olympiacos “paid” for their lost opportunities, since the ball is the… greatest punisher of all. In that minute, Gervinho troubled our side’s defense from the left, stopped and passed the ball to Rosicky, who launched a shot on the move and beat Carroll.
In the next minute, Maniatis crossed perfectly from the right to Machado at the same wing. The Portuguese turned the ball to the goal area for Djebbour, who failed to turn it in for just a step.
The first half ended like that and Olympiacos entered the pitch for the second half determined to turn this negative situation around.
uring the second half’s first minutes, Arsenal balanced the pace, but Olympiacos kept their offensive intentions. Shortly after 55’, Leonardo Jardim ordered David Fuster to stand up from the bench for a substitution.
In 59’, Abdoun dribbled nicely outside the box area and crossed vertically to Fejsa, who took a shot from an advantageous position, but the ball went outside the goal-line. Right after that, the Serb was replaced by Fuster. The Spaniard launched a shot in 61’, but Szczesny blocked it. In 61’, Arshavin found himself against Carroll, inside the area, to the right; he took a shot, but the keeper from Northern Ireland acted well and saved the goal.
In 64’, Diakité crossed nicely and Machado took the header, with Szczesny clearing to a corner kick in agony! That’s when our side scored the equalizer! Greco took the corner kick and Arsenal’s defense turned it away. The ball was laid to Abdoun on the left, who crossed to the far post. There, Maniatis turned it in with a drop-shot!
In 67’, Machado took a free kick from the left and Szczesny blocked the ball falling at his right corner. In 70’, Olympiacos missed a huge opportunity to take the lead! Machado advanced from the right and crossed beautifully to Djebbour, who got an almost horizontal position and a marvelous header; unfortunately, the ball passed inches off Szczesny’s post!
In 72’, Leonardo Jardim got Kostas Mitroglou into the match. At his first encounter with the ball, the Greek centre-forward showed his tremendous skills. He received the ball from Maniatis outside of the area and on the left side. He stopped, turned his body and launched an inconceivable shot, leaving Szczesny unable to react! The ball went straight into Arsenal’s net and Olympiacos took the lead by 2-1, in 73’!
Nothing changed during the last minutes of the encounter and Olympiacos had the best possible closure to their participation in Champions League, with a victory. Now, the squad will continue playing in Europe and participate in Europa League.
OLYMPIACOS: Carroll, Diakité, Torosidis, Manolas, Contreras, Maniatis, Fejsa (60’ Fuster), Greco, Abdoun (72’ Mitroglou), Machado, Djebbour (82΄ Ibagaza).
ARSENAL: Szczesny, Vermaelen, Rosicky (46’ Arshavin), Chamberlain, Ramsey, Squillaci, Coquelin, Jenkinson, Gervinho, Szamak, Meade (83΄ Angha).
