With Arsenal in dire need of winning our second Champions League group game after losing the first, a home clash with Olympiakos seemed the ideal game. But it was like watching the Zagreb game all over again in the first half and we went into the break losing 2-1.
Arsenal had started well and were passing and moving well. Alexis was doing his thing and Walcott, Cazorla, Ozil and the Ox were making chances. The Ox fired just wide after being fed by Alexis and Walcott should have done better with an early shot after good work in the box.
After about 20 minutes though, our passing seemed to become a bit predictable and the Greek side started to come forward more. Even so they needed a huge deflection on a shot after a corner to take a shock 33rd minute lead, giving Ospina no chance. The corner came about from a defensive mix-up between Koscielny and Gabriel though and there were definitely nerves in the Arsenal team.
A brilliant leveller minutes later from Walcott, assisted by Alexis, should have swung the game but we were still sloppy afterwards and then a keeping howler from Ospina after another corner gifted the visitors the lead again. THis needed a brilliant team tak from Wenger and a big comeback from the players.
It was certainly not dull, as Arsenal pressed hard and the Olympiacos goal lived a charmed life, or it did until a beautiful team move ended with Walcott floating a ctross for Alexis to power home with his head. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot though, as we were behind again less than a minute later as our defenders went missing.
Again we had lost the momentum and it was hard to get back, especially with the ref allowing lots of niggly fouls and spoiling tactics. With 15 minutes to go an Ozil free kick brought another great save and it was looking bad for us. Of course our deflected shots were going wide as well and an Alexis bullet header whistled past the post.
It was a real siege at the end but Arsenal could not break through. If only we had defended as well we would not be looking at failing to get out of the group which is now a very real possibility.