Gabriel Martinelli van Arsenal scored for the second consecutive UEFA Champions League 2025-26 match with his early close-range effort that released the way for a 2-0 home victory on Olympiacos on Wednesday.
When the Brazilian turned a rebound in the 12th minute to reward the early rule of Arsenal, it seemed that it would be a routine evening for the North London club.
But it was made to work hard for the victory that it placed on six points of the opening of two group matches, and needed an effort by replacing Bukayo Saka to seal it.
Olympiacos had an enviable record against Arsenal and won during his last three visits to the Emirates Stadium, and the Greek side recovered from his early setback to sometimes make an uncomfortable night for it.
However, it was unable to answer and only has one point from the first two group games.
Martinelli scored in the opening of Arsenal Road in Athletic Bilbao and also took a final gasp equalizer in a 1-1 draw in Manchester City in the Premier League. He again proved his talent for scoring important goals when he converted after Viktor Gyokees bounced back the pole.
Arsenal -Manager Mikel Arteta made six changes to the side that started the dramatic victory in Newcastle United during the weekend, with Captain Martin Odegaard returning and Declan Rice, Ebereechi Eze and Saka all on the couch.
The depth in the quality of the Arsenal team was quickly clear, although when the house started in one silent way with Olympiacos who chased shadows in the early stages.
Martinelli wasted a glorious opportunity in the third minute and spread his header of an excellent Myles Lewis-Skelly ball in the area. But he soon made up for it.
It all looked too easy for the Kant of Arteta at that stage, but it got a wake-up call when former Wolverhampton Wanderers-wing player Daniel Podence met Volley for the first time that pulled an excellent flying salvation by Arsenal keeper David Raya.
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Arsenal remained dominant, but Olympiacos, supported by a loudly visiting contingent, grew the rest of the first half in shape and started the second period positively.
It had the ball in the net when the header of Ayoub El Kaabi was folded out by Raya and Chiquinho hit the loose ball, but El Kaabi was considered offside.
Arsenal’s stingy defensive record at home in the Champions League is now on 10 clean sheets from the last 12.
The resilience of it was fully tested and it was a relief for the host when Saka was played by Odegaard, and his shot went through Olympiacos keeper Kostas Tzolakis.
Bayer Leverkusen draws with PSV Eindhoven
PSV Eindhoven quickly fought back after he has admitted a sloppy goal to hold German hosts Bayer Leverkusen for a 1-1 draw in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Calamitous defending the Dutch visitor allowed teen Christian Kofane to squeeze a 65th minute goal in the Bay Arena, but PSV was quickly pulling level, with Ismael Saibari thunderous at home a 72nd minute equalizer.
It was a second draw for Leverkusen in the group stage, after he was held in Copenhagen.
PSV took his first point after a surprise of house loss for the Union Saint-Gilloise of Belgium in his opening fixture last month.
Published on October 2, 2025
