Arsenal recovered from an unconvincing first-half performance to see off Olympiakos at Emirates Stadium and move top of Champions League Group B.

Gervinho opened the scoring with a low finish from outside the box near the end of a disjointed opening 45 minutes

Olympiakos deservedly hit straight back through Kostas Mitroglou's superb header on the stroke of half-time.

But Lukas Podolski rifled the Gunners back in front and Aaron Ramsey came off the bench to flick a third.

Arsenal v Olympiakos stats

  • Arsenal condemned Olympiakos to their 11th defeat in as many visits to England
  • Gervinho scored the opening goal for Arsenal. He also scored a fortnight ago against Montpellier
  • Konstantinos Mitroglou's goal for Olympiakos was only the third goal by the Greek side on English soil
  • Lukas Podolski scored Arsenal's second. Podolski and Gervinho also provided their side's two goals in the 2-1 win at Montpellier

Source: Infostrada Sports

The result ensures Arsenal go clear at the head of their group on six points after Schalke drew 2-2 with Montpellier.

It was a laboured display but boss Arsene Wenger will hardly worry if his side continue to collect points while not at their best.

Wenger admitted before the match "the players are still down" from Saturday's defeat by Chelsea - and it was evident in the first half.

Undone by some poor defending against the Blues, there was little to suggest lessons had been learned as possession was relinquished cheaply and alarming errors were made at the back.

Only five minutes had been played when Vito Mannone's attempted pass to Thomas Vermaelen missed its target and prompted panic.

Arsenal soon created their first chance - Santi Cazorla's free-kick tipped to safety - but that was a rare opening for the hosts.

Captain Vermaelen and centre-back partner Laurent Koscielny - at fault for both Chelsea goals and possibly retaining his place because of Per Mertesacker's illness - were particularly unconvincing.

Koscielny was cautioned for a reckless challenge on Paulo Machado before Vermaelen's poor clearance led to Mitroglou drawing a fine save from Mannone.

Central defence was again vacant as Machado met a Giannis Maniatis cross from the right, only to somehow put a half-volley over the bar.

Arsenal's concerns were eased shortly before the break when Gervinho stepped past an opponent and he drilled the opener following neat work from Podolski and Cazorla on the left.

However, they immediately switched off and Mitroglou outjumped Vermaelen to glance a brilliant header past Mannone from Leandro Greco's left-wing cross.

Serving the second match of a three-game touchline ban, Wenger looked far from happy as he watched on from the stands.

But his team came out for the second half with a greater sense of purpose, Gervinho cutting back for Cazorla to side-foot wide.

The pressure was mounting and it swiftly told as the tireless Gervinho fed Podolski and he fired powerfully through Megyeri's legs.

Wenger introduced Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud, and the England winger crossed for the France striker to volley at Balazs Magyeri.

Olympiakos were missing almost half of their usual first team through injury, and it began to show as Arsenal piled forward.

Giroud's first-time strike was blocked by Dimitris Siovas's shoulder before Ramsey, another substitute, latched on to the Frenchman's flick, outpaced Maniatis and dinked a fine finish past Magyeri.

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)

Arsenal

  • 24 Mannone
  • 05 Vermaelen
  • 06 Koscielny Booked
  • 25 Jenkinson
  • 28 Gibbs
  • 08 Arteta
  • 15 Oxlade-Chamberlain (Walcott - 70' )
  • 19 Cazorla
  • 22 Coquelin
  • 09 Podolski (Ramsey - 79' )
  • 27 Gervinho (Giroud - 79' )

Substitutes

  • 60 Shea
  • 11 Santos
  • 20 Djourou
  • 14 Walcott
  • 16 Ramsey
  • 23 Arshavin
  • 12 Giroud

Olympiakos

  • 42 Megyeri
  • 02 Maniatis
  • 15 Contreras Booked
  • 24 Manolas
  • 05 Paulo Machado (Pantelic - 79' )
  • 19 Fuster
  • 20 Holebas
  • 23 Siovas
  • 26 Diakite (Ibagaza - 72' )
  • 27 Greco (Abdoun - 67' )
  • 11 Mitroglou

Substitutes

  • 01 Carroll
  • 03 Modesto
  • 25 Lykogiannis
  • 07 Ibagaza
  • 93 Abdoun
  • 09 Pantelic
  • 87 Diogo
Ref: Oddvar Moen
Att: 60,034

Match Stats

Shots

10 11

On target

6 7

Corners

8 2

Fouls

17 10

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:27 Full time

Full Time The referee blows for the end of the match.

90:00 +3:26

Assist by Olivier Giroud.

90:00 +3:26 Goal scored

Goal - Aaron Ramsey - Arsenal 3 - 1 Olymp'kos Aaron Ramsey finds the net with a goal from inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Arsenal 3-1 Olympiacos.

90:00 +1:17

Santi Cazorla challenges Dimitrios Siovas unfairly and gives away a free kick. Giannis Maniatis restarts play with the free kick.

88:48

The assistant referee signals for offside against Olivier Giroud. Indirect free kick taken by Balazs Megyeri.

88:05

Santi Cazorla takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, Shot by Aaron Ramsey from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.

87:47

Olivier Giroud takes a shot. Blocked by Dimitrios Siovas.

87:11

Short corner taken by Santi Cazorla.

85:29

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Marko Pantelic by Carl Jenkinson. Balazs Megyeri takes the free kick.

84:19

The official flags Olivier Giroud offside. Dimitrios Siovas restarts play with the free kick.

83:14

Giannis Maniatis fouled by Santi Cazorla, the ref awards a free kick. Pablo Contreras takes the free kick.

82:31

Shot by Olivier Giroud. Save by Vito Mannone.

80:55

Unfair challenge on Djamel Abdoun by Carl Jenkinson results in a free kick. Djamel Abdoun restarts play with the free kick.

80:19

The assistant referee signals for offside against Olivier Giroud. Indirect free kick taken by Pablo Contreras.

78:38 Substitution

Substitution Ricardo Paulo Machado goes off and Marko Pantelic comes on.

78:38 Substitution

Substitution Lukas Podolski leaves the field to be replaced by Aaron Ramsey.

78:38 Substitution

Substitution Olivier Giroud replaces Yao Gervinho.

76:41

Corner taken right-footed by Santi Cazorla, Laurent Koscielny takes a shot. Balazs Megyeri makes a save.

72:49

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Santi Cazorla by Ricardo Paulo Machado. Mikel Arteta restarts play with the free kick.

71:34

Kostas Manolas takes the direct free kick.

71:34 Substitution

Substitution Ariel Ibagaza is brought on as a substitute for Drissa Diakite.

71:34

Mikel Arteta gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Giannis Maniatis.

70:47

Shot from just outside the box by Ricardo Paulo Machado goes over the crossbar.

69:35 Substitution

Substitution Theo Walcott comes on in place of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

69:11

Torrijos David Fuster takes a shot. Save made by Vito Mannone.

67:42

Yao Gervinho is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by Pablo Contreras.

66:08

Direct free kick taken by Jose Holebas.

66:08 Substitution

Substitution Djamel Abdoun on for Leandro Greco.

66:08

Unfair challenge on Ricardo Paulo Machado by Mikel Arteta results in a free kick.

65:01

Ricardo Paulo Machado takes a shot. Mikel Arteta gets a block in.

64:26

Ricardo Paulo Machado decides to take the corner short.

61:33

Mikel Arteta sends in a cross, Laurent Koscielny has a header from deep inside the six-yard box and clears the crossbar.

61:33 Booking

Booking Pablo Contreras goes into the book.

61:24

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain fouled by Pablo Contreras, the ref awards a free kick.

59:12

Shot on goal by Kostas Mitroglou from just inside the area goes over the target.

57:25

Lukas Podolski is caught offside. Free kick taken by Kostas Manolas.

57:06

Lukas Podolski is caught offside. Balazs Megyeri takes the free kick.

55:07

The assist for the goal came from Yao Gervinho.

55:07 Goal scored

Goal - Lukas Podolski - Arsenal 2 - 1 Olymp'kos A goal is scored by Lukas Podolski from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Arsenal 2-1 Olympiacos.

53:16

Francis Coquelin challenges Torrijos David Fuster unfairly and gives away a free kick. Kostas Manolas takes the direct free kick. Kostas Mitroglou has an effort at goal from outside the penalty area missing to the wide left of the goal.

52:16

Ricardo Paulo Machado fouled by Francis Coquelin, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Ricardo Paulo Machado from left channel, clearance made by Lukas Podolski.

51:41

The offside flag is raised against Yao Gervinho. Balazs Megyeri restarts play with the free kick.

49:28

Shot by Santi Cazorla from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.

49:06

Foul by Dimitrios Siovas on Santi Cazorla, free kick awarded. Mikel Arteta takes the free kick.

45:01

The second half begins.

45:00 +1:25 Half time

Half Time The referee blows for half time.

44:59

Assist on the goal came from Leandro Greco.

44:59 Goal scored

Goal - Kostas Mitroglou - Arsenal 1 - 1 Olymp'kos Kostas Mitroglou finds the back of the net with a headed goal from deep inside the penalty box. Arsenal 1-1 Olympiacos.

43:58

Ricardo Paulo Machado takes a shot. Save by Vito Mannone.

42:52

Yao Gervinho gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Pablo Contreras. Direct free kick taken by Ricardo Paulo Machado.

41:29

Assist on the goal came from Mikel Arteta.

41:29 Goal scored

Goal - Yao Gervinho - Arsenal 1 - 0 Olymp'kos Yao Gervinho finds the back of the net with a goal from just outside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Arsenal 1-0 Olympiacos.

40:42

Kostas Mitroglou challenges Laurent Koscielny unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Laurent Koscielny.

39:54

Free kick awarded for a foul by Torrijos David Fuster on Francis Coquelin. Laurent Koscielny takes the direct free kick.

38:08

Thomas Vermaelen concedes a free kick for a foul on Ricardo Paulo Machado. Strike comes in from Ricardo Paulo Machado from the free kick, save by Vito Mannone.

34:56

Shot by Ricardo Paulo Machado from deep inside the six-yard box clear the bar.

31:49

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Santi Cazorla from the right by-line, clearance made by Dimitrios Siovas.

30:48

Free kick awarded for a foul by Mikel Arteta on Kostas Mitroglou. Free kick taken by Dimitrios Siovas.

30:29

Foul by Giannis Maniatis on Santi Cazorla, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Mikel Arteta.

30:08

Leandro Greco gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Francis Coquelin. Free kick taken by Mikel Arteta.

29:38

Kostas Mitroglou takes a shot. Save made by Vito Mannone.

29:01

Direct free kick taken by Kostas Manolas.

29:01 Booking

Booking Laurent Koscielny receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.

28:56

Laurent Koscielny concedes a free kick for a foul on Ricardo Paulo Machado.

28:01

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain takes a shot.

24:47

Unfair challenge on Torrijos David Fuster by Thomas Vermaelen results in a free kick. Balazs Megyeri takes the direct free kick.

24:15

Corner taken by Santi Cazorla from the left by-line played to the near post, Torrijos David Fuster makes a clearance.

21:50

Kostas Mitroglou takes a shot. Vito Mannone makes a save. The assistant referee signals for offside against Leandro Greco. Thomas Vermaelen takes the free kick.

20:00

Jose Holebas concedes a free kick for a foul on Santi Cazorla. Santi Cazorla takes the direct free kick.

12:33

Foul by Lukas Podolski on Drissa Diakite, free kick awarded. Balazs Megyeri takes the direct free kick.

11:49

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Santi Cazorla.

10:53

Kostas Manolas gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kieran Gibbs. Free kick crossed right-footed by Santi Cazorla, Balazs Megyeri makes a save.

9:23

Corner taken short by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

8:40

Corner taken by Santi Cazorla from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Torrijos David Fuster.

5:47

Lukas Podolski concedes a free kick for a foul on Drissa Diakite. Free kick taken by Kostas Manolas.

4:38

Corner taken by Jose Holebas from the right by-line, clearance by Lukas Podolski.

3:47

Carl Jenkinson challenges Jose Holebas unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Ricardo Paulo Machado.

3:25

Unfair challenge on Kostas Manolas by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain results in a free kick. Balazs Megyeri restarts play with the free kick.

2:53

Foul by Torrijos David Fuster on Thomas Vermaelen, free kick awarded. Mikel Arteta takes the free kick.

0:26

The assistant referee signals for offside against Yao Gervinho. Pablo Contreras restarts play with the free kick.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.

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