Arsenal overpower Olympiacos with ruthless finishing from Martinelli, Saka

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Arsenal secured a commanding 2–0 win over Olympiacos Piraeus in their latest European outing, with Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka finding the net in a game filled with drama, missed chances, and VAR controversy.

The Gunners started brightly and nearly struck early when Viktor Gyökeres hit the post in the 12th minute.

Moments later, Martinelli pounced on a loose ball inside the box to score from close range, handing Mikel Arteta’s men the breakthrough they deserved.

Olympiacos responded with a few dangerous moments, particularly through Daniel Podence and Ayoub El Kaabi, but David Raya produced key saves to keep Arsenal in front.

The visitors thought they had equalised in the 67th minute when Chiquinho found the net, but VAR intervened and ruled the goal out for offside, a decision that infuriated the Greek side.

Arsenal remained in control, with Martin Ødegaard pulling the strings in midfield and forcing a goal-line clearance after his low strike in the 82nd minute.

As Olympiacos pushed for a late leveller, Arsenal punished them on the counter. In stoppage time, Ødegaard slid a clever pass into Saka’s path, and the winger finished clinically into the bottom corner to seal the win.

The match ended with frustrations boiling over for Olympiacos, as late yellow cards compounded their disappointment.

For Arsenal, the result not only secured three points but also underlined their growing efficiency in Europe, balancing attacking flair with defensive resilience.