Late goals from Robin Van Persie and the excellent Andrei Arshavin gave a patient Arsenal victory over a stubborn well-organised Olympiakos side, their second win in Group H of the Champions League. It was one-way traffic for most of the night but a fine display of shot-stopping from 38-year-old net-minder Antonis Nikopolidis kept the Gunners at bay until 13 minutes from time. The introduction of Eduardo da Silva for the final quarter proved pivotal as he picked up a pass from Cesc Fabregas and crossed from the by-line for Robin Van Persie to side-foot home from close range. Eight minutes later, Arsenal made the game safe when Fabregas’s cross was cheekily back-heeled into the net by Andrei Arshavin, capping a fine display by the diminutive Russian. Arshavin provided Nikopolidis with his first chance to shine, his shot turned neatly round the post. But the veteran custodian was beaten three minutes later by a Fabregas drive that rattled the crossbar. Arshavin and Fabregas were both denied again before the break, as was Van Persie.

And the visitors nearly grabbed an equaliser against the run of play a minute after the break when the Gunners’ third-choice keeper Vito Mannone clawed away a header from former Aston Villa defender Olaf Mellberg. Normal service was resumed, however, with Olympiakos keeper Nikopolidis smothering a Van Persie shot moments later, possibly his best save of the night.

Manager Arsene Wenger introduced Eduardo for the understandably tiring Tomas Rosicky on 65 minutes, just as the Gunners seemed like they might be starting to run out of ideas. And the decision looked vindicated by the Croatian’s part in Van Persie’s deadlock-breaking strike. Wenger expressed satisfaction afterwards that his young team “kept our composure and kept going. We did not do anything crazy.” And he singled out Arshavin for praise: “He was sharp and determined. In a game like this, he is always a threat.”