Arsenal was looking to avenge a 2-1 defeat they had suffered to Dinamo Zagreb in an earlier Champions League match.
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The Gunners would have been eliminated if they had failed to beat the Croatians at the Emirates Stadium, or if Olympiakos got a draw against Bayern Munich.
The result leaves Arsenal third in Group F and facing an all-or-nothing must-win clash with Olympiakos in Greece on Wednesday 9.
“Once it is 3-0 you are in a position where Sanchez doesn’t need to work back so you can save his energy a bit by playing him up front”. As things stand, Wenger’s men will need to win in Piraeus by two clear goals or a score of 3-2 or higher if they are to reach the last 16. I am very pleased for him because Ozil is proving game after game he is a top player even if he knew it before. “It was important we did not concede the first goal because they (Dinamo) were quite risky going forward”.
“We wanted to play our game from the start, with a lot of motivation and drive”.
Aside from hoping Portuguese countryman Silva gets one over Wenger, Mourinho must contend with the potential loss of John Terry after he was carried off during the win in Israel with an ankle injury.
A 3-2 win would suffice as Arsenal have the better goal difference, which is the next tie-breaker.
Arsene Wenger says Arsenal will travel to Athens full of belief knowing a two-goal victory against Olympiacos on Matchday Six will secure safe passage to the knockout stages.
He said: “In the last two games we have dropped points”. “We did it well and it gives us chance but I believe we can do it”.
It was another big-game goal for Ozil, his others this term coming in wins over Manchester United and Bayern, and was followed four minutes later by an eighth of the season for Alexis.
With the quality at their disposal, the Gunners should not have made life so hard for themselves in Group F. But a spot in the round of 16 for the 16th consecutive season remains in Arsenal’s hands when the London club heads to Olympiakos next month. “It will be tough but we have to believe we can do it and I believe we can do it”.
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The second came from Alexis with 20 minutes to go, meeting Joel Campbell’s defense-splitting pass and rounding goalkeeper Eduardo to ensure a comfortable conclusion for the hosts.
