In the 49th minute of the match in Athens, Campbell brought down a long pass in the box, danced around a pair of defenders and then threaded a gorgeous pass between the Olympiakos defense to lead Olivier Giroud to his second of three goals in the 3-0 win. It is better to prepare for the (Olympiakos) game knowing we have won.
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“I told you before the game it would be a great escape”, Wenger told BT Sport. We will fight until the end to achieve this. “It’s nice to go through because we were not in a good position and finally we have done it. We feel relieved tonight”, Giroud was quoted as saying to the BBC.
With two teams battling for only one spot in the next round of the competition, expect a heated battle between Olympiakos Piraeus and Arsenal FC when they clash at Stadio Georgios Karaiskaki in Group F of the UEFA Champions League.
“It is important that we focus on the performance and the goals will come from that”, added the 66-year-old.
His hat-trick was complete when referee Nicola Rizzoli pointed to the penalty spot as Nacho Monreal’s shot was blocked by the arm of the diving Omar Elabdellaoui.
If Wednesday’s game at the Karaiskakis Stadium takes plenty of twists and turns as both sides look to join Bayern Munich in next Monday’s draw, Wenger knows his players must be able to alter their gameplan on the pitch. Our target is maybe to reach the quarter-finals. While Arsenal have only scored two goals in their previous three meetings in Greece, the lack of goals, the lack of players and history isn’t on the side of Arsenal. Gary Neville lost his first game in charge of Valencia, 2-1 at home to bottom club Olympique Lyon – their only win in the Champions League this season.
Arsenal earned their place in the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday with an inspired victory over Olympiacos, pipping the Greek champions to second place in Group F. I know that there will be a very good atmosphere, the fans are insane and they really support their team right through the full 90 minutes.
“I think when the chances came, they came at critical times in the game, when the game was even”, he said.
The Gunners found themselves in this situation due to their losses to Olympiakos and Dinamo Zagreb in the first two matches of the group stage.
This was a night, however, when no praise was too high for Arsenal and Wenger.
The London clubs celebrated on the final night of group stage action as Roma, Dynamo Kiev and the Belgian underdogs Gent also secured their places in the knockout phase.
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Chelsea cruised through its qualification group without defeat and into the last-16 while on their way to the Premier League title.
