A nervy night at the Emirates is settled by a late strike from the star winger, after a stunning save from David Raya kept the Gunners in front.
The tension at the Emirates Stadium was palpable, but Bukayo Saka proved to be the ultimate relief valve, firing home a late goal to secure a hard-fought 2-0 Champions League victory over a stubborn Olympiacos on Tuesday night.
What began as a seemingly routine evening after an early Gabriel Martinelli tap-in quickly morphed into a frustrating affair, as a slew of missed chances from the Gunners left the door open for the Greek side.
Arsenal could have taken the lead within two minutes, but the Brazilian forward sent a free header wide from close range. He made amends in the 12th minute, however, pouncing on a loose ball after Viktor Gyokeres’ shot rebounded off the post, sending the home crowd into an early roar.
The Gunners’ profligacy in front of goal nearly cost them dearly. Just as it seemed they might rue their wasted opportunities, goalkeeper David Raya produced a moment of pure magic to preserve the lead. Former Wolves winger Daniel Podence connected perfectly with a volley from eight yards out, only for Raya to launch himself to the left and make a stunning one-handed save to push the ball over the bar.
“It was a massive moment,” fans could be heard saying in the stands, acknowledging the save that kept their team ahead.
As the second half wore on and the decisive second goal remained elusive, anxiety began to creep in. Manager Mikel Arteta turned to his bench, introducing key players like Declan Rice and, crucially, Bukayo Saka, to inject fresh energy.
The pressure finally told in the closing stages. After a flurry of near-misses, including a double chance for captain Martin Odegaard, the ball fell to Saka inside the box. The England winger made no mistake, rifling a shot through the goalkeeper’s legs to finally kill off the game and ensure Arsenal started their European campaign with two wins from two.
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