When you have so much possession and scoring chances as Arsenal had last night, there comes a time when the frustration of not scoring can get to you. Van Persie rash challenge on Żewłakow showed just how close that frustration came to spilling over into indiscipline.

Nikopolidis was determined to do a Mannone.

Fortunately the same van Persie scored the goal that we deserved on the night.

We all deserved a performance like last night. Perhaps determined not to have a repeat of Standard Liege, Arsenal came out with all guns blazing. Unfortunately we forgot to calibrate the gun sights, 22 shots at goal with only 2 goals to show is testament to the inaccuracy of our aim.
Wave after wave of attack came upon the Greeks’ defence only for us to be denied by our own profligacy and a determination by the Olympiacos custodian to “do a Mannone”.

Patience and discipline was the bywords for last night, Wenger summed it up saying,

“We kept our composure and kept going. We played with a desire to keep the discipline in the team. We did not do anything crazy. I always felt we could score. We have matured and a game like this shows just that.

We could be forgiven to think that the goal would never come, reminiscent of our first loss at the Emirates when West Ham was the recipient of a footballing master-class yet they left the Emirates with 3 points. I would have been cruel for us not to win last night, and the team showed the maturity and discipline to continue playing to get that result.

The popular man of the match was Arshavin, but I was particularly impressed with Rosicky who reminded me quite how good he is. He showed incredible touch, balance, pace and vision, once the Czech regains full fitness teamed with Fabregas and Arshavin our attack should be the most potent in the league.

There was not much to be done by the defence, but Eboue again is solidifying his status amongst the Arsenal faithful, whilst Clichy had one leery moment overall the defence was virtually given a night off by Olympiakos.

The final goal by Arshavin — a bit impudent, surely offside — was the icing on a cake, the champions of Greece was resolute in defence but the scoreline was no more than Arsenal deserved, another step for the gunners in their quest for that elusive trophy.