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London: New signings Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Andre Santos scored in the first half on Wednesday to help Arsenal overcome another defensive lapse in a 2-1 win over Olympiakos in the Champions League group stages.
The 18-year-old Oxlade-Chamberlain netted just eight minutes into his Champions League debut and Andre Santos made it 2-0 in the 20th as the Gunners looked ready to finally put their disappointing start to the season behind them.
But Arsenal's much-maligned defence soon showed its frailties once again, letting David Fuster pull a goal back with a powerful header when left completely unmarked after a corner.
Arsenal then spent much of the second half trying to neutralize the Greek club's attempts at a comeback, but Vassilis Torossidis came close to equalizing in the 64th when his curling shot from outside the area hit the crossbar.
The win gives Arsenal four points from two games in Group F, while Olympiakos have zero.
Despite having forwards Gervinho and Theo Walcott, midfielder Jack Wilshere and defender Laurent Koscielny ruled out with injuries, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger opted to rest captain Robin van Persie in favor of Marouane Chamakh up front. Wenger, who was serving the second game of a two-match touchline ban, also used midfielder Alex Song as a central defender next to Per Mertesacker in an attempt to shore up the defence.
Despite the makeshift line-up, Arsenal dominated early.
Oxlade-Chamberlain started in place of Walcott, and the similarly speedy winger only needed eight minutes to make his mark. The teenager ran onto a long ball from Song, chested it down and broke into the area with the help of a lucky bounce off a defender before slotting a shot between the legs of Olof Mellberg and to the right of goalkeeper Franco Costanzo.
It was Arsenal's 200th Champions League goal.
But Oxlade-Chamberlain's inexperience nearly cost Arsenal minutes later when he lost possession in midfield to gift Olympiakos a counter-attack that resulted in a corner. The visitors nearly scored when the ensuing set piece led to a goalmouth scramble and Rafik Djebbour's close-range effort was cleared off the line by Mikel Arteta. Djebbour had a second chance from the rebound but sent his shot into the side netting.
Instead, Arsenal kept attacking and soon added a second goal.
Andre Santos made a raid down the left flank and crossed into the area for the onrushing Chamakh, only to have the ball cleared right back into his path, sending a low shot inside the near post.
Chamakh should have made it 3-0 in the 24th when Andrey Arshavin floated a perfect lob over the Olympiakos backline for the onrushing striker, who brought the ball down and had plenty of time to get off a shot, but still sent it wide.
Instead, Arsenal's defence broke down completely on another set piece - like so many times before this season - to let Olympiakos back into the game.
Ariel Ibagaza took a short corner to Kevin Mirallas before getting the ball back and broke unchallenged into the area before lofting a cross toward Fuster, who had wide-open space around him when he rose to power a header past a helpless Wojciech Szczesny.
The goal handed the momentum back to the Greek side, and Szczesny had to make saves from Djebbour and Torossidis in the next few minutes before Arsenal regained their composure.
The visitors continued to press after the break, but Torossidis' shot was the only attempt that was seriously threatening.
Aaron Ramsey came on for Oxlade-Chamberlain with 23 minutes left as Arsenal tried to shore up their midfield, and the Wales captain almost had an immediate impact as he intercepted a pass in midfield and released Arshavin, who dribbled into the area but had his shot easily parried by Costanzo.
Meanwhile, two goals from Ghana winger Andre Ayew and outstanding saves from Steve Mandanda helped Marseille rout Borussia Dortmund 3-0 and keep a perfect record in Group F of the Champions League.
Ayew fired into the bottom corner to put the hosts ahead in the 20th minute.
France forward Loic Remy intercepted a header from Mats Hummels to bury the ball between the near post and goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller in the 62nd for a 2-0 lead. Ayew converted a penalty to complete the rout in the 68th.
Marseille have a two-point lead over Arsenal.
Marseille next host Arsenal on October 19 while Dortmund visit Olympiakos.
The 18-year-old Oxlade-Chamberlain netted just eight minutes into his Champions League debut and Andre Santos made it 2-0 in the 20th as the Gunners looked ready to finally put their disappointing start to the season behind them.
But Arsenal's much-maligned defence soon showed its frailties once again, letting David Fuster pull a goal back with a powerful header when left completely unmarked after a corner.
Arsenal then spent much of the second half trying to neutralize the Greek club's attempts at a comeback, but Vassilis Torossidis came close to equalizing in the 64th when his curling shot from outside the area hit the crossbar.
The win gives Arsenal four points from two games in Group F, while Olympiakos have zero.
Despite having forwards Gervinho and Theo Walcott, midfielder Jack Wilshere and defender Laurent Koscielny ruled out with injuries, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger opted to rest captain Robin van Persie in favor of Marouane Chamakh up front. Wenger, who was serving the second game of a two-match touchline ban, also used midfielder Alex Song as a central defender next to Per Mertesacker in an attempt to shore up the defence.
Despite the makeshift line-up, Arsenal dominated early.
Oxlade-Chamberlain started in place of Walcott, and the similarly speedy winger only needed eight minutes to make his mark. The teenager ran onto a long ball from Song, chested it down and broke into the area with the help of a lucky bounce off a defender before slotting a shot between the legs of Olof Mellberg and to the right of goalkeeper Franco Costanzo.
It was Arsenal's 200th Champions League goal.
But Oxlade-Chamberlain's inexperience nearly cost Arsenal minutes later when he lost possession in midfield to gift Olympiakos a counter-attack that resulted in a corner. The visitors nearly scored when the ensuing set piece led to a goalmouth scramble and Rafik Djebbour's close-range effort was cleared off the line by Mikel Arteta. Djebbour had a second chance from the rebound but sent his shot into the side netting.
Instead, Arsenal kept attacking and soon added a second goal.
Andre Santos made a raid down the left flank and crossed into the area for the onrushing Chamakh, only to have the ball cleared right back into his path, sending a low shot inside the near post.
Chamakh should have made it 3-0 in the 24th when Andrey Arshavin floated a perfect lob over the Olympiakos backline for the onrushing striker, who brought the ball down and had plenty of time to get off a shot, but still sent it wide.
Instead, Arsenal's defence broke down completely on another set piece - like so many times before this season - to let Olympiakos back into the game.
Ariel Ibagaza took a short corner to Kevin Mirallas before getting the ball back and broke unchallenged into the area before lofting a cross toward Fuster, who had wide-open space around him when he rose to power a header past a helpless Wojciech Szczesny.
The goal handed the momentum back to the Greek side, and Szczesny had to make saves from Djebbour and Torossidis in the next few minutes before Arsenal regained their composure.
The visitors continued to press after the break, but Torossidis' shot was the only attempt that was seriously threatening.
Aaron Ramsey came on for Oxlade-Chamberlain with 23 minutes left as Arsenal tried to shore up their midfield, and the Wales captain almost had an immediate impact as he intercepted a pass in midfield and released Arshavin, who dribbled into the area but had his shot easily parried by Costanzo.
Meanwhile, two goals from Ghana winger Andre Ayew and outstanding saves from Steve Mandanda helped Marseille rout Borussia Dortmund 3-0 and keep a perfect record in Group F of the Champions League.
Ayew fired into the bottom corner to put the hosts ahead in the 20th minute.
France forward Loic Remy intercepted a header from Mats Hummels to bury the ball between the near post and goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller in the 62nd for a 2-0 lead. Ayew converted a penalty to complete the rout in the 68th.
Marseille have a two-point lead over Arsenal.
Marseille next host Arsenal on October 19 while Dortmund visit Olympiakos.
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