Arsenal 3 - 1 Olympiakos: Arsenal on course for knockout phase

Arsenal closed in on qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League with a 3-1 win over Olympiakos.

SCORERS:

Arsenal - Gervinho (42),Podolski (56), Ramsey (90)

Olympiakos - Mitroglou (45)

Goals in each half from Gervinho and Lukas Podolski and a well-taken late goal from substitute Aaron Ramsey made it successive victories in Group B.

Another three home points against Schalke, who drew with to Montpellier in Germany last night, in a fortnight’s time would all but seal progress and probable seeding for the last 16.

With manager Arsene Wenger in the stands for the second of his three-game European ban, the Gunners started brightly and, in the 11th minute, goalkeeper Balazs Megyeri tipped over Santi Cazorla’s free-kick.

Arsenal keeper Mannone did not have much to do in the first half hour but was alert enough when Paulo Machado’s cutback was turned goalwards across the wet surface by Kostas Mitroglou and the Italian got down to grab the ball.

Olympiakos should have been in front in the 34th minute when captain Giannis Maniatis crossed but, arriving at pace, Machado could only scoop the ball high over the crossbar.

Against the run of play, the Gunners were ahead three minutes before half-time. Mikel Arteta won a 50/50 with Pablo Contreras, which saw possession break to Gervinho, who sidestepped his marker before beating the wrong-footed Megyeri with a low shot.

However, the lead did not last to the interval. Italian Leandro Greco whipped over a superb cross from the left, which was guided into the net by a deft header from Mitroglou.

There was more urgency about the Gunners after the break and home pressure was rewarded in the 56th minute. Gervinho picked out Podolski, who to drilled the ball through the keeper’s legs. Ramsey wrapped things up when he latched onto a flick-on from a goal-kick to skip into the box and calmly chip the keeper.

Arsenal: Mannone, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Cazorla, Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlain (Walcott 70), Gervinho (Giroud 79), Podolski (Ramsey 79). Subs not used: Shea, Andre Santos, Djourou, Arshavin.

Olympiakos: Megyeri, Diakite (Ibagaza 72), Manolas, Contreras, Holebas, Siovas, Maniatis, Greco (Abdoun 67), David Fuster, Paulo Machado (Pantelic 79), Mitroglou. Subs not used: Carroll, Modesto, Lykogiannis, Diogo.