Mikel Arteta names Arsenal player who was 'phenomenal' against Olympiacos

Arsenal picked up a big win in the Champions League on Wednesday night when they defeated Olympiacos at home. Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka were on target for the Gunners to ensure they made it two from two to kick off the Champions League campaign.

The Gunners dominated for the most part, but they did need a big David Raya save, and Olympiacos also had a goal ruled out before Saka put the game to bed in stoppage time.

The general consensus from the game is that Martin Odegaard was the man of the match, with the Norwegian returning for a first start since aggravating a shoulder injury. Odegaard regularly picked up the ball and drove through midfield, supplying passes forward and creating an assist which was one of four clear chances created.

“He's got all the licence in the world to go forward, Martin,” Arteta said after the game. “And to play with that freedom and to play with that level of threat especially, not only with the passes, but the way he was taking the ball, carrying the ball, making runs, and arriving in really dangerous areas.

“I think he put three people through today to score a goal, he should have scored a goal as well, so great to have him back, he played some very good minutes in Newcastle to help us to win the game, and I think today he was phenomenal.

“I think that creativity part is his nature, so it doesn't bring any pressure to him because it's his best ability to generate things that not a lot of players can do, and he has total freedom from my side to do and to explore and to tailor his content and to feel the moment and where he needs to generate those spaces, and I think he's certainly done that in the last two games.”

Asked about the added competition in the squad this season and how it may be pushing the current starters to better performances, Arteta added: “Yeah, with all respect, last season we were looking and we had five academy players there that probably never played professional football in the Champions League, so yeah, it makes a difference.

“Today we decided to change six players, I think it was, because I want everybody to really be involved and feel part of it, and it was great and we had the feeling as well that physically we were dropping because we played a really intense match in Newcastle a few days ago. The ones that came in, again, they lifted the level and they helped us to win the game, and that's great.”

Arsenal are now two for two in the Champions League, and their next game in this competition is a tricky home tie with Atletico Madrid.

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