Giroud hat-trick helps Arsenal progress in Olympiakos rout

Minutes later it was former West Bromwich Albion striker Brown Ideye who found himself in a dangerous position in front of Petr Cech, as he dragged the ball in from wide left and saw his low-driven cross cleared away by Laurent Koscielny.

Wenger’s Londoners were enduring a nervy first-half, with experienced shot stopper Cech, the only Champions League winner within the Gunners squad, even suffering from some jitters, after almost gifting the hosts with a clear opportunity from a poor clearance.

Arsenal were in search of a two-goal margin of victory in order to progress from Group F, but it was the Athens outfit that continued to look more threatening, with Colombian Felipe Pardo a constant danger to Per Mertesacker and Hector Bellerin from the left flank.

Giroud gifts Gunners opener

After being pegged back from the start by an onslaught of Olympiakos attacks, the visitors almost grabbed an opener against the run of play, but Mathieu Flamini could only strike the crossbar from close-range off a Joel Campbell delivery.

Another swift move from the opposite wing then led to Arsenal taking the lead on 29 minutes through a Giroud header, as the France targetman beat a diving Roberto Jiminez Gago following a pinpoint cross from Ramsey, who had linked up well with Ozil.

The goal seemed to settle a previously stuttering Gunners side, as they became more composed in possession, but French defender Koscielny was on hand to keep proceedings as they were at half-time with a last-ditch block on an Ideye effort.

Frenchman strikes again

In the second period the Gunners made a much brighter start, with sublime individual control and a defence-splitting pass from Campbell teeing Giroud up perfectly to dispatch his second and further Arsenal’s lead in Greece.

Brazilian wingman Seba become frustrated on the right flank for Olympiakos, as central anchormen Luka Milivojevic and Pajtim Kasami failed to have an impact through the middle against an Arsenal side who are 5/2 to lift the Premier League title this term.

Walcott was gifted with a superb chance to secure his side’s third goal of the night in the Olympiakos penalty area, but the England wideman could only direct his attempt wide of the mark.

No Greek revival in Athens

It wasn’t to matter though as in-form Frenchman Giroud clinically dispatched a penalty after an hour played to complete his hat-trick, after Nacho Monreal’s cross had struck Norwegian defender Omar Elabdellaoui’s hand in the box.

The home crowd had been almost deafening beforehand, but Giroud’s treble silenced Olympiakos’ previously rapturous support as they knew three goals were required at this point to pip Arsenal to progression from a tight group.

No such miraculous recovery was found in the dying minutes though, as Wenger’s battling Gunners reached the Champions League knockout stage for a 16th successive season.

Related

Read our Champions League archive.