Odegaard strikes as Arsenal earn 3-1 win at Olympiakos
Football
By
Reuters
| Mar 12, 2021
Martin Odegaard scored his first goal for Arsenal and Gabriel and Mohamed Elneny were also on target to give the English side a 3-1 win at Olympiakos in the first leg of their Europa League round of 16 tie on Thursday.
Odegaard, who joined Arsenal on loan from Real Madrid in January, fired the visitors ahead with a 34th-minute strike from 25 metres before Youssef El Arabi equalised for the Greek team in the 58th minute.
Arsenal looked rattled after conceding a soft goal but Brazilian defender Gabriel restored their lead with a looping header and substitute Elneny sealed the win with a long-range shot.
Arsenal dominated the opening half and missed several chances, with Odegaard dragging a shot wide from a good position before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit the crossbar with a deflected header.
Norway midfielder Odegaard struck out of the blue when he picked up the ball on the right flank and unleashed a thunderbolt through the hands of goalkeeper Jose Sa who should have done better.
READ MORE
Kenya to host Africa urban forum next month
Informal livestock trade continues to hurt Africa's pastoral economies
Why property buyers are seeking higher grounds
Inside Watamu's developments spurring beach tourism
KCB unveils record Sh22 billion dividend payout as profit surges
Stima Sacco reports Sh10.8b revenue on increased digital transactions
Stanbic profit flattens at Sh13.7 billion as South Sudan subsidiary recovers
New Nation Media Group owner vows to safeguard editorial independence
Top 10 countries account for 79pc of planned rooms
Oil jumps, stocks drop as Mideast war prolongs market volatility
El Arabi took advantage of sloppy defending as Hector Bellerin gave the ball away and with goalkeeper Bernd Leno stranded, the Moroccan striker scored with a clinical finish.
Bellerin made amends with a last-gasp intervention which denied El Arabi a second goal and it turned out to be a pivotal moment as Arsenal finished strongly.
Gabriel put the visitors back in front when he rose superbly to meet Willian's cross from the right in the 79th minute before Elneny put the icing on the cake with a swerving drive five minutes from time.