Mikel Arteta

ARSENAL continued their impressive start to the season with a professional 2-0 win over Olympiacos in the Champions League.

Goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Buakyo Saka at polar ends of the game ensured the Gunners made it two wins from two in Europe.

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Martinelli made the most of some fortune after just 12 minutes as he tapped in the ball following a rebound off the post which presented itself to him basically on the line.

The Greek visitors threatened to create their own odyssey in north London as they forced David Raya into an excellent save at full stretch.

But super sub Saka proved to be their Achilles’ heel as he squeezed a second goal through the legs of Konstantinos Tzolakis in injury time.

Here’s how SunSport’s Jordan Davies rated the Gunners at the Emirates.

DAVID RAYA – 8/10

Another Champions League wonder save for the collection, tipping over brilliantly from Daniel Podence’s curled volley from 10 yards out in the first half.

Also made two lightning-fast reaction stops after the break. He barely has to do anything, but when called upon he never lets you down. Surely he needs to be considered one of Europe’s very best?

MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY – 7

Looked like a man with a point to prove and did so with a confident performance for a teenager who has been forced to watch from the sidelines for most of this term with Riccardo Calafiori preferred at left-back.

At 18, he already looks so at home on the European stage. Arteta will have a selection headache on his hands for this weekend.

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WILLIAM SALIBA – 6

Has been in the spotlight after signing a new five-year deal, but had a few nervy moments at the back letting long balls bounce, putting the back four under pressure.

Yet as he always does, the Frenchman recovered well.

GABRIEL – 6

Not troubled much but was almost caught out with a looping cross that saw Olympiacos level only to be saved by the offside flag.

BEN WHITE – 5

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Received a rollocking from Arteta when taking a throw-in about his positioning and movement on the ball, and the Englishman gave some back in a worrying exchange.

This was a chance to try and usurp Timber as Arteta’s first-choice right-back, but he just looks off the pace and is reliant on right-side pal Saka to look good in attack.

At this rate, White will not be winning back his starting jersey any time soon.

MARTIN ZUBIMENDI – 7

He may be small, and a pest, but his influence is mighty. There is a reason Arteta barely ever rests him.

Tough in the tackle, accurate on the ball and the middle-man between defence and attack, giving Odegaard license to roam and dictate wherever he pleases.

It’s been said before, but he will turn out to be one of Arteta’s most important signings in his Arsenal tenure.

MIKEL MERINO – 6

Some good moments on and off the ball, adding a bit of bite to midfield, but also some moments where his final pass or attacking intent could have been better.

MARTIN ODEGAARD – 9

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Has his zip back, constantly creating in dangerous areas and covering every blade of grass with a purpose.

So unlucky not to double Arsenal’s lead inside the final 10 minutes and then picked up an assist for Saka in stoppage time.

Some more minutes in the tank after his shoulder issues is good to see as Arteta tries to get him back to the form that saw him notch goals and assists for fun in recent years.

GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 8

After shining off the bench for the majority of the season – starting just three times so far – he got his chance from the off to prove he can be the main man.

It did not start brilliantly, nodding a header wide unmarked from a few yards out before finding the net with an even easier chance that came off the post.

LEANDRO TROSSARD – 7

Lively down the left. Looks to be enjoying getting more regular game time in an Arsenal shirt, and is becoming more and more useful to Arteta as he tries to rotate his talented squad much more than he usually does.

Wasted a few openings in the second half.

VIKTOR GYOKERES – 6

He continues to do the dirty work with little reward, bumping off two Olympiacos defenders and seeing his shot go through the keeper and onto the base of the post before Martinelli snatched the spoils.

Wasted several chances in front of goal but his link-up play has much improved since he first joined. The goals will surely start flowing soon…

SUBS:

DECLAN RICE (MERINO, 58) – 6

A few nice deliveries from set-pieces but booked for a silly studs-up challenge. Brought on purely to see out the win, and he did that comfortably.

JURRIEN TIMBER (WHITE, 58) – 6

One of Arteta’s most trusted players. Exudes calmness whenever he is on the pitch.

BUKAYO SAKA (TROSSARD, 72) – 8

An instant threat and his driving run and cross should have led to Arsenal’s second before doing just that with a drilled strike through the legs of the keeper

EBERECHI EZE (MARTINELLI, 72) – 6

A few nice touches, but also a few stray passes. Spent most of his time tracking back as Arsenal held on late into the game.

MOSQUERA (GABRIEL, 74) – 6

Was put under a lot of pressure with Olympiacos sending cross after cross into the box with time ticking away, but dealt with it well.

He needed that after his mistake at St James’ Park led to Newcastle taking the lead, and also led to him being hooked at half time.

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VIKTOR GYOKERES’ penalty should not have been overturned. The Arsenal forward went through on goal and was fouled by Nick Pope.

Newcastle goalkeeper Pope got a touch on the ball but he did not win the ball. The touch does not negate the award of a penalty.

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Why did VAR get involved? It was not a clear and obvious error from referee Jarred Gillett. The on-field decision should have stood.

Gyokeres played it onto Pope, that is how he got the touch and then there is a late challenge and brings him down.

How many times do you see a foul given for a player that wins the ball and follows through?

The touch does not mean it is not a penalty. VAR should not have got involved.

We saw this last season at Brighton when William Saliba was adjudged to have committed a foul on Joao Pedro after he headed the ball.

Newcastle then wanted a penalty of their own late on after Anthony Elanga’s cross struck Gabriel’s arm inside the box.

But Gillett got this right. It was not a penalty.

It was a blocked tackle, it came back off Elanga and hit Gabriel’s arm, which was in a natural position.

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When you go to ground, where else can your arm go? Your arm has got to be in the air.

And look at the pace of the ball and the close proximity.

I would have been amazed if Gillett would have recommended a review.

DECLAN RICE was rewarded for his brutal shift as Arsenal battled back to beat Newcastle.

However, Cristhian Mosquera failed to make the most of his chance after he was thrust into the starting XI alongside Gabriel Magalhaes.

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Arsenal were stunned in the first half after falling behind after a Nick Woltemade header in the 34th minute.

Mikel Arteta‘s side had dominated much of the first half and were denied a penalty by a VAR decision.

The visitors avoided defeat as Mikel Merino was the hero, nodding in an equaliser in the 84th minute.

The turnaround was complete as Gabriel scored in the winner in the dying seconds of the match.

Scroll down to see how SunSport’s Gary Stonehouse rated the Arsenal players’ performances…

DAVID RAYA – 6

Had very little to do and was let down by Gabriel for the goal.

Swept up well when needed.

JURRIEN TIMBER – 8

Strong performance from the Dutchman up against Anthony Gordon and he wasn’t found wanting once the game turned into a physical battle.

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Should have done better with a header when presented with a great chance to equalise but a strong performance from the full-back.

CRISTHIAN MOSQUERA – 4

His mis-kick gifted Newcastle the corner that led to their opener and he didn’t recover.

Struggled once the game turned into a scrap and by half-time his manager had seen enough as he was replaced by William Saliba.

GABRIEL – 6

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Looked rattled up against Woltemade and his weak attempt to buy a foul allowed the German to nod home.

His head had gone after that and he was fortunate when no VAR check caught his swing at Woltemade before the break.

Looked a lot more confident and composed once Saliba joined him in the backline and he put a difficult afternoon behind him by holding off Dan Burn to head home the winner at the death.

RICCARDO CALAFIORI – 6

Marshalled Jacob Murphy well in the first half but offered little going up the other way.

Was fuming when the referee put a stop to him using a towel for a long throw.

Got hooked midway through the second half as the Gunners had to go for it, but not before going into the book for a daft foul.

EBERECHI EZE – 6

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Forced Pope into an early save and unleashed another great strike before the break.

Was a constant threat throughout but he was bought to get goals in these big games and he failed to do that.

MARTIN ZUBIMENDI – 6

Struggled with the pace of the game at times and also failed to provide enough protection defensively, fortunately, he had Rice alongside him to help.

He did produce a fantastic outside of the boot pass to put it on a plate for Timber but that was the highlight of his afternoon.

DECLAN RICE – 8

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Tried his best to make things happen and did brilliantly to track Jacob Murphy and deny him a second.

Covered a lot of ground and got his reward when Merino capitalised on his brilliant cross.

BUKAYO SAKA – 6

Enjoyed a good battle against Dan Burn but the Toon defender just about edged it.

Helped out full-back Timber really well but just wasn’t his day up the other end.

LEANDRO TROSSARD – 6

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Another who tried his best to make something happen but he just couldn’t make it click.

Replaced late on without really causing too much of a threat.

VICTOR GYOKERES – 6

Headed straight at Nick Pope early on and then became the pantomime villain after being denied the penalty.

Rarely had a sniff after that as he struggled against the imposing Malick Thiaw and Sven Botman.

SUBS

WILLIAM SALIBA (for Mosquera, 46) – 7

Helped manage the physicality of Woltemade a lot better than the man he replaced.

The Gunners looked a lot more composed defensively while he was on the pitch.

GABRIEL MARTINELLI (for Saka, 70) – 6

Struggled to really get involved upon his arrival. Had one long-ranger late on but that was about it.

MIKEL MERINO (for Calafiori, 70) – 7

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Injected fresh life into the middle to keep Arsenal’s hopes of a comeback going and produced a great header to equalise. 

MARTIN ODEGAARD (for Zubimendi, 82) – 6

Could see Arsenal’s confidence grow as soon as he got on and he provided the magic for a winner. His brilliant corner was placed perfectly for Gabriel to head home.

MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY (for Trossard, 88) – 5

His pace was a threat during the closing stages but failed to carve open a clear-cut opportunity.

MORE than a few eyebrows were raised at the Emirates when Arsenal’s starting line-up was announced.

In particular the midfield three of Mikel Merino, Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi.

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It was a defensive-minded decision by Arteta to put pressure on City’s Rodri and limit his influence from deep while keeping things tight until he found the courage to fling on his attacking game-changers at the right moment.

It backfired massively.

Those who criticised Arteta for playing not to lose instead of going for the win at Liverpool last month – eventually losing 1-0 – have even more fuel to chuck on the now-blazing fire.

He had a fully-fit Eze on the bench, and yet kept the handbrake on with a safety-first approach. The question remains: does Arteta have the bravery to win a league title?

The sort of midfield that would have been Jose Mourinho-approved, but one that Arteta must NEVER start again in a title-defining game again if Arsenal are to compete for the Prem.

Can you imagine Sir Alex Ferguson, Pep Guardiola or even Arne Slot doing the same? No chance.

That trio had no pace, no drive, no attacking intent – and Arsenal have no hope of glory come May should they combine from the off again.

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MARTINELLI MORE THAN JUST A ‘FINISHER’

MIKEL Arteta made it clear after Arsenal’s Champions League opener just how much it pains him to leave Gabriel Martinelli on the bench.

The Brazilian came on away at Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday night and after 36 seconds he netted before creating another for Leandro Trossard.

It was not enough for Arteta to reward Martinelli with a first start for nearly a month against Manchester City, revealing that he prefers to call his subs “finishers” to give them more meaning and motivation.

But after yet another late goal to snatch points, there is now a dilemma for Arteta: continue using him as a super-sub – or super-finisher – or recall him to that left-winger spot.

Martinelli would admit himself that he has not been in good form over the last 18 months with just 18 goals in all competitions over the past two seasons.

But he is certainly knocking on the door. Is this the start of his North London renaissance?

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EZE SHINING IN GOOD COMPANY

WITH England boss Thomas Tuchel watching on, Eberechi Eze proved why he is so special and belongs on the biggest of stages.

Eze would have been more than frustrated to be left on the bench for this one, desperate to build some momentum in an Arsenal shirt with next summer’s World Cup looming.

But boy did he deliver when he was thrown on at half-time with Mikel Arteta desperate for some magic after playing it safe for the first 45 minutes.

His beautifully-crafted long ball over the top to put in Gabriel Martinelli for a late, late equaliser is exactly why Arteta snatched him from Crystal Palace, lured from the grasps of rivals Tottenham at the last minute.

Once again for large parts, the Gunners struggled to break down a low block, just like they did last season, but Eze is the player with the key to unlock the most stubborn of defences – if he is given the chance.

It cannot be clearer now – Arteta must start Eze as much as possible between now and the end of the campaign if Arsenal are going to claw the Prem title away from Liverpool.

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PEP GUARDIOLA bizarrely KISSED fourth official Craig Pawson during Manchester City’s game with Arsenal.

City were leading 1-0 thanks to Erling Haaland’s ninth-minute opener at the Emirates.

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And Guardiola’s men looked to be heading for the three points as the game entered the final stages.

Maybe City’s legendary manager was feeling too jubilant too early as he grabbed Pawson by the cheek and tried to give him a smooch on the cheek.

Pawson managed to just about swerve the peck but fans were still left absolutely baffled by Guardiola’s moment of madness.

One said: “Have I just seen Pep kiss the ref??”

Another added: “WHAT’S BLUD DOING!”

One asked: “Pep trying to kiss ref??”

Another said: “Did Guardiola just kiss the fourth official?”

Ironically, it was City who kissed their lead goodbye after Gabriel Martinelli levelled the game in injury time.

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