Morning:
6°c
Arsenal 2
Olympiakos 0
When any player stands puffing out his cheeks with his hands on his knees while looking longingly at the bench, it is probably time for the manager to haul him off but Andrey Arshavin is not just any player.
The Russian looked to be feeling the strain more than most as Arsenal fluffed their lines time and again in front of goal as Olympiakos collectively stood, punch drunk, waiting for the knock-out blow.
He had been majestic in the Gunners' relentless assault on their beleaguered opponents, probing in possession and creative in his movement but with 76 minutes played, Arshavin came over for a drink and a conversation with Arsene Wenger.
It appeared he would make way with Carlos Vela's arrival imminent, yet instead he was switched into a central role as Wenger revealed the importance of a playmaker he pursued so doggedly in January's transfer window.
After all, these were exactly the challenges for which his flair and ingenuity were sought to help negotiate defensive-minded opponents whose ambition extends to the odd foray forward and for whom a draw would represent a victory unparalleled.
Ultimately, the visitors' downfall resembled death by a thousand cuts as the pressure eventually told after 78 minutes, with Cesc Fabregas and Eduardo combining for Robin van Persie to roll the ball home from six yards and prompt a collective sigh of relief from the majority of the 59,884 crowd.
Arshavin, on his first start at Emirates Stadium in the Champions League, mustered the energy to score the second himself in the 86th minute with an impudent back-heel, albeit from a palpably offside position.
Wenger said: "When you play against a team who defend with 10 men in their half it is important to have players who can play in a very small space and Arshavin is a specialist at that.
"He was sharp tonight and determined and in these types of games he is always a threat.
"It's difficult to maintain our pace and quality for 90 minutes.
"In the second half our physicality dropped a little and our fluency went a little bit as well."
Arshavin had been at the centre of all that was good for Arsenal and while they clearly had more than enough chances to win the game - UEFA statistics claim Olympiakos goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis made nine saves but it felt like twice as many - there was a lack of width that not even a switch to 4-2-4 could solve.
Wenger rightly argues he has plenty of options in wide areas but only the absent Theo Walcott could realistically be classed as a traditional winger.
Arshavin, Rosicky, Vela, Samir Nasri and even Jack Wilshere all like to drift infield, while Eduardo and Nicklas Bendtner prefer central roles as dictated by their natural striker's instincts.
That can create a bottleneck in the final third but whereas better opposition may take advantage, the Greeks were simply dazzled by some mesmeric football at times that only lacked an end product.
Wenger said: "I always had hope but it's true that we played 4-2-4 at one stage and that is always a gamble as you can be caught on the break.
"We kept composure and kept going. We always played with a desire to keep the discipline in the team and that is satisfying. We didn't do anything crazy."
Profligacy in front of goal has become an Arsenal trademark but they got the job done and that argument can wait for another day.
The positives here were numerous, not least in the performance of captain Fabregas, who enjoyed his best 90 minutes this season by some distance.
Given the players absent through injury and the quality Arsenal produced at times, it is easy to become seduced by Wenger's insistence the squad needs no addition.
Nagging doubts remain about the depth of back-up in defence and central midfield but Walcott came through a 60-minute practice match against Olympiakos Under-20's unscathed - Arsenal's youngsters won 3-1 - and is set to add to Wenger's attacking options for Sunday's visit of Blackburn.
"When you look at the players who did not play last night, you see why we are not desperate to buy players," said the Frenchman.
"Now the club have announced good financial results, people want me to splash it out straight away.
"At the moment, however, the window is closed. Even if you want to buy the players at Waitrose, you cannot. There's no supermarket."
Arshavin's arrival from Zenit St Petersburg was a protracted affair but it's clear to see why Wenger waited so long at the checkout.
