Esteban
Cambiasso's experience combined with the unflagging energy of Pajtim
Kasami and Kostas Fortounis provided the midfield platform upon which
Olympiacos constructed their outstanding 3-2 victory at Emirate.
It
is three and a half years since Cambiasso last played in the UEFA
Champions League, but it was like he had never left Europe's biggest
stage. Arms outstretched, shouting instructions, he made the space in
front of the Olympiacos back four his own.
On the ball, Olympiacos attacked with pace, without it, they retreated into a compact, defensive shell with Cambiasso directing proceedings. When Arsenal's attacks broke down, Kasami and Fortounis were willing runners, breaking with speed and guile that ultimately proved too much for Arsenal.
"From the first moment he joined Olympiacos he was a great influence on every one of us," Fortounis said of Cambiasso, a UEFA Champions League winner with Inter Milan in 2010. "He helps us a lot with his personality and character in the game. We know what a great player and man he is."
That character rubs off on his team-mates. Given Olympiacos had lost each of their previous 12 games in England, their confidence here was remarkable. Twice they gave away the lead, but they never lost belief. This paid off when, 59 seconds after Alexis Sànchez scored Arsenal's second equalising goal, Alfred Finnbogason stroked in the winner. Team spirit had won through, said Fortounis.
"I
believe this was the key to the match," the 22-year-old told UEFA.com.
"Every time Arsenal scored we were there and we answered with a goal of
our own. This took away from Arsenal the opportunity to react. Even
though they put a lot of pressure on us we reacted very well. We showed
what a great team we are and this is what led us to victory."
Some generous Arsenal defending played its part too, but take nothing away from Olympiacos; as the music blared out of their changing room after the match, it was clear the party had just begun.
"In this kind of game we work a lot on the counterattack. We had a good attacking option and I went for the first post," Fingabosson said of his goal. "I am combining well with Pardo in training and in games. He gave me a good ball and I just had to steer it in.
"It shows a lot. It is not an easy task to come here and get three points. We have had a very, very bad [away] record in Europe up until now and we are very delighted to be rewriting the history of Olympiacos by winning their first game in England."
The key now is to press home that advantage against Dinamo Zagreb. "It was a great victory for us away from home," said Fortounis. "It made us all very happy. All we have to do now is look to the next match – nothing more." For the joyous 3,000 Olympiacos fans celebrating a famous win in north London, it cannot come soon enough.
On the ball, Olympiacos attacked with pace, without it, they retreated into a compact, defensive shell with Cambiasso directing proceedings. When Arsenal's attacks broke down, Kasami and Fortounis were willing runners, breaking with speed and guile that ultimately proved too much for Arsenal.
"From the first moment he joined Olympiacos he was a great influence on every one of us," Fortounis said of Cambiasso, a UEFA Champions League winner with Inter Milan in 2010. "He helps us a lot with his personality and character in the game. We know what a great player and man he is."
That character rubs off on his team-mates. Given Olympiacos had lost each of their previous 12 games in England, their confidence here was remarkable. Twice they gave away the lead, but they never lost belief. This paid off when, 59 seconds after Alexis Sànchez scored Arsenal's second equalising goal, Alfred Finnbogason stroked in the winner. Team spirit had won through, said Fortounis.
Esteban Cambiasso inspired his side
Some generous Arsenal defending played its part too, but take nothing away from Olympiacos; as the music blared out of their changing room after the match, it was clear the party had just begun.
"In this kind of game we work a lot on the counterattack. We had a good attacking option and I went for the first post," Fingabosson said of his goal. "I am combining well with Pardo in training and in games. He gave me a good ball and I just had to steer it in.
"It shows a lot. It is not an easy task to come here and get three points. We have had a very, very bad [away] record in Europe up until now and we are very delighted to be rewriting the history of Olympiacos by winning their first game in England."
The key now is to press home that advantage against Dinamo Zagreb. "It was a great victory for us away from home," said Fortounis. "It made us all very happy. All we have to do now is look to the next match – nothing more." For the joyous 3,000 Olympiacos fans celebrating a famous win in north London, it cannot come soon enough.
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