Arsenal leave it late

Robin van Persie and Andrei Arshavin struck late on to give Arsenal a 2-0 victory over Olympiakos Piraeus in Champions League Group H on Tuesday after some heroics by visiting keeper Antonis Nikopolidis. Dutchman Van Persie, who for most of the night...

Robin van Persie and Andrei Arshavin struck late on to give Arsenal a 2-0 victory over Olympiakos Piraeus in Champions League Group H on Tuesday after some heroics by visiting keeper Antonis Nikopolidis.

Dutchman Van Persie, who for most of the night was locked in a personal duel with the grey-haired stopper, finally broke the deadlock with 12 minutes to go, converting a low cross from substitute Eduardo.

Arshavin then put a realistic gloss on the scoreline with a tap-in second despite appearing to be slightly offside as Arsenal moved clear at the top of the group.

Defeat for Olympiakos means they have now lost all nine of their matches away to English clubs in Europe.

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