Olympiacos 0-3 Arsenal: 5 Talking Points

Striker Olivier Giroud’s hattrick inspired Arsenal to an improbable 3-0 win over Greek side Olympiacos in Piraeus on Wednesday night. The win against the home side meant that Arsenal qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League as the second placed team from Group F at the expense of the Greeks.Joel Campbell, along with Giroud, was the other main performer for the visitors on a tough assignment. Arsenal had previously lost on all its visits to Olympiacos in the Champions League. Needing a win by a margin of two goals in an away game was a daunting task for the Gunners, but Arsene Wenger’s team produced one of their best performances to get the much needed win. The loss to Arsenal, however, leads Olympiakos to the Europa League as the third placed team from the group.Let’s analyse the major talking points from Arsenal’s famous victory at Olympiacos:

#1 Hat-trick hero Giroud answers critics

Giroud could not have chosen a better time to record his first ever Arsenal hat-trick

Olivier Giroud scored his first hat-trick in an Arsenal shirt since joining the club in 2012. The French striker has been in the form of his life this season at Arsenal, having scored 13 goals in all competitions so far. Giroud has always been criticized by a section of the Arsenal fans for not being the prolific striker they need.

But with performances like this one, Giroud has been answering all his critics. Scoring in a do-or-die game is a huge boost for a player, and scoring three would come as an even bigger confidence-booster to the 29-year old striker.

Giroud led the line with distinction against the hosts, having endured a chequered history previously in Europe's flagship competition with the Gunners. Giroud opened the scoring with a near-post header shortly before the half-hour mark. He doubled his tally with the crucial second goal early in the second half, getting on the end of Joel Campbell's excellent pass to slot home.

Midway through the second period, Omar Elabdellaoui was perhaps harshly penalised for handling Nacho Monreal's shot, and Giroud coolly converted the spot-kick for his first Arsenal hat-trick in his three and half years at the club. His three goals were enough to see off the threat of Olympiacos.

#2 Olympiacos drop to the Europa League

Marco Silva’s men will be disappointed with not grabbing the opportunity they had to make it to the next round

Despite their victory at the Emirates, Olympiakos had not been given too much credit in England before the game. But when they entered their arena on Wednesday night, they had entered it having won all games barring two in all competitions this season – the home and away Champions League ties against Bayern Munich, which they lost.

With the writing on the wall for the away side loud and clear, it was evident from the outset that it would be a tense occasion and, also, that Arsenal would have to work extremely hard to take the sting out of the crowd. Even from before the warm-up, the Olympiakos die-hards beat their drums and shouted their anthems.

The atmosphere at Stadio Georgios Karaiskáki is one of the best in European football. Their team, being roared on by the vociferous home support, had made the brighter start and the first serious effort on goal arrived in the 20th minute when Seba fired narrowly off target from the edge of the box.

Chances fell to many of the Olympiacos players throughout the game. However, the decisiveness required to succeed was missing. Kostas Fortounis did sting the palms of Petr Cech before Per Mertesacker's superb block denied Ideye a goal.

But with Giroud’s hat-trick, Olympiacos were left with a tough task, needing three goals to progress, a task that proved well beyond Marco Silva's side, who must now console themselves with a place in the Europa League.

#3 Arsenal show their mettle yet again

Arsenal displayed exceptional spirit to qualify for the knockout stages against the odds

Over the past few seasons, Arsenal have garnered a habit of producing heroic comebacks on Europe's biggest stage. In the 2012-13 season, they were 3-1 down after the first leg of their last-16 tie against Bayern Munich. No one expected them to make a game of it in Bavaria, but they won 2-0 to bow out with their heads held high.

Last season was a carbon copy. A 3-1 defeat at home against Monaco, followed by a 2-0 win, and spending the rest of the season wondering what might have been. Going into the game against Olympiacos, it had that feel about it. Arsenal started the game slowly, but as the game progressed, they showed the Greek crowd why they are called one of the most attractive teams in world football, along with Barcelona of course.

Before the game, there was anticipation as to whether the Gunners will be able to do or it. But, many were expecting Arsenal to falter, like they have done in the past, or at least, get a brave victory on the night, but still go out of the Champions League.

However, things turned out differently – Giroud and co. smashed that theory out of the park with some emphasis, and produced some wonderful football on the night. They will be hoping to finally get over the last-16 hurdle this time around after five consecutive exits in the first knockout round. Their

#4 Olympiacos were strangely bogged down as game progressed

The hosts succumbed to a 3-0 defeat despite making a bright start to the game

The fairly inexperienced Olympiacos side entangled themselves in the middle of the game when Olivier Giroud scored his first goal of the game near the half hour mark. The hosts had settled the quicker and they pressed on to the attack. Their determination to make something happen early on crossed the line when their playmaker, Fortounis, threw himself into a lamentable dive under a non-challenge from Theo Walcott inside the area. He was booked.

Olympiacos' response was strong after going behind to Giroud’s header as Laurent Koscielny had to divert Felipe Pardo's dangerous cross away from the lurking Brown Ideye. But throughout the game, Olympiakos made progress up the flanks, in behind the Arsenal full-backs, and there were a few nervous moments for the visitors, although they ceded nothing of truly clear-cut note.

At 2-0 down Olympiacos knew one goal would see them advance at Arsenal's expense, and Kostas Fortounis stung the palms of Petr Cech before Per Mertesacker's superb block denied Ideye. Just when it seemed the hosts were regaining a foothold in the game, Elabdellaoui threw himself at Monreal's effort, which cannoned into his arm. Referee Nicola Rizzoli pointed to the spot and Giroud made no mistake, sending Roberto the wrong way from 12 yards.That left Olympiacos needing three goals to progress, it was well beyond their reach. Giving away possession in the first half, and not pressing in the second was the reason for Olympiacos giving Arsenal the chances to win the game.

#5 Joel Campbell proving his worth

Campbell looks to have finally come to grips with Arsenal’s playing style

When selecting his team, Arsene Wenger knew his side needed two goals at the least to go through, he picked just about as an attacking team as his lengthy injury list allowed. Olivier Giroud was always going to lead the line, but was flanked by bonafide attackers in Joel Campbell and Theo Walcott, and had one of the best passers in the game behind him in Mesut Ozil.

The Arsenal manager had recently stated he had ‘smelt something’ different about Joel Campbell lately and he might just be right. On the night, Campbell was calm and assured in attack and played a killer pass to grab an assist for Giroud’s crucial second. He was very energetic, and his switch early one from the right wing to the left wing proved to change the dimension of the game.

Olympiacos was dominating when Walcott played through the left wing, but with Walcott and Campbell swapping places, Costa Rican’s defensive abilities were there for all to see.

He has thanks to give to Olympiakos for the experience he gained on loan there and was applauded off by two sets of fans who appreciated how much he has grown. He was the stand out Costa Rican at the 2014 World Cup, but that was in a very different counter-attacking team. He looks to finally be adapting to an Arsenal side that play a vastly contrasting style of football and his was an impressive all-round display. And Arsenal need him.