Patience pays off as Wenger vows not to spend big
The Gunners’ parent company this week announced healthy financial figures, with a record £35million profit and the board indicated there was plenty of money available for the manager should he wish to invest further in the squad when the transfer window opens in January.
However, Wenger firmly believes in the quality he already has — with late goals from Robin van Persie and Andrey Arshavin finally ending the stubborn resistance of the Greek champions, who had goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis to thank for preventing Arsenal chalking up a big score in a one-sided contest.
“We got very young players, and they make their name here,” said Wenger, who will later this week become the longest-serving manager in the history of the club.
“Robin is now a big name, he was less a big name when he arrived.
“When you look at the players who did not play tonight, you can see why we are not desperate.”
Wenger felt Arshavin — who arrived from Zenit St Petersburg in a £15m deal during January this year — helped make the difference.
“When you play against 10 men in one half, it is very important to have players who can play in a very short space, and Arshavin is a specialist in that,” he said.
“He was sharp and determined. In this type of game, he is always a threat.”
Wenger was full of praise for the way in which his side battled on despite the frustrations of not finding a way to break down the Greek defence.
“We had a great first half, with outstanding quality, but unfortunately we could not take advantage.
“Then you know it is difficult to maintain that pace and quality for 90 minutes. In the second half, we dropped a bit physically and our fluency went a bit as well.
“Then it is about not making a mistake, digging deep and hoping they die a bit more than us in the last 20 minutes and that is what happened,
“We dominated this team from the first to the last minute, but there were well organised and disciplined.
“They waited for us, are very strong on pieces. We were wobbling a bit on one or two and maybe they hope for that. But maybe because we did not allow them to come out, that they did not come out.”
Wenger added: “We keep our composure and kept going. We played with a desire to keep the discipline in the team. We did not do anything crazy. I always felt we could score.
“We have matured and a game like this shows just that.”
Arsenal have now taken control of Group H, with maximum points from both matches.
However, Wenger is not taking anything for granted.
“You go anywhere in Europe now and it is a difficult game. You can see that from the results tonight,” Wenger said.
“To win at that level without conceding a goal is fantastic.”
Olympiacos manager Zico, the former Brazil player, felt his side paid the price for too many recent games.
“We would have liked to have left with better result, but Arsenal are one of best teams at the moment,” he said.
“But our fifth game in less than 15 days affected our performance in the last 10 minutes.”
Zico added: “It was not just us sitting back and not playing.
“We went forward, but could not get any passing going and suffered from Arsenal’s way of playing.”
The Olympiacos boss, however, was less than impressed with the way Arshavin’s goal, which had more than a hint of offside, was allowed to stand, noting a “lack of sensitivity” in having all French match officials — the same nationality as Gunners boss Wenger and many of his side.
“I don’t think they were biased. We always hope it is a mistake, like in the Arsenal match against Standard where it was a handball,” the Brazilian said.
Subs for Arsenal: Eduardo for Rosicky, 67; Vela for Diaby, 77; Ramsey for van Persie, 85.
Subs for Olympiacos: Stoltidis for Zairi, 46; Mitroglou for Ledesma, 79; Gonzalez for Leonardo, 82.
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