Arsenal scores twice while AZ Draws in Holland

Arsenal FC 2-0 Olympiacos FC

Arsenal FC left it late again as two goals in the last 12 minutes from Robin van Persie and Andrei Arshavin finally ended the resolve of Olympiacos FC, and goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis in particular.

Late joy
The home side dominated throughout in north London but for the second UEFA Champions League outing in succession they left it late. A fortnight ago Eduardo struck an 81st-minute winner to down R. Standard de Liège and it was almost as late when Van Persie at last broke through. Andrei Arshavin put the result beyond doubt four minutes from time when he flicked a clever back-heel past the embattled Nikopolidis to leave Arsenal three points clear in Group H.

Cautious start
The Gunners made a vigilant start but slowly began probing the Greek defence and carved out their first chance after 14 minutes following Cesc Fàbregas' long cross-field pass to Gaël Clichy. The French defender surged in from the left flank and his cut-back was met by a low first-time shot from Arshavin which Nikopolidis got down well to save. It was a sign of things to come, the home team's early patience making way for increasing impatience.

Arsenal pressure
Fàbregas hit the crossbar with a shot on the bounce and Tomáš Rosický's angled follow-up was parried by the Greek goalkeeper, who needed another a smart save to deny Arshavin at the near post a few minutes later. Still the hosts came and Fàbregas should have done better than direct his effort into the waiting arms of Nikopolidis when found in space.

Greek threat
If the momentum was all one way, there was a warning for the home side late in the half when Vassilis Torosidis was given a free header, albeit from 15 metres out, which caused Vito Mannone little problem. Another warning followed soon after the break when former Aston Villa FC defender Olof Mellberg, scorer of the first ever goal at this stadium, sent in a close-range header which Arsenal's defence bundled away.

Van Persie chance
Whether or not they sensed a threat, the home fans started to find their voice and were nearly on their feet when Van Persie was teed up on the edge of the area but the Dutch striker slammed his left-footed effort straight at the magnetic Nikopolidis. Thomas Vermaelen fared no better with a far-post header from a Van Persie free-kick on the hour as Olympiacos continued to soak up the pressure.

Deadlock broken
Arsène Wenger had seen enough, Rosický making way for Eduardo as he sought to inject fresh bite into Arsenal's attack. The well-drilled Olympiacos defence, working in numbers, ensured the status quo so with 13 minutes Wenger added yet another forward into the mix in the shape of Carlos Vela. A minute later Van Persie broke the deadlock, steering in from close range after Eduardo had cut the ball back following a defence-splitting pass by Fàbregas. The Arsenal captain then set up Arshavin to set the seal on another late win.

AZ Alkmaar 1-1 R. Standard de Liège

AZ Alkmaar's hopes of a historic first UEFA Champions League win were dashed at the death at the DSB-Stadium where Moussa Traore conjured up a 91st-minute equaliser for R. Standard de Liège.

Late twist
The home side had looked set to claim three Group H points as reward for a largely dominant display, which had been capped by Mounir El Hamdaoui's rolled finish after 48 minutes. It was at the other extreme of the second half that the noisy celebrations of the Alkmaar fans were silenced, though – substitute Traore getting on the end of a hopefully punted free-kick into the AZ penalty area. The draw left both teams on one point after the first two matchdays of their debut campaigns in the UEFA Champions League.

Territorial advantage
The first chance of note had come on the quarter-hour, Maarten Martens firing a rising shot from just outside the box that Standard keeper Sinan Bolat turned behind for a corner. The game was being played mainly in the Belgian champions' half, but despite their territorial advantage AZ created few clear openings. In contrast, the visitors posed a threat on the break when Dieudonné Mbokani's attempt was deflected narrowly wide with AZ keeper Sergio Romero stranded.

Pressure rises
Minutes later it was the hosts who almost broke the deadlock, but El Hamdaoui's header from a Gill Swerts cross was tipped over by Bolat. Moussa Dembélé then cleverly made space for a low effort which he pulled wide from 20 metres. The same Alkmaar forward also volleyed El Hamdaoui's centre over the woodwork from close range as Ronald Koeman's Dutch titleholders upped the pressure. Standard must have been relieved to hear the half-time whistle.

On target
After the restart AZ continued where they had left off, keeping Standard on the back foot, and the results were immediate. Brett Holman released El Hamdaoui inside the area, and last season's Eredivisie top scorer rolled the ball past Bolat and into the corner of the net. Moments later he nearly doubled his tally, yet this time Standard's keeper prevailed in the one-on-one.

Standard response
AZ were now in full flow, combining effectively, and constantly looking to carve out opportunities. In response, Standard made two substitutions in quick succession, bringing on Landry Mulemo and Igor De Camargo for Ricardo Rocha and Mohamed Sarr, and they began to risk more in attack. This adventurous approach might have paid dividends after 68 minutes when Mehdi Carcela-González's swerving drive was palmed over by Romero.

Equaliser
Standard's spell of greater endeavour did not last, as the game slipped back into a pattern of forceful AZ advances, which suggested the Eredivisie outfit would hold on for a famous win on their home debut in the group stage. That, however, was counting without the belated impact of visiting coach László Bölöni's third change – the introduction of Sarr for Wilfried Dalmat. The former was in the right place, one minute into stoppage time, to turn in the loose ball after first Alkmaar defender Héctor Moreno, then Axel Witsel, had flicked on a free-kick pumped forward by Bolat.