Arsenal secured a 2-0 victory over Olympiacos Piraeus in their UEFA Champions League clash at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night, but it was a quiet evening for Nigeria’s Bruno Onyemaechi and Nigeria-eligible midfielder Ethan Nwaneri, who both watched from the bench.
The teenage midfielder Nwaneri, regarded as one of the brightest prospects in Mikel Arteta’s squad, was listed among the substitutes but was not introduced into the game as the Gunners collected three crucial points.
On the opposite side, Super Eagles left-back Onyemaechi was also an unused substitute for Olympiacos. Since completing his switch from Portuguese club Boavista during the January transfer window, the 26-year-old defender has struggled for regular minutes. Argentine full-back Francisco Ortega has consistently been preferred in the starting line-up.
Arsenal took control early in the encounter when Gabriel Martinelli pounced on a rebound in the 12th minute to give the hosts the lead. The Premier League side sealed the result deep into stoppage time through Bukayo Saka, who showed composure with a fine finish.
The win leaves Arsenal well positioned in their Champions League group, while Olympiacos face further questions over their attacking and defensive depth. For Onyemaechi, the coming fixtures will be critical as he looks to earn more opportunities on the pitch.
“Competition is high, and I must keep working hard to get my chance,” Onyemaechi recently said about his battle for playing time.
