Arsenal needed a pair of late goals to secure a 3-1 victory over a resilient Olympiakos side in their Europa League round of 16, first-leg tie in Greece.

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Arsenal took the lead on 34 minutes when Real Madrid loanee Martin Odegaard scored an absolute screamer from long range to open his Gunners account to stake the visitors to a half-time lead.

The teams were back on level terms shortly before the hour mark after a poor Dani Ceballos giveaway allowed Youssef El Arabi to pick up the ball and shoot past Bernd Leno from distance to make it 1-1.

Hector Bellerin made a last-gasp intervention which denied El Arabi a second goal and it turned out to be a pivotal moment as Arsenal finished strongly.

Arsenal's Gabriel climbed the ladder to head a corner kick back over Olympiakos' Jose Sa and into the netting at the far post to give Mikel Arteta's team the lead again.

Then substitute Mohamed Elneny scored a stunner of his own just after coming off the bench with a blasted, swerving shot from well outside the penalty area to secure the win and give his team a decided advantage with three away goals in the first leg.

The two teams will meet for the decisive second leg in London next Thursday.