AN ancient Greek stood defiantly between Arsenal and a Champions League goal-fest last night.
Grey-haired Olympiakos keeper Antonis Nikopolidis, 38, crumbled only in the final 12 minutes as Robin van Persie slotted home and then Andrey Arshavin backheeled a second.
But, for so long, Nikopolidis was as rock-solid as the Acropolis - making a string of brilliant saves to deny the Gunners, who feared they would never break him down.
Nikopolidis was a national hero for Greece in their amazing Euro 2004 triumph, which came against all the odds.
He looks about 68 rather than 38 but proved he still has the agility to keep the best at bay.
And while Arsenal have six points from their first two games in this competition, both have been a struggle.
In their opener away to Standard Liege, they were two down in the first five minutes before coming back to win 3-2.
This was another perplexing night.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger turns 60 next month and it is performances like this which have turned him as grey as Nikopolidis.
He chose to sell Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City, getting rid of a trouble-maker and making a big wedge in return.
But he has lost a clinical finisher in the process, without replacing him even though there is £50million available to spend if he wants it.
Arsenal had 19 shots on goal with 11 on target - and a couple in the net late on was a paltry return for their dominance.
The first 45 minutes were a nonsense.
The Greek champions barely got out of their own half and Arsenal kept setting up chances without putting them away.
It was a failing boss Arsene Wenger alluded to in the build-up and it was in stark focus here.
It was clear Nikopolidis was going to have a busy night and he got down superbly to his left to keep out Arshavin's side-footed effort.
Then Cesc Fabregas volleyed against the bar, while Tomas Rosicky's follow-up was beaten away by the keeper.
Olympiakos centre-back Olof Mellberg is in the history books for being the first player to score at the Emirates when he was an Aston Villa player. But he was turned dizzy by the Arsenal onslaught.
He was not helped by the inept performance of left-back Raul Bravo.
Leeds fans will remember him without much affection for an inglorious spell at Elland Road six years ago.
The Spaniard was beaten all ends up by Arshavin, only for the Russian's near-post effort to be pushed away by the overworked Nikopolidis.
Fabregas hit a 12-yard shot straight at the keeper when he had time to find the corner.
Then Abou Diaby completely missed his header at a corner when any sort of connection would have produced a goal.
Van Persie then embarrassed Raul Bravo - beating him three times for a bit of fun - but the Dutchman's strike was easily held by Nikopolidis.
Olympiakos boss Zico, the Brazilian legend, was not finding it easy viewing.
He looked agitated on the touchline, wiping the sweat from his brow and screaming instructions.
His half-time team-talk certainly had some effect though because Olympiakos came out in more determined mood and for five minutes had Arsenal on the back foot.
In fact, when Mellberg headed goalwards, it needed the outstretched left hand of Vito Mannone to push it away.
Van Persie was getting frustrated and when another shot was blocked by the goalkeeper extraordinaire, he lunged for the loose ball, giving Michal Zewlakow a nasty crack on the ankle.
Nikopolidis again denied Van Persie on the angle and got up to foil William Gallas too - although the Frenchman had been flagged offside.
Then the inspired stopper flew to his right to keep out a Diaby header.
But, on 78 minutes, a goal at last. as Fabregas cleverly picked out Eduardo and the Croatian's ball across the six-yard box was slotted in by Van Persie.
Arshavin made sure four minutes from time, cheekily backheeling No 2, despite being clearly offside.
It was a relief for Wenger, as was the news that winger Theo Walcott - out since June with a back problem - came through an hour of a specially-arranged practice game with the Greeks' reserves.
