Matt Upson
Former England defender on BBC's Football Daily

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I think it's huge - away from home in the Champions League. I think Woltemade as well, I am very pleased for him, coming into that role given what the rumblings and surroundings of that over the summer was very difficult, and to come in and score some goals and to be focal like he has been, I think it's been a big boost for Newcastle and him personally.

Chris Sutton
Former Premier League Striker on BBC's Football Daily

We all know what happened in the summer and the Alexander Isak issue. Newcastle have struggled for goals in the Premier League, Woltemade has come in, and he is getting up and running, so it is encouraging signs, and it's a good win for them.

I thought it would be a tricky game for them, but I was proven wrong. Union Saint-Gilloise have proven themselves to be a well-organised outfit. But to win as emphatically as they did do, it would do them a world of good now.

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester City are beginning to make a habit of conceding costly last-gasp goals. Eric Dier’s 90th minute equaliser for Monaco last night was the third time already this season City have been on the wrong end of a dramatic late goal.

They missed out on a potentially crucial win at Arsenal last month as a result of Gabriel Martinelli’s goal in the 90th minute, while an 89th-minute strike from Brajan Gruda condemned them to defeat at Brighton in August.

It is an increasingly worry trend for Pep Guardiola’s side.

During their triumphant Treble-winning campaign, City only conceded two result-altering goals from the 85th minute onwards. That means games which City drew or lost as a direct consequence of a late goal – it does not include, for example, matches they won but allowed the opposition a late consolation effort.

While City were virtually faultless at seeing out games in 2022-23, they have been a little more fallible in the past two campaigns, conceding five result-altering late goals in 2023-24 and six last term. That equates to roughly once every 11 games across those two seasons.

This term, however, it has already happened three times in just nine matches, which must be cause for concern for Guardiola.

Ask Me Anything

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English sides picked up two wins out of a possible three in the Champions League last night.

But what does it mean for the race for an extra Champions League place.

Which countries are set to win extra Champions League places?

England and Denmark are currently on course to win the two extra Champions League places on offer for next season's competition.

England have risen up the rankings to top spot, climbing from fourth to first after wins for Newcastle and Arsenal, as well as a draw for Manchester City, on Wednesday night.

England's successful night on Wednesday saw them climb up three spots, above Denmark, Portugal and Cyprus, who have not added to their points.

Read our full explainer here

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Arsenal’s 2-0 win against Olympiacos maintained their formidable recent record at home in the league or group phase of European competitions.

The Gunners have won their past 14 such games at the Emirates in either the Champions League or Europa League, keeping clean sheets in each of the previous 11. Only Liverpool, with 15 straight victories, are currently on a longer winning streak.

Mikel Arteta's side don’t have an unblemished home record in knockout matches during this period, having lost to Paris St-Germain in the Champions League semi-finals last term. PSV Eindhoven also escaped defeat in North London earlier this year (losing heavily on aggregate), while Sporting won on penalties at the Emirates in the Europa League in 2023.

But Arsenal’s record in the preliminary stage is mightily impressive. They will look to extend that winning run in their next Champions League game, with Atletico Madrid the visitors on 21 October.

Karan Vinod
BBC Sport Journalist

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Arsenal have lost just once this season at Anfield and already claimed maximum points at Old Trafford and St James’ Park. But their next slate of games don't exactly get much easier. These are the next five teams awaiting Mikel Arteta and co:

• West Ham (H) - October 4
• Fulham (A) - October 18
• Atletico Madrid (H) - October 21
• Crystal Palace (H) - October 26
• Brighton (H) - October 29 (League Cup)

While the home advantage gives this Arsenal side a boost, the intensity of midweek European games and the tactical discipline of teams like Atletico Madrid and Crystal Palace mean the Gunners could be tested physically and mentally.

Karan Vinod
BBC Sport Journalist

Arsenal’s Champions League schedule doesn’t ease up before the turn of the year either. They face Atletico Madrid at home, Slavia Prague away, Bayern Munich at home and Club Brugge away, all high-stakes matches that will test Mikel Arteta’s squad depth and consistency.

These games will go a long way in validating Opta’s prediction of Arsenal as favourites in Europe - strong performances would validate Arsenal’s tag as European favourites, while slip-ups would raise questions about their credentials on the continental stage.

Arsenal sit two points behind Liverpool after six games, and crucially, they have already faced Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City.

Opta’s supercomputer gives Mikel Arteta’s side a 37.7% chance of winning the Premier League this season, just behind Liverpool (41.85%) as favourites.

Having navigated such a tough start, Arsenal now have a chance to build momentum, while Liverpool's upcoming fixtures look a little more problematic.

The signing of Martin Zubimendi meant Declan Rice was on the bench for Arsenal's victory over Olympiacos.

Rice has been mainstay during the past two seasons, playing over 50 times in both campaigns.

However, the summer signing of Zubimendi has helped ease the workload.

In the attacking positions, Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke have offered more options to take the pressure off Bukayo Saka.

Here's just a snapshot of some of the depth Arsenal have this season:

• Goalkeeper: Raya, Arrizabalaga
• Right-back: Timber, White
• Centre-back: Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Mosquera, White
• Left-back: Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly
• Midfield: Rice, Zubimendi, Merino, Norgaard
• Attacking midfield: Odegaard, Eze, Nwaneri, Havertz*
• Wingers: Saka, Madueke, Martinelli, Trossard
• Strikers: Gyokeres, Jesus*

* = Long-term absentees

That's some depth, isn't it?

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David Raya has kept five clean sheets in eight matches, conceding just three goals this season.

Impressive numbers for the impressive Arsenal defence.

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Carl Jenkinson
Former Arsenal defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

I was quite happy to see Ben White and Myles Lewis-Skelly get some minutes, they are top, top full-backs.

But obviously they can’t get into the team at the moment because the other two are playing so well and you’re going to need them at the end of the day throughout the season.

I’ve got to say as well, the centre-half that’s come in [Mosquera], who wasn’t a standout signing as such, who we paid a lot of money for, he is brilliant. He didn’t have the best game against Newcastle, but the games before that, he looks a really, really good centre-half; he looks like he’s got everything.

I was chatting about this with my old man, saying we literally have depth in every single position, and I think if you’re going to have a charge at the title, you do need that.

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According to Opta’s supercomputer, Arsenal are now the favourites to win the Champions League this season with an 18.09% chance of lifting the trophy, just ahead of other European heavyweights like Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.

Domestically, Mikel Arteta’s side are also right in the Premier League title race. The model gives them a 37.7% chance of finishing top, second only to Liverpool, who lead the projections at 41.85%.

Plenty of football still to play, but the numbers suggest Arsenal are contenders on two fronts.