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Assured Arsenal ease through
Tuesday 24 November 2009
Match report by Trevor Huggins from Arsenal Stadium
Arsenal FC eased to a comfortable victory over R. Standard de Liège as the 2006 UEFA Champions League finalists ensured they would finish top of Group H.
Late dismissal
First-half goals from Samir Nasri and Denilson set Arsenal on their way to a convincing success which confirmed the north London side qualified for the last 16 with one game still to play. Their Belgian opponents now face a real battle to overhaul second-placed Olympiacos FC and finished with ten men after an 86th-minute red card for Mehdi Carcela-González.
Purposeful start
Arsenal tore into Standard from the off and it was a miracle the hosts were not a goal up in the 15th minute when a Cesc Fàbregas corner from the right yielded chances for Andrei Arshavin, Carlos Vela, William Gallas and Thomas Vermaelen – whose efforts were either blocked or hit the woodwork in a mad scramble. Arsenal might well have rued their luck, and they were fortunate not to be a goal down when Standard striker Dieudonné Mbokani turned Vermaelen on the edge of the penalty area and unleashed a shot which cannoned off the crossbar.
Clash of heads
Arsenal were temporarily down to nine men in the 33rd minute after a nasty clash heads of heads between Gallas and Arshavin as they vied for a Fàbregas cross, and the Russian playmaker was still off the pitch a couple of minutes later when his side forged ahead. Vermaelen launched a long ball forward from just inside the Arsenal half, defender Landry Mulemo slipped over and Nasri scurried through to steer past Sinan Bolat.
Denilson goal
Further chances promptly came Arsenal's way when Nasri dinked through for Arshavin, who sent a rasping shot just wide, while Fàbregas had no better luck with an angled effort that rolled just beyond the far post. The pressure paid off in added time, though, when Denilson collected the ball from Kieran Gibbs some 25 metres out and struck a dipping shot that flew over Bolat's flailing arms.
Silvestre arrives
Gallas, whose right eye was closing after the collision with Arshavin, was replaced in central defence by Mikaël Silvestre at the restart as Arsenal returned to the task of securing the points. Momentum remained with the home side, though the tempo eased compared to the opening 45 minutes, prompting Arsène Wenger to replace Nasri with Theo Walcott.
Keep ball
Walcott wasted little time making his presence felt, rifling a low shot across the face of the Standard goal, though it was one of a dwindling number of presentable openings. Wenger's men became increasingly intent on keeping possession and making sure it stayed in their opponents' half, rather than carving out scoring chances.
Woodwork struck
Though Arsenal looked firmly in control in the closing stages, there was nearly a sting in the tail when Standard defender Mohamed Sarr smacked a low shot onto the base of the post. Carcela-González then got his marching orders, while Arsenal saw out the closing minutes to seal victory.
©uefa.com 1998-2009. All rights reserved.
Tuesday 24 November 2009
Match report by Trevor Huggins from Arsenal Stadium
Arsenal FC eased to a comfortable victory over R. Standard de Liège as the 2006 UEFA Champions League finalists ensured they would finish top of Group H.
Late dismissal
First-half goals from Samir Nasri and Denilson set Arsenal on their way to a convincing success which confirmed the north London side qualified for the last 16 with one game still to play. Their Belgian opponents now face a real battle to overhaul second-placed Olympiacos FC and finished with ten men after an 86th-minute red card for Mehdi Carcela-González.
Purposeful start
Arsenal tore into Standard from the off and it was a miracle the hosts were not a goal up in the 15th minute when a Cesc Fàbregas corner from the right yielded chances for Andrei Arshavin, Carlos Vela, William Gallas and Thomas Vermaelen – whose efforts were either blocked or hit the woodwork in a mad scramble. Arsenal might well have rued their luck, and they were fortunate not to be a goal down when Standard striker Dieudonné Mbokani turned Vermaelen on the edge of the penalty area and unleashed a shot which cannoned off the crossbar.
Clash of heads
Arsenal were temporarily down to nine men in the 33rd minute after a nasty clash heads of heads between Gallas and Arshavin as they vied for a Fàbregas cross, and the Russian playmaker was still off the pitch a couple of minutes later when his side forged ahead. Vermaelen launched a long ball forward from just inside the Arsenal half, defender Landry Mulemo slipped over and Nasri scurried through to steer past Sinan Bolat.
Denilson goal
Further chances promptly came Arsenal's way when Nasri dinked through for Arshavin, who sent a rasping shot just wide, while Fàbregas had no better luck with an angled effort that rolled just beyond the far post. The pressure paid off in added time, though, when Denilson collected the ball from Kieran Gibbs some 25 metres out and struck a dipping shot that flew over Bolat's flailing arms.
Silvestre arrives
Gallas, whose right eye was closing after the collision with Arshavin, was replaced in central defence by Mikaël Silvestre at the restart as Arsenal returned to the task of securing the points. Momentum remained with the home side, though the tempo eased compared to the opening 45 minutes, prompting Arsène Wenger to replace Nasri with Theo Walcott.
Keep ball
Walcott wasted little time making his presence felt, rifling a low shot across the face of the Standard goal, though it was one of a dwindling number of presentable openings. Wenger's men became increasingly intent on keeping possession and making sure it stayed in their opponents' half, rather than carving out scoring chances.
Woodwork struck
Though Arsenal looked firmly in control in the closing stages, there was nearly a sting in the tail when Standard defender Mohamed Sarr smacked a low shot onto the base of the post. Carcela-González then got his marching orders, while Arsenal saw out the closing minutes to seal victory.
©uefa.com 1998-2009. All rights reserved.
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