ARSENAL defy the odds to justify themselves that they are ready for the showdown against league leaders Chelsea at the Emirates in the Premier League this weekend when they brushed aside the Belgian outfit Standard Leige 2-0 in the Champions League Group H match last night.
Samir Nasri got them going with the opening goal and Brazilian born Denilson who just came back from injury scored the second before the break for Arsenal to secure top spot of Group H and advance into the quarterfinal knockout stages.
Arsene Wenger started with Mexican's Carlos Vela to spearhead the attack instead the reliable Eduardo. Also in the line-up is Emanuele Eboue taking over Bacary Sagna at right back and Kieran Gibbs on the left together with Gallas and Vermalaen to tighten up the defence.
Both teams opt a far more open attacking approach compare to their previous meeting earlier to make it such a lively encounter.
Arsenal had a first sight at goal with a pinball goal-shooting practice in the box then it was the visitor turn saw Dieudonne Mbokani strike flew past Almunia but was deny by the post. The match suddenly favour towards the home team when a long through ball by Vermalaen was terribly misjudge by a Standard Leige defender Gohi Bi Cyriac, saw Samir Nasri who was lurking behind quick to sneak in and gleefully stabbed home.
The home team should have wrapped up the match in two quick succession when Andre Arshavin first time shot just few centimeter off target and Fabregas fails to guide his shot at the far post.
But Denilson who just came back into the team after warming up the bench at the Stadium of Light did not make any mistake this time when he lets fly a scorcher into the roof of the net.
The visitor too had their chance to reduce the deficit when their striker final touch was just not hard enough to beat Almunia. Defender William Gallas suffered a knock with fellow Andre Arshavin due to lack of communication which saw both going for the same ball.
Gallas had to be replace by Slyvestre while Arshavin needed a strapped in the head and to add woes to Arsenal injury list when Kieran Gibbs suffered a broken ankle and was replaced by Armand Traore.
Both teams opt a far more open attacking approach compare to their previous meeting earlier to make it such a lively encounter.Arsenal had a first sight at goal with a pinball goal-shooting practice in the box then it was the visitor turn saw Dieudonne Mbokani strike flew past Almunia but was deny by the post. The match suddenly favour towards the home team when a long through ball by Vermalaen was terribly misjudge by a Standard Leige defender Gohi Bi Cyriac, saw Samir Nasri who was lurking behind quick to sneak in and gleefully stabbed home.
The home team should have wrapped up the match in two quick succession when Andre Arshavin first time shot just few centimeter off target and Fabregas fails to guide his shot at the far post.
But Denilson who just came back into the team after warming up the bench at the Stadium of Light did not make any mistake this time when he lets fly a scorcher into the roof of the net.
The visitor too had their chance to reduce the deficit when their striker final touch was just not hard enough to beat Almunia. Defender William Gallas suffered a knock with fellow Andre Arshavin due to lack of communication which saw both going for the same ball.
Gallas had to be replace by Slyvestre while Arshavin needed a strapped in the head and to add woes to Arsenal injury list when Kieran Gibbs suffered a broken ankle and was replaced by Armand Traore.
2 comments:
Job well done..now Arsenal realy mean business..for Chelsea
my instinct said it would be draw with Chelsea.
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