Thursday 22 August 2013

Fenerbahce 0 Arsenal 3: match report - Telegraph.co.uk

Aaron Ramsey was especially outstanding; capping a complete performance in central midfield by scoring Arsenal's second after helping to create their first.

It is a result, however, that should not be allowed to paper over the cracks. Fenerbahce were physical but technically very limited and, although Olivier Giroud did score Arsenal's third from the penalty spot, a striker of greater quality is clearly needed if they are to challenge in the later stages of this competition. A lack of cover at centre-back has also been further exposed, with a head injury to Laurent Koscielny forcing Bacary Sagna to again move across the defence from his usual full-back position.

Even with such inactivity in the transfer market and activity in the treatment room, Wenger was able to field a starting side last night that was close to his strongest. The selection of Santi Cazorla was the only change from the 3-1 defeat against Aston Villa on Saturday but he would almost certainly have replaced Alex Oxalde-Chamberlain on the left of Arsenal's attacking three even if the England midfielder had not suffered knee ligament damage.

The atmosphere was intense even 20 minutes before kick-off and the Arsenal players faced relentless whistling whenever in possession. Their focus, however, was good and the central midfield axis of Ramsey and Jack Wilshere were soon controlling possession.

Tomas Rosicky created the first clear opportunity after drifting from his playmaker's position into space out wide, with Giroud just sending the chance wide after failing to connect properly with his header.

Ramsey, whose midfield energy was the early difference between the teams, then dragged a shot wide from the edge of the penalty area.

Fenerbahce's team included four former Premier League players in Joseph Yobo, Dirk Kuyt, Raul Meireles and Emre but, having also begun their domestic league season with a defeat, were unable to find any rhythm. What they lacked in quality, however, was initially compensated for by their physicality.

Mehmet Topal caused a brief moment of worry when he stood on Wilshere. Pierre Webo was then guilty of a dangerous challenge on Koscielny, with his high boot opening a large gash on the France defender's head. Wenger, understandably, was furious that the incident ended Koscielny's night but resulted only in a yellow card for Webo.

Carl Jenkinson came on as Sagna moved to centre-back but the change did little to disrupt Arsenal. The threat being posed by Fenerbahce was mini­mal but, early in the second half, there was a warning. Ramsey had been unusually careless in possession and gifted Kuyt a free shot from the edge of the penalty area that the former Liverpool forward fired only narrowly over.

Ramsey, though, was quick to make amends and dissected the Fenerbahce defence with a wonderful pass. Walcott had again outpaced Michal Kadlec down Arsenal's right and was composed in side-footing his pass across goal for Kieran Gibbs to shoot into the roof of the net. It was a beautifully worked goal and Arsenal then instantly created another chance, only for Volkan Demirel to smother Walcott's effort.

With Arsenal sensing their opportunity to put the tie beyond Fenerbahce, Wilshere made a rare break forward and, having evaded two tackles, forced Demirel into another save. Ramsey then exploited vast midfield space to arrow a shot past Demirel into the corner of the goal.

Fenerbahce did rally briefly, with Szczesny forced to make saves from Moussa Sow and Kadlec, before Arsenal added their third. Walcott's pace had again undone Kadlec and his rash challenge resulted in a penalty that Giroud dispatched.

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