ARSENAL 1 – 0 UDINESE
Match Report
UEFA Champions League
Emirates Stadium
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Kick-off: 19:45
Arsenal:
Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Song, Ramsey, Rosicky, Walcott, Gervinho, Chamakh
Subs: Fabianski, Djourou, Jenkinson, Frimpong, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Frimpong, Bendtner, Arshavin
Udinese:
Handanovic, Isla, Danilo, Agyemang-Badu, Di Natale, Neuton, Benatia, Asamoah, Ekstrand, Armero, Pinzi
Subs: Belardo, Denis, Vydra, Abdi, Pasquale, Doubai, Fabbrini
The first leg of a Champions Qualifier held at Emirates Stadium usually sees a large amount of goals to the home team. This time around Arsenal could only manage 1 goal instead of the usual 4,5,6 goal drubbings.
It was a good start for Arsenal with Theo Walcott volleying with his left foot past Handanovic early on in the 4th minute from a Ramsey cross.
From then on Arsenal didn’t create much, and the dangerous goal machine Di Natale for Udinese came close with a free kick striking the bar, leaving Szczesny scrambling over to his right.
The score line doesn’t reflect how bad we were, although we weren’t great, with Gervinho providing most of our spark, if any. But Udinese looked a strong, well organised team, even with their best player Sanchez departing them for Barcelona this summer, just like our best player has left for Barcelona this summer.
I haven’t mentioned Fabregas at all yet, but you can tell we’re going to struggle without him. But we also missed Wilshere tonight who will become a massive player for us, if not already. Not forgetting van Persie was suspended tonight too, along with Arshavin not even getting any playing time tonight on the bench. Nasri I feel will leave eventually anyway, so no point in mentioning him either.
A good win against tough opposition, but we have to be very good in Italy, otherwise we may be on Channel 5 before you know it.
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