Kieran Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey and an Olivier Giroud penalty provided the away goals, all in the second half, that left the Gunners in a strong position to progress from this two-legged play-off, but Arsene Wenger’s injury problems continued to pile up. Laurent Koscielny was forced off in the first half with a cut near his eye after being on the receiving end of a reckless high boot from Pierre Webo. Arsenal physio Colin Lewin described it as a ‘horrible’ cut and one of the most ridiculous things he had seen but Webo escaped with a yellow card. Wojciech Szczesny left the field at the end with grazes down the side of his face and neck after a brave block at the feet of Moussa Sow while Per Mertesacker was elbowed by Bruno Alves who, like Webo, escaped with a booking. Even Gibbs, who played despite a head wound he picked up against Aston Villa on Saturday, disturbed the butterfly stitches in his brow during a frenzied goal celebration. Koscielny was already suspended from Saturday’s derby at Fulham following his red card against Villa but the squad is looking thin after so many fringe players left the club. Arsenal dominated last night against a disappointing Fenerbahce team, who did not wake up until they were two down.
Fine strike: Aaron Ramsey hit the second at the site of his first Arsenal goal in a 5-2 win against the same opponents in 2008
Letting fly: Ramsey unleashes from distance to double Arsenal's advantage
When
they visited the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in a Champions League group
game in 2008, Arsenal soon drew the sting from the noisy Fenerbahce fans
on their way to a 5-2 win. Wenger was looking for the same last night. His
team settled well and enjoyed good passages of early possession, with
Tomas Rosicky, preferred again to Lukas Podolski, combining well with
Theo Walcott on the right and Santi Cazorla prominent on the left. Walcott did much of the early damage five years ago and he was simply too fast for left back Michal Kadlec. Fenerbahce,
who, like Arsenal, started their domestic season with a defeat, were
sloppy in possession and were pressed into careless mistakes by
Arsenal’s business. Fenerbahce
coach Ersun Yanal has been criticised for being too gung-ho but his
players seemed uncomfortable as they tried a more intricate passing game
but, for all their early superiority, Arsenal failed to work goalkeeper
Volkan Demirel. The
most strenuous activity for the Fenerbahce keeper in the first 15
minutes was to field the ball as a clearance from Bruno Alves crashed
into Giroud and rebounded towards goal. At
least this was more involvement than Szczesny had at the other end. He
was limited to claiming a couple of high crosses and set pieces. Demirel
reacted well to dash from his line and deny Walcott as the England
winger darted inside in an attempt to connect with a pass from Cazorla.
Rosicky collected the loose ball and delivered it back into the penalty
box, where Giroud leapt to glance a header narrowly wide of the far
post.
Up in arms: Arsene Wenger appeals after
Laurent Koscielny (floored) was kicked in the face by Pierre Webo. The
Fenerbahce striker was latterly booked
High foot: Koscielny catches Webo's boot in the face
Injury concern: Koscielny was replaced by Carl Jenkinson as Arsenal were hit by another blow
Anxious moments: Jack Wilshere went down in
the first-half after an innocuous-looking clash, but the midfielder ran
off the injury
On the ball: Wilshere was back to his bustling best at the heart of Arsenal's midfield
He challenged for the ball but
Webo’s control was so poor that he followed his first touch with an
overhead kick, which caught the Arsenal centre half full in the face.
Wenger’s arms shot up in protest. The
Fenerbahce fans jeered as referee Gianluca Rocchi produced a yellow
card for Webo but Koscielny left the field after three minutes of
treatment with a blood-stained towel held to his face. Wenger
sent on Carl Jenkinson at right back and moved Sagna into the centre of
defence but the boss was far from impressed by the referee’s leniency,
stalking around in his technical area and grumbling at the fourth
official and assistant referee. Arsenal remained in control without finding an away goal in the first half. Joseph Yobo made an excellent challenge to block Ramsey as he looked poised to finish an incisive move down the right.
Successful mission: Wenger looks set for another Champions League campaign - his 16th in succession
Mixed emotions: Bacary Sagna and Mertesacker are relieved, but Mousa Sow can't believe his miss
Former Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt
lashed a shot over the bar from 20 yards at the start of the second half
and, within minutes, Arsenal were ahead with a goal inspired by the
touch and vision of Ramsey. The
Wales midfielder turned on the edge of the penalty area and slid a pass
to Walcott. His low cross was perfect for Gibbs, who swept in his
fourth goal for the club, his first since January and his first in
Europe at the far post. There
was a wonderful chance for Walcott, which slipped by, but Ramsey made
it two with a brilliant run and drive from 25 yards out after 64
minutes. Keeper Demirel should have saved it but that will not worry Arsenal as they attempt to get their season up and running. Giroud made it 3-0 from the spot after 77 minutes following a trip by Kadlec on Walcott.
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