Match Review: Fenerbahçe vs Arsenal 21.8.13 - Champions League Qualifier

Aaron Ramsey

We seemed to have found some more belief and the pace of our attacks picked up. We doubled our lead on 64 minutes when Wilshere drove forward past some weak defending and laid the ball off to Ramsey. Ramsey brought the ball forward and probably should have returned the ball to Wilshere, who would have been clean through, but he chose to shoot and his effort had enough to beat the keeper. The keeper should have saved it, but Ramsey really deserved the goal for his fantastic performance and to be honest, it’s nice to see an Arsenal player go for goal like that, because that’s what can happen.

The second away goal put us in the driving seat in the match and in the tie overall, but we almost gave Fenerbahçe a way back into it. The passing dropped off in intensity and we suddenly weren’t keeping our shape as well. We relaxed a bit too much, switched off and suddenly it looked as if the toothless home team could bite. Szczesny was forced to dive in bravely to stop Moussa Sow and took a boot to the neck as a result.

There was a header over the bar and Sow went close with a long range effort; we weren’t exactly panicking, but things had certainly become a little uncomfortable. Thankfully we wrapped things up on 77 minutes. The ball was played forward to Walcott who controlled well and was bundled over by Kadlec, who’d had a torrid evening against the winger. It was a clear penalty; Giroud stepped up and thumped home. It well and truly wrapped the game up and hopefully puts the tie to bed too. Szczesny made a few more good saves and Jenkinson had a magnificent effort tipped over the bar on the final whistle.

It was a very satisfying evening, given what has been going on at the club recently. Ramsey put in a man of the match performance, Cazorla looked fitter and sharper and Wilshere, Szczesny and Walcott all improved a lot from the weekend. We all know the squad is still light, we all know that Fenerbahçe were poor and we know that there is much to be done to make this squad competitive before the end of the transfer window. But this match showed we are still a quality team, with some seriously good players. Barring a monumental catastrophe, we should be through to the group stages and it is a difficult job very well done.

Teams

Fenerbahçe (5-3-2)Demirel, Irtegun (Gonul 46′), Alves?, Yobo, Kadlec?, Meireles (Potuk 82′), Topal, Emre, Kuyt, Webo? (Emineke 62′), SowSubsGunok, Korkmaz, Gonul, Cristian, Potuk, Erkin, Emenike

Arsenal (4-2-3-1)Szczesny?, Sagna, Koscielny (Jenkinson 33′), Mertesacker, Gibbs; Ramsey, Wilshere; Cazorla, Rosicky, Walcott (Monreal 87′); Giroud (Podolski 82′)SubsFabianski, Monreal, Podolski, Sanogo, Frimpong, Gnabry, Jenkinson

Ratings

Szczesny	7/10	Made some important saves after a poor game on Saturday
Sagna	6/10	Did his job quietly, but effectively
Koscielny	6/10	Played well until he picked up a worrying injury to his head
Mertesacker	6/10	Not hugely troubled, but did worry me when he stepped up
Gibbs	7/10	Looked lively, but disciplined and got a rare goal
Ramsey	8/10	Best player on the night, ran the midfield and deserved his goal
Wilshere	6/10	Improved from Saturday, but still not quite finding his best
Cazorla	6/10	Looked a lot sharper, was fairly quiet, but showed promise
Rosicky	6/10	Worked hard and interchanged with Santi well, but quiet overall
Walcott	7/10	Frustrating first half, followed by a much improved second
Giroud	6/10	Converted the penalty well, but otherwise quiet
Subs
Jenkinson	6/10	Forced on early again and, like Gibbs, looked lively but solid
Podolski	N/A	Not on long enough to see much of the ball or make an impact
Monreal	N/A	Late substitution