Arsenal 1 - 0 Udinese
This was always going to be a difficult match for Arsenal as soon as the draw was made. Of course it doesn't help when Nasri, Van Persie and Wenger are all suspended. Add in the fact that Wilshere is out through injury and it's the first match since your former skipper Fabregas left for Barcelona, Udinese must of felt they had a chance of bringing a decent result home with them for the second leg next Wednesday.
Both teams started brightly, in what was to prove a very open contest. After just four minutes Ramsey put in a great cross from the right hand side and Walcott was able to get in ahead of the defender to turn the ball in to the net. 1-0 Arsenal and only four minutes on the clock. This should of settled Arsenal down and got them in to their passing game, but it didn't. Udinese were the ones stringing more passes together and after Song gave the ball away Armero ran from inside his own half and beared down on goal for only Szczesny to make a good block, although Armero should of scored.
After half time Arsenal brought Djourou on for the injured Gibbs. Arsenals midfield, especially Rosiscky, are not getting their foot on the ball and controlling the game and are constantly giving the ball away too cheaply. Di Natale has a chance for Udinese which is blocked by Djorou who seemed to pick up a knock and indeed after only coming on ten minutes earlier is substituted. On for him in left back is Karl Jenkinson who was playing non league football only eight months ago. Udinese also make a substitution a couple of minutes later with Pasquale coming on for Neuton who picked up a knock earlier. Walcott is trying to get on the ball for Arsenal, but once more his final ball is poor every time. Udinese are coming more in to it and are really pushing as Arsenals back four look very unassured.
Udinese look like the only team cabable of scoring at the moment. Then, for the first time in the game, Rosiscky plays a great ball through to Walcott who is clear in on goal and only about eight yards out and he once again tamely fluffs his lines. In the seventieth minute Pinzi picks up a yellow card for Udinese and just after that Rosiscky is substituted for Frimpong. Rosiscky is good enough to fill the place of Fabregas and Nasri on a night like this, but put in a poor performance on a night when he was really needed. Frimpong is slow to get up to the pace of the game and gives away two free kicks in quick succession. The second one just outside Arsenals eighteen yard box. Di Natale steps up and hits the free kick over the wall and to Szczesny's left, but the keeper gets across comfortably to put the ball out for a corner. The corner is quickly cleared and Sagna attacks up the right hand side, only to be fouled by Armero. Then for a combination of the foul and for not retreating the full ten yards Armero is booked. Udinese are able to clear the free kick and move forward menacingly which results in Pinzi seeing a great strike from outside the box just go wide. In the eighty seventh minute Udinese make a final change to try and get an equaliser. They bring Abdi on for Pinzi. Then for the first time in the game Gervinho looked threatining as he went by two defenders and played a great ball in to the path of Walcott six yards from the goal, but Handanovic got down well to make a great save. Although once again Walcott should of scored. Then straight down the other end and Armero nearly caught Szczesny by surprise by hitting a shot early from just outside the box only to see it sail wide. This was to be the final chance of the game and it finished Arsenal 1 - 0 Udinese.
Arsenal were poor all night and no one played well. Ramsey at least tried, but was left a lot to do on his own. The back four were once again very shaky. Up front Chamakh whose Champions league record is eight goals in ten matches for games in which he started was non existant throughout the game. Udinese were unlucky to come away with nothing and will fancy their chances at home next Wednesday.
To make things worse Arsenal will probably get another fine following Wengers refusal to do the post match media. This follows a disagreement with UEFA over how he could communicate from the stands to the bench. He believed he could talk to his assistant Boro Primorac, who was sitting beside him, and he could then ring Pat Rice on the bench to relay any messages. UEFA disagree this was the arrangement and apparently warned Wenger about this at half time.
This was always going to be a difficult match for Arsenal as soon as the draw was made. Of course it doesn't help when Nasri, Van Persie and Wenger are all suspended. Add in the fact that Wilshere is out through injury and it's the first match since your former skipper Fabregas left for Barcelona, Udinese must of felt they had a chance of bringing a decent result home with them for the second leg next Wednesday.
Both teams started brightly, in what was to prove a very open contest. After just four minutes Ramsey put in a great cross from the right hand side and Walcott was able to get in ahead of the defender to turn the ball in to the net. 1-0 Arsenal and only four minutes on the clock. This should of settled Arsenal down and got them in to their passing game, but it didn't. Udinese were the ones stringing more passes together and after Song gave the ball away Armero ran from inside his own half and beared down on goal for only Szczesny to make a good block, although Armero should of scored.
After half time Arsenal brought Djourou on for the injured Gibbs. Arsenals midfield, especially Rosiscky, are not getting their foot on the ball and controlling the game and are constantly giving the ball away too cheaply. Di Natale has a chance for Udinese which is blocked by Djorou who seemed to pick up a knock and indeed after only coming on ten minutes earlier is substituted. On for him in left back is Karl Jenkinson who was playing non league football only eight months ago. Udinese also make a substitution a couple of minutes later with Pasquale coming on for Neuton who picked up a knock earlier. Walcott is trying to get on the ball for Arsenal, but once more his final ball is poor every time. Udinese are coming more in to it and are really pushing as Arsenals back four look very unassured.
Udinese look like the only team cabable of scoring at the moment. Then, for the first time in the game, Rosiscky plays a great ball through to Walcott who is clear in on goal and only about eight yards out and he once again tamely fluffs his lines. In the seventieth minute Pinzi picks up a yellow card for Udinese and just after that Rosiscky is substituted for Frimpong. Rosiscky is good enough to fill the place of Fabregas and Nasri on a night like this, but put in a poor performance on a night when he was really needed. Frimpong is slow to get up to the pace of the game and gives away two free kicks in quick succession. The second one just outside Arsenals eighteen yard box. Di Natale steps up and hits the free kick over the wall and to Szczesny's left, but the keeper gets across comfortably to put the ball out for a corner. The corner is quickly cleared and Sagna attacks up the right hand side, only to be fouled by Armero. Then for a combination of the foul and for not retreating the full ten yards Armero is booked. Udinese are able to clear the free kick and move forward menacingly which results in Pinzi seeing a great strike from outside the box just go wide. In the eighty seventh minute Udinese make a final change to try and get an equaliser. They bring Abdi on for Pinzi. Then for the first time in the game Gervinho looked threatining as he went by two defenders and played a great ball in to the path of Walcott six yards from the goal, but Handanovic got down well to make a great save. Although once again Walcott should of scored. Then straight down the other end and Armero nearly caught Szczesny by surprise by hitting a shot early from just outside the box only to see it sail wide. This was to be the final chance of the game and it finished Arsenal 1 - 0 Udinese.
Arsenal were poor all night and no one played well. Ramsey at least tried, but was left a lot to do on his own. The back four were once again very shaky. Up front Chamakh whose Champions league record is eight goals in ten matches for games in which he started was non existant throughout the game. Udinese were unlucky to come away with nothing and will fancy their chances at home next Wednesday.
To make things worse Arsenal will probably get another fine following Wengers refusal to do the post match media. This follows a disagreement with UEFA over how he could communicate from the stands to the bench. He believed he could talk to his assistant Boro Primorac, who was sitting beside him, and he could then ring Pat Rice on the bench to relay any messages. UEFA disagree this was the arrangement and apparently warned Wenger about this at half time.
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