Arsenal 2 - 0 Fenerbahce: Job done

With a 3-0 lead going into the game, it was to be expected that Arsenal wouldn't need to expend themselves too much. All they had to do was to ensure that they didn't do anything stupid and take their chance when they came and that's exactly what they did in what ended up as another comfortable victory.

Fenerbahce, for their part, played better than they did in the first leg and got some joy down our left hand with the runs of Gokhan Gonul proving to be a threat. Whoever played on their right flank, be it Kuyt or Sow, tended to start in a narrow position which allowed the right back to venture forward. For Arsenal, Lukas Podolski also tended to play narrow and therefore left Gonuel to get forward unhindered.

While they didn't trouble us too much, they did have their moments that required Szczesny to pull out some very good stops. Arsenal were, perhaps, a little tentative in the opening 20 or so minutes, as if they were unsure whether to press for a goal or sit back and protect what they had. Once they got the first goal, though, they started to pass the ball around better and play with a bit more urgency.

Tactically, the point of interest was the central three for Arsenal. While last Saturday Arsenal played more with a 1-2 with Ramsey sitting and Rosicky and Cazorla playing ahead of him, tonight it was Wilshere who did most of the holding while Ramsey was allowed to go forward. We did the same thing in the second half of the first leg and on both occasions it's worked very well, with Ramsey proving to be a threat with his passing, energy and runs in behind. Cazorla, meanwhile, did what he did best and floated about into spaces. Whilst defending, Arsenal returned to their usual 4-4-1-1, as opposed to the 4-5-1 they used against Fulham last weekend.

With the tie practically over, Arsenal stood off a bit more in the second half, content to just see out proceedings. After Ramsey scored an excellent second goal, Fenerbahce started to commit some cynical fouls with Wilshere as their primary target. Fortunately, Wilshere completed the game without any major injuries.

So with the qualifier out the way, we can now focus on Spurs this Sunday. With any luck, the knocks picked by Ramsey and Wilshere won't be anything serious. Likewise, Podolski hopefully won't be out for too long. It's been a good couple of weeks with some very good performances and results and provided we don't have too many injury problems we'll be going into the North London derby in good shape.

We could be in even better shape if we get some new signings in before then. It's a huge week in that regard.

Overall, a good game that didn't lead to any major concerns.

man ramsey.. just fvcking beautiful..

watch and learn from ur welsh brother bale, watch and learn

Ramsey is on top form, hopefully nothing too serious his "injury", Wilshere aswell - we need bodies ffs.

NLD here we come

Madrid bought the wrong Welshman

Ramsey is beasting it now! WOnder where all the Ramsey haters are at now?

urbaNRoots wrote:Ramsey is on top form, hopefully nothing too serious his "injury", Wilshere aswell - we need bodies ffs.

NLD here we come

Apparently AVB made a couple of phone calls to the Fenerbache's bench so they can instruct their players to kick Wilshere

honestly, fenerbache should be investigated

trying to kick Wilshere

should have Frimponged them tbh.

Well done Arsenal.

Not the greatest game, as expected given we were already though before tonight in essence, but a good victory nevertheless.

Thought Sagna - that Emineke turn aside - was solid at centre-back again, Mertesacker was excellent. Monreal lacked support defensively and so struggled at times with runners, Jenkinson did ok. Szcesny made some brilliant saves, but continues to flap at times.

Ramsey & Cazorla were excellent yet again. Walcott & Podolski (first half) quiet, Giroud had a bad night infront of goal.

Szczesny 7.5; Jenkinson 7 Sagna 7 Mertesacker 7 Monreal 6.5; Ramsey 7.5 Wilshere 7; Walcott 6 Cazorla 7.5 Podolski 6; Giroud 6

PS: Think Sanogo really needs a loan.

wait, why didn't koscielny play?

Nice performance but the real topic is

Who's going to die tonight  ?

julias wrote:Nice performance but the real topic is

Who's going to die tonight  ?

Dave Whelan or Jim White i heard.

How not to defend, by Fenerbahce. Starring: Bruno Alves and Gokhan Gunal.

Arsenal's First Goal:

Arsenal's Second Goal:

We really need a striker, anyone will do for now.

Arsenalfaithfull wrote:Ramsey is beasting it now! WOnder where all the Ramsey haters are  at now?

In fairness to the critics, few expected that he would improve so much so suddenly.

Forza wrote:

Arsenalfaithfull wrote:Ramsey is beasting it now! WOnder where all the Ramsey haters are  at now?

In fairness to the critics, few expected that he would improve so much so suddenly.

Not only that, it has been only few games and I hope he can keep it up the rest of season, we really need him to do so.

yeah.. i am not impressed from what ever i have seen from Sanogo so far.. noway he is near to be our second striker..
sad that Jenko was unlucky not to score.. played some good football on the attacking.. now he is more confident that he has even started to cut in and actively interlink with the others..
Giroud should have scored from that chance.. Cazorla is regaining his sharpness and looked great..
Ramsey the mom for me.. he is the only one in our team who makes runs into the box.. he used to do it last season also but used to mess up his finish in the past.. now that he is more confident in his game has lead to more assists and goals..
Podolskis injury is a big blow on the already shortened squad..he would have come important in the NLD from the bench.. and more importantly if Ramsey fails to recover i would say NLD is almost over at this point of time.. we can start fresh Rosicky in the centre with Cazorla on the left.. if Ramsey fails to be fit we have no one to play but Rosicky to curtail his natural game and play deeper..
and our official window has to start atleast now or will it remains closed till after the Spuds game ?

Raptorgunner wrote:

Forza wrote:

Arsenalfaithfull wrote:Ramsey is beasting it now! WOnder where all the Ramsey haters are  at now?

In fairness to the critics, few expected that he would improve so much so suddenly.

Not only that, it has been only few games and I hope he can keep it up the rest of season, we really need him to do so.

not really, he has been doing it from March.. situation has changed drastically so that, i now feel we are dependent on him.. i cant imagine how we are going to compete with our squad if he gets injred or suspended..

#Jenkinson in 1st half
- 24/24 pass successful
- 1 Key Pass
- 3 Tackles
- 1 Interception
- 1 Clearance

Didn't watch the game, heard Ryo came on and made a cross that Jenko should have scored? Overall what was his performance like?