Arsenal’s Trophy Chances Worth Reassessing After Win in Istanbul

Arsenal produced a scintillating display of attacking football to humble Fenerbahce in Turkey’s capital city last night, prompting bookmakers to slash the London club’s Champions League odds. Arsene Wenger was forced into naming a side shorn of many its first-team regulars, meaning that the players who took to the field wearing red had an average age of only 23. Notable absentees included Bacary Sagna, Kolo Toure and captain William Gallas, who would have all started in defence had they been fit – Gael Clichy was the only member of Arsenal’s first-choice back four available for selection. Additionally, Robin Van Persie started on the bench, but in spite of all this the Gunners bossed the game from the start and eventually hit five goals past a bemused and frustrated Fenerbahce.

Wegner was evidently wary of the Turkish side’s ability going forward and so flooded his midfield with five players, leaving Emmanuel Adebayor to lead the attacking line alone up front. The Togolese hit man nearly ensured his team got the perfect start after five minutes, but fired just over the crossbar when the ball broke to him on the edge of the box. Fenerbahce’s defence had been warned, but after five more minutes they were duly punished, Adebayor timing his run perfectly to collect a sublime Fabregas pass and coolly slot the ball past Demirel for 1-0. Within a minute it would be 2-0, Fabregas supplying Walcott with another beautifully weighted pass and the young Englishman rounded the keeper scored for the second game in a row. With only eleven minutes gone the Gunners were threatening a rout and the boisterous home crowd, so often a twelfth man in European games, were silenced.

The home side threatened to make it a contest after nineteen minutes, the ball cannoning in off a helpless Mikael Silvestre following a dangerous set-piece delivery, but the goal simply provoked Arsenal into scoring again straight away. The impressive Abou Diaby, making his first start since last season’s Champions League defeat at the hands of Liverpool, forced his way into the box before firing a left-footed shot into the far corner, restoring his team’s two-goal cushion. The tall Frenchman was consistently influential throughout, his touch, strength, passing and delicious trickery baffling the Fenerbahce back line. A moment of genius at 2-0 had nearly led to another goal, as Diaby manipulated the ball past his marker before picking out Nasri through a crowded box, whose goal-bound shot was brilliantly saved.

Arsenal got another goal shortly after the halt-time break to effectively end the contest. Fabregas swung in a deep free-kick and the ball broke to Alex Song, who smashed an unstoppable volley for his first Champions League goal. The game lost much of its verve and urgency after this point, but did provide another two goals, one for each team. Guiza, a constant goal-threat, lobbed Almunia to finally make his mark, before substitute Aaron Ramsey got his first goal for the Gunners, firing a low shot after good work by Emmanuel Eboue for the resulting 5-2 scoreline.

Wenger, his men and the small number of travelling fans were all smiles at the end, but there are still lingering concerns about Arsenal’s defensive frailties, and this game could have ended very differently had it not been for their stand-in captain for the night, goalkeeper Manuel Almunia. The Spaniard was one of the London side’s best players as he constantly thwarted Guiza and Sahin with some fine saves and his impeccable reading of the game. The talented Guiza could have scored five goals of his own, but a combination of compatriot Almunia and the linesman’s flag ensured he only got the one. The gaps between Arsenal’s centre-backs and full-backs were sometimes worryingly big, and Fenerbahce’s Brazilian passing magician, Alex, found it all too easy to get balls in behind the young defence, prompting Almunia into drastic action. It was the same last weekend against Everton, when Leon Osman was afforded far too much time and space to open the scoring at the Emirates Stadium. Wenger can not expect his side to score five every game and one has to wonder if they are capable to holding out for a 1-0 win if their attack has a bad day. The sooner Gallas and Toure are fit again the better.

This weekend is a big one for those chasing the title as Chelsea and Liverpool prepare to do battle in their first meeting of the season. One or even both of these teams has to drop points and so it is imperative that Arsenal win against West Ham to close the gap. Hopefully, their impressive result in Istanbul can inspire the young squad to go on a good run and ensure the race for the title is a four-horse thriller. One more win in Europe will ensure qualification from the group phase and fans will be hoping for a repeat performance against Fenerbahce in London on matchday four.

(Meanwhile, Manchester United won 3-0 against Celtic at Old Trafford, with Wayne Rooney yet again getting on the score sheet with a fabulously placed strike from outside the box. Judging by current form, is there a better player in the world right now? I don’t think so.)