Gunners ease through to group stages

Arsenal 2-0 Fenerbache

 

Arsenal secured safe passage into the group stage of the Champions League for a sixteenth straight season against Fenerbache last night.

The Gunners put in a composed performance to seal a 2-0 win on the night and a 5-0 victory on aggregate. As in the first leg away in Turkey, Aaron Ramsey was the star man once again, not only pulling the strings in the centre of the park but also scoring a goal in each half. So far this season, the Welshman has really kicked on, taking advantage of Mikel Arteta’s injury to establish himself as a fundamental member of the Arsenal midfield.

Gunners secure first league victory

Fulham 1-3 Arsenal

Arsenal built on their fine 3-0 away win in Turkey on Wednesday, with another three goal haul away to Fulham on Saturday to secure their first league victory of the 2013/14 season.

So far this season the Gunners have started matches with a clear intent to take the game to their opponents. Too many times last season, Arsenal were sluggish for the first twenty minutes which would often result in the opposition taking the initiative. However in the three opening games of the new campaign, Arsene Wenger’s side have started on the front foot.

Gunners gain first leg advantage

Fenerbache 0-3 Arsenal

 

 

 

Arsenal bounced back from their disappointing defeat at home to Aston Villa with a resounding victory away to Fenerbache last night. With the club having been engulfed in an atmosphere of negativity and pessimism following the defeat to Paul Lambert’s side, the Gunners must take great credit for their performance at one of Europe’s most intimidating stadiums.

Turkish hostilities began the night before the big game; with the Arsenal squad prevented from enjoying a good night’s sleep as Fenerbache fans surrounded the team’s hotel, chanting and setting off fireworks throughout the night. Yet Arsene Wenger’s side, which has so often been ridiculed for being a soft touch, rose to the challenge with consummate ease. They were not overwhelmed by the great atmosphere inside the stadium as they expertly controlled the game from start to finish.

Crowd turns on Wenger

Arsenal 1-3 Aston Villa

Following Ivan Gazidis’ now infamous statement at the end of last season, in which he proclaimed an escalation in Arsenal’s financial strength, the 2013/14 season was seen as the point at which the Gunners would once again begin to challenge for the biggest trophies in football. Yet with no money spent so far, the first match of the new campaign not only ended in disappointing defeat yesterday, but also with the home crowd taking out their frustrations on the Arsenal dugout. As soon as Aston Villa scored their third goal of the afternoon, to secure all three points, the Emirates crowd turned on Arsene Wenger, imploring the Frenchman to spend the money he has at his disposal, with some even calling for the manager’s head.