Stunning Arsenal Sweep Aside Galatasaray

Match Review: Arsenal 4 Galatasaray 1 - Champions League - 01.10.14

After the disappointment of the opening match day humbling against Dortmund, Arsenal got their Champions League campaign back on track against Galatasaray on Wednesday. A brilliant first half blew the visitors away and had the game won by half time and whilst we still managed to make things a little tense and difficult for ourselves with a penalty and red card, it was still a very comfortable night for the Gunners.

The good news for Arsenal was that Jack Wilshere was fit enough to make the bench, meaning he should be able to start against Chelsea at the weekend. We lined up, for the first time this season, in a beautiful and genuine 4-2-3-1; Flamini and Cazorla in the midfield two, Özil as the number ten, Chamberlain and Alexis on the flanks and Welbeck leading the line again. It paid off in spectacular style, as we controlled the game and barely let Galatasaray out of their own half and after twenty minutes, we broke through.

It was quite a simple goal for us really, with the move stemming from Gibbs strolling out of defence and rolling the ball down the left for Alexis. Alexis took the ball on, cut inside and rolled a lovely ball through to find the run of Danny Welbeck. The England striker held off Melo and managed to poke the ball under the keeper and open the scoring. Just a bit of direct play and clever movement and we sliced them apart like a soft cheese.

Eight minutes later, Galatasaray took a leaf out of the Arsenal book of self harm to allow us to double the lead. Flamini won the header from their goal kick, but headed it straight to Chedjou. Unfortunately for the visitors, Chedjou’s header was utterly appalling, sailing back towards his own goal. Welbeck was straight onto it, bullying Filipe Melo in embarrassing fashion and strolling through to curl a lovely finish into the corner of the net. As much as Galatasaray were culpable, you have to give Welbeck a huge amount of credit for the way he took advantage of it. He was alert to the mistake, showed speed, strength and composure and took the opportunity brilliant. Everything a quality striker should be able to do.

At this point, the visiting fans tried to distract everyone from their team’s appalling ineptitude with a load of flares. The game was delayed as Sneijder and the other Galatasaray players, to their credit, helped remove the flares and also appealed to the crowd to calm down and stop delaying the game. You expect it from Turkish football fans, it’s just what they do, but they usually have the good grace to keep the flares in their own section. Clearly the realisation that their team wasn’t in any shape to get even dignified loss out of the game was too much for them.

It was also around this time (I don’t recall whether it was before or after), that Filipe Melo produced one of the most violent and disgusting ‘challenges’ you will ever see in your life. Not only did the defender run up, jump, two foot and scissor in his assault on Alexis, he then had the balls to look shocked and complain when he was only yellow carded by the referee. It’s no exaggeration to say that if Alexis had been in a position with his weight on a planted leg, it would have almost certainly been a broken bone for the winger. It was such a horrendous tackle and all born out of the player’s own inability to control his frustration. How he didn’t receive a red card is beyond me completely, the referee bottled it when it should have been a simple call. Still Alexis answered in the best possible way.

Again we took advantage of Galatasaray’s slow and static back three, as Özil slid a perfect pass through for Alexis to run on to, cut inside and fire into the corner with five minutes to half time. We looked like we could get through and score whenever we wanted and the visitors looked like they’d accepted defeat the moment the first goal went in. For the first time at the Emirates this season, there was no nervous tension or worry about the situation at half time. There was just satisfaction and joy at seeing an Arsenal performance that finally looked cohesive and polished.

Five minutes after the break, the game went from ‘comfortable win’ to ‘thrashing’ territory. Galatasaray switched to a back four and we promptly demonstrated that whatever configuration of defenders they employed, we were going to score with ease. This time the assistant to the goal was Chamberlain, but it was Welbeck’s brilliantly timed run between the centre backs that made it. Chamberlain weighted and timed the pass perfectly and Welbeck impudently lifted the ball over the diving keeper and secured his first professional hat trick in magnificent fashion. He certainly is taking the step up in quality in his stride…

However, as every Arsenal fan knows, we are contractually obliged to do something daft and make things difficult for ourselves 90% of the time. This time it was because we switched off and dropped back because we just assumed the game was as good as over. Galatasaray started really pushing forward and taking advantage and eventually they were rewarded and we were punished. A defence splitting ball left Yilmaz one on one with Szczesny and it was Yilmaz who won out, poking the ball past Szczesny and throwing himself over the keeper to win the penalty. Not only that, but the referee who was so eager to avoid reaching fro the red earlier, was this time only too happy to dismiss our keeper, despite the fact that Szczesny withdrew his hands at the last moment and Yilmaz had kicked the ball off the pitch and had no chance of catching it. Ospina went the wrong way and Galatasaray had a faint hope that they could mount a mammoth comeback.

To be honest, Galatasaray were unfortunate not to grab at least another goal in the last twenty minutes and Ospina had to make a number of good saves to keep our three goal cushion. But we held out and even could have made it five when Cazorla was sent clear on the break only to see his chip over the keeper cleared off the line.

Last twenty minutes aside, it was a confident and stylish performance from us and one that will give us confidence ahead of the most difficult away trip of the season. Stamford Bridge is like kryptonite for us at the moment, much worse than the Etihad, Anfield, Old Trafford and even the Britannia. This is the game I look forward to least of all because I know that the chances of even a point are slim, virtually nil, with the insufferable Mourinho in charge. With a certain former Arsenal player amongst the Chelski ranks and a team that looks capable of winning the league by a good 100 points or so, you can surely forgive me for going into this game with feelings of sheer dread. I’m just hoping it isn’t as bad as last year…

Teams

Arsenal (4-2-3-1)
Szczesny (R), Chambers, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Flamini (Y), Cazorla, Alexis (Ospina 62’), Özil (Wilshere 77’), Chamberlain (Rosicky 68’), Welbeck
Subs
Ospina, Rosicky, Wilshere, Podolski, Campbell, Coquelin, Bellerin

Galatasaray (3-5-2)
Muslera, Chedjou, Melo (Y), Kaya, Sari (Bulut 69’), Kurtulus (Altintop 45’), Sneijder, Dzemaili (Y), Telles, Yilmaz, Pandev (Na Bangna 69’)
Subs
Camdal, Bolat, Adin, Balta, Na Bangna, Altintop, Bulut

Player Ratings

Szczesny - 6/10 - Annoying night for him, did nothing but give away a pen and get sent off
Chambers - 7/10 - Another calm and assured performance
Koscielny - 7/10 - Had nothing to do until the red card and then was solid and worked hard
Mertesacker - 7/10 - As ever, pretty much the same as Koscielny
Gibbs - 7/10 - The more attacking of the full backs, he will have a tougher time at Chelsea
Flamini - 7/10 - Solid game to make up for the Sp*rs mistake somewhat
Cazorla - 9/10 - Won’t get the plaudits, but he was every bit as good as Welbeck
Alexis - 7/10 - A good performance, but soured a little by giving away the ball for their goal
Özil - 8/10 - Majestic, lovely assist for Sanchez and just enjoyed the freedom he had
Chamberlain - 7/10 - A good showing and a lovely assist for Welbeck’s hat trick
Welbeck - 9/10 - Sensational, three well taken goals doing exactly what critics said he couldn’t
Subs
Ospina - 7/10 - Looks nervous, but pulled off some great saves. Needs to improve his kicking
Rosicky - 6/10 - It’s too early to say he’s declining, but he wasn’t very good on Wednesday
Wilshere - N/A

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