London: Arsenal secured a 1-0 victory in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier with Udinese, thanks to a fourth minute strike from Theo Walcott.
The win provides Arsene Wenger’s side with a much needed advantage heading into next week’s second leg in Italy, although a lively display from the Italian’s raised a number of question’s over Arsenal’s defensive frailties.
With the protracted departure of Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona finally over, and visitors Udinese also looking to recover from the loss of Alexis Sanchez and Goklan Inler, there was an edgy atmosphere in north London with both sides in need of a positive result to set the tone of their transition.
Wenger made two changes to the side that drew blank away at Newcastle United at the weekend, with Marouane Chamakh replacing the suspended Robin Van Persie, and Walcott taking the place of Andrey Arshavin, whilst there was still no place in the squad for want-a-way midfielder Samir Nasri.
New signing Gervinho made his Champions League bow for the Gunners, with his three match ban for violent conduct only affecting domestic games, whilst £ 12 million man Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain celebrated turning 18 yesterday with a place amongst the substitutes.
The home side made a superb start, when Bacray Sagna’s lobbed pass allowed Aaron Ramsey to exploit space down the right hand flank, before Theo Walcott met the Welshman’s cross with a side-footed volley to beat Handanovic at the near post, and take an early lead after four minutes.
Udinese debutant Neuton continued to look unconvincing at left back, with Ramsey, Walcott and Sagna continually finding space in behind, whilst Gervinho looked set to double Arsenal’s lead on ten minutes from six-yards out, only for Thomas Vermaelen to seemingly put the Ivorian off.
The Italian’s soon began to ask questions of the Arsenal backline, with mistakes by Alexandre Song and Ramsey in succession allowing an albeit wasted Udinese counter attack, before last season’s Serie A top scorer Antonio di Natale rattled the cross bar from a 30-yard free kick.
The Gunners continued to look suspect defensively, with Armero capitalising on a weak challenge by Sagna to break through the heart of Arsenal’s defence on 25 minutes, only for Szczesny to stand tall and thwart the Colombian’s effort, whilst Song tracked back well to block Isla’s rebound.
The men from Udine soon began to command possession as the first half entered the closing stages, with the movement of Di Natale and Isla proving a handful for Vermaelen and Koscielny, as Arsenal’s attacks soon became limited to shots from distance.
The visitors continued to threaten early into the second half, when Koscielny gave the ball away cheaply to Armero who subsequently released Di Natale, only for the 33-year-old’s touch to allow half time substitute Johan Djourou time to slide and block the striker’s effort.
The Swiss defender was only to last ten minutes before suffering a similar hamstring injury to the man he had replaced, Keiran Gibbs, with 19-year-old Carl Jenkinson called upon to provide some stability, at least in terms of personnel, to the Arsenal backline.
The lively Armero again went close again on 65 minutes, controlling a deflected cross well on the edge of the box and firing an effort that just sailed over the right hand corner of Szczesny’s goal.
Szczesny was called into action again ten minutes later, diving well to save a dipping Di Natale effort from 28-yards out, after Emmanuel Frimpong had robustly conceded the free-kick shortly after being introduced to the game for Thomas Rosicky.
Some superb goalkeeping at the opposite end from Handanovic on the 90th minute prevented Walcott from doubling his and Arsenal’s tally, after the forward had been released well by Gervinho, who showed a rare bit of quality in the final ball.
The win will ease the pressure at the Emirates in what has been a difficult week for Arsene Wenger, but the need for defensive reinforcements will no doubt have been noted by the sceptics in a tie which is far from over.
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