Arsenal relieved some of the pressure that is growing over manager Arsene Wenger with a comfortable 4-1 win over Galatasaray in the Champions League courtesy of an inspired display from Aaron Ramsey on Tuesday night.
A goal from Lukas Podolski in the third minute was the first of many sublime goals that put Arsenal on their way to a comfortable victory in which their opponents rarely threatened during an explosive first half. aron Ramsey swept in a second goal following good work from both Joel Campbell and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain before smashing in a contender for goal of season from 30 yards out to make it 3-0 before half time.
The second half was more of an experimental half with three teenagers coming on for The Gunners, Galatasaray increased the pressure on the defence, which included Mathieu Debuchy for the first time since September. A costless kick from a Mertesacker handball led to a sublime consolation goal from Wesley Sneijder which the home side deserved for their second half display. However, Arsenal had the final say in the match with a cool finish from Lukas Podolski to grab his second of the night.
Arsene Wenger’s men knew going into the match that their place in the last 16 was already secure; a win for the team and a favourable result in Dortmund could have seen the North London club leapfrog the German side to the top of the group. The game couldn’t have started better for The Gunners with Lukas Podolski scoring in the first three minutes, the German striker found space on the left channel and was feed a crisp pass from Aaron Ramsey and smashed the ball into the top left corner. Galatasaray failed to pressure the Arsenal defence too much in the first half, their best chance came a few minutes after Podolski’s goal after a deflected shot fell to centre half Hakan Balta who fired wide from ten yards out.
The game was virtually over by the tenth minute when Ramsey scored his second goal in as many games, Oxlade-Chamberlain picked out the Welshman from the edge of the area and he finished with an accurate left foot shot into the bottom right corner. Arsenal continued to press forward impressively with Lukas Podolski in inspired form, he smashed a shot off the crossbar from a similar position to which he scored.
The moment of the game came in the 29th minute when Aaron Ramsey pulled off one of the goals of the season; a corner from the left hand side was unconvincingly cleared by the Turkish defence and Ramsey cracked in a shot from 30 yards out on the volley. That was Ramsey’s sixth goal in six games against Turkish opposition and his third in two games this week. Arsenal controlled the match and went close again late on in the half when Joel Campbell, starting for only the second time this season, latched on to a Ramsey pass but fired against Sinan Bolat in goal.
Arsenal finished the half with 12 shots and 5 on target, and that dominance seemed to dissipate as the second half went on. Ramsey and Flamini gave way for two teenagers in the form of Gedion Zelalem and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, this was the full debut in the Champions league for both players aged 17.
Keeping a clean sheet became the team’s priority as the full time whistle drew nearer; several clearances in the six yard box from Per Mertesacker were required as Galatasaray grew more into the game. Szczesny was tested by Sneijder from a costlesskick from the left hand side of the box which was saved well, but that was followed up by a second costless kick to which Sneijder showed his true class. The Dutchman lined up a costlesskick just outside the area and fired into the top corner to which the Polish keeper had no chance, a goal which Galatasaray deserved for their second half pressure.
Arsenal had the final say on the night as they made it 4-1, Lukas Podolski latched on to a Sanogo flick and held off the challenge from the defenders to coolly finish with his right foot in the bottom corner, a goal to surely show manager Arsene Wenger what he has been missing.
Arsenal responded to the criticism received from the weekend result at Stoke City with a dominant, powerful result that was sealed within ten minutes on the night. Arsenal knew they were through at the beginning of the night so the shackles were off and the performance showed that, a shakeup in the line-up also provided fresh legs and ideas for the team. With the Champions League draw on Monday, Arsene Wenger will be hoping those dropped points against Anderlecht and finishing second in the group will not punish them.