2-0, Champions League, Emirates Stadium, 2012-11-21
Wilshere 49,
Podolski 63
It was rather vital for us to win this game, and win it we did!
After a slow start to the game we grew into the game and ended the half by far the better side, even though we failed to break the deadlock. Our best chance of the first half came after ten minutes when Koscielny (of all people) fired a sizzling shot that hit the crossbar. About midway through the half Giroud had a shot that went wide and Oxlade-Chamberlain's shot was saved by the 'keeper. After approximately half an hour Koscielny got into a shooting position again, he fired wide this time around, though. As the half drew to a close Podolski had two shots within two minutes, the first after a brilliant run by Wilshere and the second after playing a one-two with Cazorla, unfortunately both shots went wide. It was frustrating for us to fail at taking advantage of all the chances we had, but fortunately a game is played over two halves.
We started the second half by succeeding in what we failed at in the first half, namely scoring! After four minutes Vermaelen crossed the ball into the box where Giroud headed the ball down for Jack Wilshere to score from! I cannot think of anyone who would have deserved that goal more than Jack, after seventeen months on the sideline the young Englishman is well and truly back. Before long we found the back of the net again, in quite some style. Yet again it was Giroud who set the goal up, but tons of credit to Lukas Podolski for his finish, he volleyed the ball home! A truly magnificent strike! Cazorla nearly scored himself with fifteen minutes to go, but his shot was tipped over the bar by the 'keeper. With ten minutes to go Giroud almost scored a goal of his own, however, yet again the Montpellier 'keeper proved his worth with a fine save. Just a couple of minutes later Arteta had a free kick that went just wide of the goal, it seemed as though we were not meant to score a third goal this evening.
With this result our prospect of qualifying for the knock-out stage of the Champions League is certain since Schalke won against Olympiacos! The only bad news is that it means that we will finish in second place, but it is not as though we could have expected to finish top of the group after that home game against Schalke.
Injury Update:
- Walcott missed out on this game due to a short-term shoulder injury.
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