0-3, Champions League, Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, 21.08.2013
Gibbs 51,
Ramsey 64,
Giroud 77
A strong performance was needed, not only to qualify for the Champions League, but also to put the Villa game truly behind us. And a strong performance was on display.
Right from the start one could tell that this would be a game more to our liking as we had a lot of possession and put a lot of pressure on Fenerbahce. The game was a bit more cautious initially, though. We had our first chance after five minutes when Wilshere played Walcott in, but the cross was blocked into a corner. After approximately twenty minutes Cazorla played a brilliant ball to Walcott, unfortunately the 'keeper beat him to the ball. We quickly won the ball back, however, and Giroud ended the offensive with a header that went just wide. Then Ramsey fired wide before Koscielny received a severe kick to the head, leaving him bleeding heavily and unable to continue the game. The amount of situations where our players have been left bleeding has been quite unreal, Szczesny received a scratch on the neck later on in this game, also resulting in blood (although quite lightly compared to Koscielny, and Gibbs from the previous game). Anyway, Jenkinson was brought on and Sagna moved to cover as centre-half (which he has been doing during pre-season).
Before the end of the half we put more pressure on Fenerbahce, sadly without it resulting in a goal, though.
It was the second half that provided all the action, goalscoring wise. Merely six minutes into the half we got our lead, through none other than Kieran Gibbs! Walcott provided a great cross across the goal (Ramsey had, in turn, provided the amazing pass to Walcott) for the full-back to reach and score from! It was a wonderful finish from the Englishman and it is certainly not every day that we get to see it.
Gibbs 51,
Ramsey 64,
Giroud 77
A strong performance was needed, not only to qualify for the Champions League, but also to put the Villa game truly behind us. And a strong performance was on display.
Right from the start one could tell that this would be a game more to our liking as we had a lot of possession and put a lot of pressure on Fenerbahce. The game was a bit more cautious initially, though. We had our first chance after five minutes when Wilshere played Walcott in, but the cross was blocked into a corner. After approximately twenty minutes Cazorla played a brilliant ball to Walcott, unfortunately the 'keeper beat him to the ball. We quickly won the ball back, however, and Giroud ended the offensive with a header that went just wide. Then Ramsey fired wide before Koscielny received a severe kick to the head, leaving him bleeding heavily and unable to continue the game. The amount of situations where our players have been left bleeding has been quite unreal, Szczesny received a scratch on the neck later on in this game, also resulting in blood (although quite lightly compared to Koscielny, and Gibbs from the previous game). Anyway, Jenkinson was brought on and Sagna moved to cover as centre-half (which he has been doing during pre-season).
Before the end of the half we put more pressure on Fenerbahce, sadly without it resulting in a goal, though.
It was the second half that provided all the action, goalscoring wise. Merely six minutes into the half we got our lead, through none other than Kieran Gibbs! Walcott provided a great cross across the goal (Ramsey had, in turn, provided the amazing pass to Walcott) for the full-back to reach and score from! It was a wonderful finish from the Englishman and it is certainly not every day that we get to see it.
The following minute or so Walcott almost doubled our lead as he attempted to chip the ball over the 'keeper after a brilliant move by Wilshere, unfortunately the 'keeper made the save, though. Then Szczesny had to make an astounding save with his left, resulting in the scratch on his neck as mentioned previously.
Approximately twenty minutes into the half we more or less sealed the game as Aaron Ramsey fired a powerful shot from outside the 18-yard-box that was steered in by the post by the 'keeper! The Welshman was brilliant in this game (not only due to his goal) and it is very encouraging for us.
Sow had a two decent chances to equalize the game, though, but on both occasions he headed/shot over the bar. Just after those two chances it was Walcott's turn to fire over the bar, only to be brought down harshly in the box two minutes later and rightfully get a penalty. Cool as you like, Olivier Giroud scored from the penalty spot with a strike that hit the goal's ceiling.
That more or less wrapped the game up, Szczesny had to make two saves before the game was over and in the very last minute Jenkinson had a shot over the bar, but a 3-0 victory away was definitely good enough.
Approximately twenty minutes into the half we more or less sealed the game as Aaron Ramsey fired a powerful shot from outside the 18-yard-box that was steered in by the post by the 'keeper! The Welshman was brilliant in this game (not only due to his goal) and it is very encouraging for us.
Sow had a two decent chances to equalize the game, though, but on both occasions he headed/shot over the bar. Just after those two chances it was Walcott's turn to fire over the bar, only to be brought down harshly in the box two minutes later and rightfully get a penalty. Cool as you like, Olivier Giroud scored from the penalty spot with a strike that hit the goal's ceiling.
That more or less wrapped the game up, Szczesny had to make two saves before the game was over and in the very last minute Jenkinson had a shot over the bar, but a 3-0 victory away was definitely good enough.
So I dare say that we will qualify for the Champions League, yet again, as I cannot see how Fenerbahce would beat us by such a margin at the Emirates. Nevertheless, in football everything can happen so it is important to remember that the game is not over yet!
Injury Update:
- Oxlade-Chamberlain is out for approximately three months following the Villa game.
- Gibbs and Sagna both made it back for this game, fortunately.
- It is not yet confirmed how serious Koscielny's injury is, but it looked quite bad and he had to go to the hospital.
- It is not yet confirmed how serious Koscielny's injury is, but it looked quite bad and he had to go to the hospital.
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