Arsenal 2 Standard Liege 0:ARSENAL'S PROGRESS out of their Champions League section has been assured for a 10th successive season, though it says everything about this side's desperate desire to make an impact in the domestic title race that, even in the wake of a comfortable win, celebrations were still tinged with concern.
Chelsea, eight points better off at the top of the Premier League, are due here on Sunday and the head injury sustained by William Gallas, who departed at the interval disorientated and peering through one heavily swollen eye, is a major worry for the hosts. Arsene Wenger is not blessed with great depth at centre-half and the prospect of confronting Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka with a makeshift back-line will be disconcerting. The week will be spent fretting over the Frenchman’s fitness rather than basking in qualification.
Opportunities had been plentiful, invariably generated by the slick inter-play between Andrey Arshavin and Cesc Fabregas in this fluid midfield. But so, too, had profligacy until the artistry momentarily took a back seat and a hopeful punt prised open the Belgians. Thereafter, with a second secured before the interval, the tie and this group appeared settled.
Only 10 minutes remained of a one-sided opening period when Thomas Vermaelen pummelled the ball forward from just inside his own half and Landry Mulemo, under vague pressure from Samir Nasri, lost his footing and crumpled to the turf. The grateful Nasri’s finish was crisp and true, beating Sinan Bolat, and the home side had secured their lead rather more crudely than their effervescent approach-play had suggested.
At times, this had been breathtaking Arsenal at their best, a blur of passing and movement to leave the Belgians gasping. Alex Song and Nasri had set the tone early on only for Felipe to block Carlos Vela’s attempt.
Both Arshavin and Fabregas later arrowed shots agonisingly wide of the post, and quite how Standard had survived a ridiculously manic goalmouth pinball on the quarter-hour mark remained a mystery. In that frantic rat-a-tat, Bolat had denied Arshavin and Gallas from close range, Vela had struck a post before Vermaelen’s attempt was inadvertently diverted wide by the Russian playmaker on the goal-line. Yet, if the Belgians had breathed a sigh of relief at that escape, they appeared sunk in stoppage time of the first half as Denilson, making his first start since mid-September and his 100th appearance for this club, struck an optimistic if dipping shot from 30 yards and Bolat, otherwise excellent, allowed the ball to slip greasily through his outstretched hands.
Liege had been more muscular than threatening, yet Arsenal’s main discomfort had actually been self-inflicted. Gallas and Arshavin had each leapt to reach Fabregas’ centre only to clash heads in the six-yard box. The Russian was left bloodied, though it was the Frenchman who departed dizzied at the break not to return.
ARSENAL: Almunia, Eboue, Gallas (Silvestre 46), Vermaelen, Gibbs, Fabregas, Song Billong, Denilson (Rosicky 66), Nasri (Walcott 60), Arshavin, Vela. Subs not used: Mannone, Sagna, Eduardo, Traore. Booked: Fabregas.
STANDARD LIEGE: Bolat, Camozzato, Sarr, Felipe, Mulemo, Goreux, Witsel, Mangala, Carcela-Gonzalez, Dalmat (Traore 64), Mbokani (Gohi-Bi 67). Subs not used: Van Hout, Victor Ramos, Rocha, Gershon, Nicaise. Sent Off: Carcela-Gonzalez (86). Booked: Mulemo, Mangala.
Referee: Konrad Plautz (Austria).
Attendance: 59,941
