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Played
August 24, 2011 7:45 PM BST
Stadio Communale Friuli — Udine
Referee: Olegário Manuel Benquerenca
Attendance: 26031
August 24, 2011 7:45 PM BST
Stadio Communale Friuli — Udine
Referee: Olegário Manuel Benquerenca
Attendance: 26031
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| Udinese | 2.50 | 101.00 | 2.60 | 67.00 | 2.75 | 2.45 | 65.00 | 2.60 | 2.50 |
| Draw | 3.30 | 7.00 | 3.40 | 13.00 | 3.25 | 3.30 | 6.50 | 3.15 | 3.40 |
| Arsenal | 2.75 | 1.03 | 2.55 | 1.03 | 2.63 | 2.75 | 1.08 | 2.65 | 2.60 |
Top of the Match
Samir Handanoviç
Udinese
Udinese
Wojciech Szczesny
Arsenal FC
Arsenal FC
Flop of the Match
Emmanuel Frimpong
Arsenal FC
Arsenal FC
Antonio Di Natale
Udinese
Udinese
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Udinese 1-2 Arsenal (Agg 1-3): Van Persie, Walcott & Szczesny the heroes as Gunners progress to Champions League group stage draw
Goals from the captain and the young England forward overcome a first-half deficit as Arsene Wenger engineered a vital win over the Di Natale-inspired Italian side
By George Ankers
Getty Images
Arsenal recovered from a half-time deficit with goals from Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott, to put a spirited Udinese side, inspired by Antonio di Natale, out of the Champions League third qualifying round with a 2-1 win on the night.
Arsene Wenger fielded essentially the only XI available to him, with Bacary Sagna filling in at left-back and Emmanuel Frimpong, sent off at the weekend, starting in defensive midfield alongside Alex Song, with Udinese unchanged from the side that started the first leg.
Arsenal started brightly, but the home side had the ball in the net within ten minutes – however, Antonio di Natale’s volley from close range was ruled out, the 33-year-old having correctly been judged offside when receiving the pass.
Another scramble followed when Di Natale did well to scuttle around the edge of the box and cross from Pablo Armero, who scuffed a great headed chance.
The wily Di Natale later forced rattled the woodwork from close range when Mauricio Isla slipped through a cross from the right, with Arsenal falling onto the back foot after their promising beginning.
After half an hour Arsenal finally seemed to be getting back into the game. As Frimpong made some brave challenges in midfield, a clearance from the Italians’ penalty area found Van Persie just outside, but the Dutchman blazed his shot high and wide.
Suddenly the Gunners blazed into life, but the brilliance of Handanovic kept the Serie A side in the game, pulling off a spectacular save from point-blank range as Walcott looked odds-on to blast an easy finish past him from a good team build-up, and then made it a double block when Van Persie struck the rebound.
On the counter from that very opportunity, Udinese might have snuck one in, with Szczesny doing well to get down and keep di Natale out as the striker sought to angle a shot past him from a tight angle.
And just before half-time, Di Natale finally delivered. He rose well to nod an excellent precision header into the top corner from the penalty spot, impressive considering the lack of speed on the cross from Pinzi. Szczesny could only watch as the tie was blown wide open, and the first half drew to a close with Udinese firmly in the driving seat.
But after ten minutes of the second period, the Gunners’ vital breakthrough came with Van Persie calmly turning the ball in from the middle of the area, having been supplied from the byline by the marauding Gervinho.
And just moments later, the game threatened to swerve another way as Udinese found themselves with a penalty kick thanks to a supposed Thomas Vermaelen handball in the area, but Szczesny produced a save of staggering quality to deny Di Natale an instant reply. Leaping to his right, the Polish keeper managed to deflect the shot, bound for the top corner, over the bar with the tip of his left hand to cement his side’s new-found advantage.
With Udinese heads down following that double disappointment, Arsenal looked to seal the deal ten minutes later, with Walcott playing a smart one-two with Sagna to unleash himself through the middle. The England man was calmness personified as he slotted in a great finish to all-but kill off the game.
Booked shortly after, which will see him miss the next European match, Walcott was harshly done by as the extra official behind the goal failed to report what looked like a nasty elbow on the forward by Neuton.
Udinese had a last flash as Szczesny reacted well to keep di Natale’s free-kick from curling into the top corner, but they looked a defeated side after Arsenal’s goals and finished the game quietly.
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Arsene Wenger fielded essentially the only XI available to him, with Bacary Sagna filling in at left-back and Emmanuel Frimpong, sent off at the weekend, starting in defensive midfield alongside Alex Song, with Udinese unchanged from the side that started the first leg.
| GOAL.COM'S DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DRAW |
 We will have all the news, expert analysis, reaction & much more before, during & after Thursday's Champions League draw |
Another scramble followed when Di Natale did well to scuttle around the edge of the box and cross from Pablo Armero, who scuffed a great headed chance.
The wily Di Natale later forced rattled the woodwork from close range when Mauricio Isla slipped through a cross from the right, with Arsenal falling onto the back foot after their promising beginning.
After half an hour Arsenal finally seemed to be getting back into the game. As Frimpong made some brave challenges in midfield, a clearance from the Italians’ penalty area found Van Persie just outside, but the Dutchman blazed his shot high and wide.
Suddenly the Gunners blazed into life, but the brilliance of Handanovic kept the Serie A side in the game, pulling off a spectacular save from point-blank range as Walcott looked odds-on to blast an easy finish past him from a good team build-up, and then made it a double block when Van Persie struck the rebound.
On the counter from that very opportunity, Udinese might have snuck one in, with Szczesny doing well to get down and keep di Natale out as the striker sought to angle a shot past him from a tight angle.
And just before half-time, Di Natale finally delivered. He rose well to nod an excellent precision header into the top corner from the penalty spot, impressive considering the lack of speed on the cross from Pinzi. Szczesny could only watch as the tie was blown wide open, and the first half drew to a close with Udinese firmly in the driving seat.
Van the man | Skipper netted crucial away goal as second half show wins tie
But after ten minutes of the second period, the Gunners’ vital breakthrough came with Van Persie calmly turning the ball in from the middle of the area, having been supplied from the byline by the marauding Gervinho.
And just moments later, the game threatened to swerve another way as Udinese found themselves with a penalty kick thanks to a supposed Thomas Vermaelen handball in the area, but Szczesny produced a save of staggering quality to deny Di Natale an instant reply. Leaping to his right, the Polish keeper managed to deflect the shot, bound for the top corner, over the bar with the tip of his left hand to cement his side’s new-found advantage.
With Udinese heads down following that double disappointment, Arsenal looked to seal the deal ten minutes later, with Walcott playing a smart one-two with Sagna to unleash himself through the middle. The England man was calmness personified as he slotted in a great finish to all-but kill off the game.
Booked shortly after, which will see him miss the next European match, Walcott was harshly done by as the extra official behind the goal failed to report what looked like a nasty elbow on the forward by Neuton.
Udinese had a last flash as Szczesny reacted well to keep di Natale’s free-kick from curling into the top corner, but they looked a defeated side after Arsenal’s goals and finished the game quietly.
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Goal
Own Goal
Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
Goal.com Man of the Match
Goal.com Flop of the Match
Top & Flop Global Ranking
Fans' Man of the Match- Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
Times In GMT
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lionel Messi
Striker Barcelona |
14 | 4 |
|
Mario Gomez
Striker Bayern Munich |
13 | 0 |
|
Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker Real Madrid |
10 | 2 |
|
Karim Benzema
Striker Real Madrid |
7 | 0 |
|
Didier Drogba
Striker Chelsea |
6 | 0 |
