Arsenal 1-0 Udinese: Early Theo Walcott goal earns victory for nervous Gunners

Arsenal will take a narrow lead in its return leg of its Champions League playoff tie with Udinese next Wednesday after a 1-0 victory at the Emirates, thanks to Theo Walcott’s fourth minute goal.

The result did not reflect the balance of the game though, with Antonio Di Natale having hit the bar and later squandering a one-on-one with Wojciech Szczesny after Pablo Armero had also passed up a similar chance.

But the club couldn’t quite peg the English side back, paying a heavy price for an early lapse of concentration.

With barely three minutes on the clock, Aaron Ramsey was allowed to find space in behind left-back Neuton and had the time to pick out Theo Walcott at the near post, and the England international found it all too easy to side-foot home.

Gervinho could have doubled the lead five minutes later, but his air-shot in front of goal left Arsenal hanging on to its early advantage.

The visitors could have been level minutes later despite having been clearly second best to that point. When Walcott brought down Neuton, Antonio Di Natale stepped up and curled an audacious 30-yard effort onto the bar, with Wojciech Szczesny left scrambling.

Udinese’s best chance to equalize came when Pablo Armero burst right through the middle of the home defense, but a heavy touch allowed Szczesny to come out and parry, and the retreating Vermaelen managed to help clean up the danger.

Di Natale was foiled by substitute Johan Djorou when he had a great chance one-on-one with Szczesny as the Italian side started the second half in a similar vein to the first, dominating battles all across the field. Isla then muscled out Carl Jenkinson before flashing a drive across the face of goal.

Giampiero Pinzi drove one effort just wide as Udinese continued to pass up opportunities, with Arsenal increasingly breathing a sigh of relief with the match approaching its final 10 minutes.

However, it could, and perhaps should, have had a second when Walcott ran onto Gervinho’s through ball, but his side-foot attempt was superbly kept out by Samir Handanovic.

The result means that Francesco Guidolin’s side host the Gunners next week without the luxury of an away goal, while Arsene Wenger will hope his troops can take advantage of the missed opportunities of their opponents.

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