Udinese 1 Arsenal 2 (Arsenal 3-1 on agg):IN A time of trial for the club, Arsenal showed a bold reaction that took them through to the group phase of the Champions League. They had to cope with a splendid looping header from Antonio Di Natale that levelled the tie at 1-1 on aggregate in the 37th minute. The impact thereafter reflected the rise in Arsenal's verve that made them deserved victors.
It was a night of achievement and the goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny saved a second-half penalty from Di Natale that could have put Udinese 2-1 ahead in this game.
Arsenal started looking bold and intent on demonstrating their superiority, assuming they actually do have an edge over a club with far less money. In a match that began at the sort of tempo seldom associated with sophisticates, Udinese were in a frenzy of ambition and Di Natale had eased in to hit the post in the 23rd minute, following a ball from Mauricio Isla on the right.
The menace of Di Natale would have registered with Arsenal immediately. The captain, at 33, is still celebrated as the most impressive figure at the club. His status was enhanced a little more with that opener.
Arsene Wenger, who has made a bold statement of intent by offering €25m to Rennes for the holding midfielder Yann M’Vila, is sometimes criticised for being so ready to pick inexperienced players. At this stage in a fascinating career, though, he is not for changing. The 19-year-old full-back Carl Jenkinson made his competitive debut from the bench in the first match with Udinese and has started the two subsequent fixtures, including this contest.
Jenkinson was accommodated on the right, his best position, even though that meant Bacary Sagna switching wings to play left-back. Emmanuel Frimpong, a midfielder of the same age, also had the new experience of being on the pitch at kick-off in a Champions League match, although he made way for Tomas Rosicky at the interval.
Frimpong had initially been eye-catching and so, too, was the boldness with which Arsenal sought to pummel Udinese at the start. Indeed it took a little time for Francesco Guidolin’s men to exercise a semblance of the control they would have anticipated on their own pitch. At that juncture, it look as if the side was wholly at ease with itself.
The unsettling fact, though, was that the Udinese goalkeeper, Samir Handanovic, was not put to a severe test until the 31st minute when he blocked attempts by Theo Walcott and then Robin van Persie. Gervinho, instrumental in the build-up then, was having an impact.
Disquiet is saturating the club and, in many cases, causing alarm to supporters who, for the moment, cannot trust Wenger as fully as they once did.
While the line-up is far weaker than Arsenal could have anticipated, there are still resources within the squad. The test for the side was to make a stand in Udine and resist the atmosphere of dread and dismay that has begun to surround it.
A touchline ban was not imposed on Wenger by Uefa for this fixture. The manager was close to the action and sought to alter it with introduction of a creator, Rosicky.
The terms of the contest had to alter if Arsenal were to win the tie. It was Van Persie who gave the fixture that necessary jolt, after 55 minutes, by finishing after excellent work on the left by Gervinho when he set up the Dutchman on the edge of the six-yard box.
Peace, of course, could never fall quite so easily on an encounter of this consequence. Thomas Vermaelen handled inside the area and it seemed likely that the accomplishment of Di Natale would restore the advantage, but his penalty rose a little and Wojciech Szczesny was able to pull off a fine save to his right.
Thereafter, Arsenal found confidence and Walcott secured the win when he beat Mehdi Benatia for pace and produced a composed finish slotting past the goalkeeper to entrench his side’s domination on an evening that can only inspire the club.
UDINESE: Handanovic, Ekstrand, Benatia (Pasquale 87), Danilo, Neuton, Isla (Denis 83), Agyemang-Badu, Asamoah, Armero, Pinzi (Fabbrini 63), Di Natale. Subs not used: Belardi, Basta, Abdi, Doubai. Booked: Isla, Benatia, Fabbrini.
ARSENAL: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Djourou, Vermaelen, Sagna, Walcott (Arshavin 90), Frimpong (Rosicky 46), Song, Ramsey, Gervinho (Traore 86), van Persie. Subs not used: Fabianski, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Chamakh, Miquel. Booked: Vermaelen, Sagna, Walcott, Jenkinson.
Referee: Olegario Benquerenca (Portugal).
