Arsenal gundown Champions League first timers

Arsenal kicked off their Champions league campaign in style by thrashing Portuguese side Sporting Braga 6-0 at the Emirates. Braga at the start of the match were a team to be reckoned with after beating Celtic and Sevilla on their way to securing their place in the Champions League proper for the first time. Nasri was returning from injury after 2 weeks for the Gunners.

Arsenal made a lively start to the game and Chamakh could have put the Gunners 1-0 up but decided to dummy the ball but nobody was behind him. Still on the attack the Gunners had a very strong claim for a penalty turned down.
Arsenal were then awarded a penalty on 8 minutes after the Braga goalkeeper brought down Chamakh just outside the 6 yard box. Cesc Fabregas stepped up and slotted the ball past Felipe in the Braga goal.

Braga then got a half decent chance after Alan raced into the box beating Fabregas for pace but his cross could not be turned into the net.

Braga were not defending well and Jack Wilshere had a great opportunity after Arshavin found Fabregas from the cross who headed to Wilshere but Felipe made a good save and tipped the ball away.

Arsenal then made it 2-0 thanks to Arshavin after great work from Fabregas outside the box. He then found Arshavin who smashed the ball inside the near post.
Arsenal were dominating and 4 minutes later Chamakh made it 3-0. Jack Wilshire played a one-two with Chamakh who put the ball into the back of the net, a classy backheel from Wilshire providing the assist.

The score at half time was 3-0.

Arsenal started the second half the way they started the first. 8 minutes into the second half the Gunners made it 4-0 after Arshavin dinked the ball onto the head of Fabregas who headed in from 6 yards.

Fabregas then got a great opportunity to get his hat-trick after racing into the box but his effort was cleared off the line.
Arsenal then should have made it 5 on the break but Arshavin saw his shot hit the post and bounce back out again.

The Gunners then did make it 5-0 after a nice exchange from Arshavin found Vela who dinked the ball over Felipe the Braga goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
Arsenal then completed the rout 6 minutes from time after a lofted ball forward from Wilshire found the skipper Fabregas who then found Vela. He then tucked the ball inside the near post for his second of the game after coming on as a substitute.

The final scored ended Arsenal 6 - 0 SC Braga

The teams lineups:

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Koscielny, Squillaci, Clichy, Fabregas, Song(63), Nasri, Wilshere, Arshavin(69), Chamakh(63).
Subs: Fabianski, Djourou, Eboue(69), Gibbs, Rosicky, Denilson(63), Vela(63).

SC Braga: Felipe, Rodriguez, Moises, Aguiar, Garcia, Silvio, Alan, Viana(55), Cesar(70), Vandinho, Matheus(60).
Subs: Artur, Paulao, Elton, Mossoro(55), Barbosa(70), Madrid, Lima(60).

My Man of the match: Cesc Fabregas

Referee: Alain Hamer(Lux)
Attendance: 59,333