Arsenal Qualify for the Champions League - 2nd Leg

Arsenal are through to the group stages of the Champions League for the 14th successive season under Arsene Wenger thanks to a 3-1 aggregate win over Udinese. Arsenal won 2-1 in the second leg in Udine, Italy thanks to goals from Van Persie and Walcott and a brilliant penalty save from Szczesny half way through the second leg to stop Udinese getting back in the tie. However it was not all easy as in the heat of the Italian night Arsenal had to endure 70 minutes of hard fought football which eventually saw the Gunners come out on top. Samir Nasri had now left the club on the day of the game to go to Manchester City despite training with Arsenal the day the deal had been agreed. Sagna once again had to play at left back as Jenkinson played on the right whilst Van Persie came back from suspension along with the manager who was back on the sidelines again after serving his touchline ban. Song, Frimpong and Gervinho played despite picking up suspensions domestically. Young Spanish reserve team player Ignasi Miguel was once again among the substitutes after featuring against Liverpool at the weekend. The Udinese lineup was unchanged to the side that played in the first leg at the Emirates with Di Natale once again leading the line for the Italian team.

The first chance fell to Walcott just as it had done in the first leg. He managed to get past Neuton and then drive a shot from the edge of the box towards the goal but his shot was beaten away by Handanovic to stop Arsenal from grabbing a crucial away goal. 

Udinese with their first chance thought they had scored to level the tie but as Di Natale stuck the ball in the back of the net from 6 yards the referee blew for offside on the Italian.

Gervinho was causing the full backs problems with his threatening runs and two times he managed to get the ball into the box but not create a scoring opportunity as the goalkeeper and defender was in the way.

The Italian side then almost took the lead on the night but for the woodwork, twice, as first Armero saw his weak header towards goal hit the post and bounce back out. The second chance fell to Di Natale who got his foot to an Isla cross but once again the ball struck the post and came back out.

Di Natale - Udinese's star man in both legs

It was then Arsenal's turn to attack and they must have wondered how they did not score as first Gervinho layed the ball off to Walcott who struck a fierce shot which was saved by Handanovic and then from the follow up Van Persie also saw his shot saved by the Slovenian keeper.

6 minutes before the break there was finally a goal and it deservedly went to Udinese as Pinzi chipped the ball onto the head of Di Natale, who steared his header beyond Szczesny and in off the post to level the game on aggregate.

The score at half time was 1-0 to Udinese and 1-1 on aggregate.

The first chance of the second half came to Walcott as he drove forward and he tried side footing a shot from distance but Handanovic was there to make an easy save.

10 minutes into the second half Arsenal got the crucial away goal that was needed to give them a strong position in the tie. Once again Gervinho showed great determination to get to the byline and then pick out Van Persie on the six yard box who fired his shot into the back of the net.

Then suddenly Udinese were awarded a penalty for a handball on Vermaelen which only the official behind the goal had seen. Vermaelen was consequently booked for the offence. Di Natale stepped up to take the penalty but it was saved brilliantly by Szczesny as he dived to his right hand to tip the ball over the bar.

Walcott scores to seal the game

With 20 minutes left to play Arsenal took the lead on the night and put the tie to bed. Walcott playing a one-two with Sagna before racing clear of the defence and burying his chance at the near post to put Arsenal into the Champions League group stages.

Udinese did have a chance shortly after that to try to put them back into the match as Badu found Di Natale once again in the box but he dragged his shot wide of the goal.

Di Natale once again had another chance from a free kick as Song had brought down Fabbrini on the left hand flank. Di Natale then whipped in a freekick to Szczesny's near post but the young Polish keeper was there to beat the ball away.

The last real good chance of the game came from Arsenal as Van Persie struck a shot from 20 yards out which Handanovic palmed away but straight to Traore who also saw his shot saved.

The final score ended Udinese 1-2 Arsenal and 3-1 to Arsenal on aggregate.

The teams lineups: 

Udinese: Handanovic, Ekstrand, Benatia(87), Danilo, Neuton, Badu, Isla(83), Asamoah, Pinzi(63), Armero, Di Natale.
Subs: Belardi, Basta, Pasquale(87), Abdi, Doubai, Denis(83), Fabbrini(63).

Arsenal: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Djourou, Vermaelen, Sagna, Song, Frimpong(45), Ramsey, Walcott(90), Gervinho(86), Van Persie.
Subs: Fabianski, Miquel, Traore(86), Rosicky(45), Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arshavin(90), Chamakh.

My man of the match: Wojiech Szczesny

Referee: Olegario Benquerenca
Attendance: 25,687