Podolski and Gervinho seal win against Montpellier

Arsenal won in their first Champions League group game of the season on Tuesday night as they beat French champions Montpellier 2-1 thanks to goals from Podolski and Gervinho. However it was a very hard fought victory for Arsenal against the French side who aren't doing too well domestically this season. The Gunners went behind early but then came back with 2 goals in 2 minutes. Arsenal put out a very strong team which saw just two changes from the weekends victory against Southampton. Vito Mannone came in for the once again injured Wojciech Szczesny whilst Olivier Giroud came in for Oxlade-Chamberlain to play against his former club. Due to the injuries of two of Arsenal's goalkeepers James Shea was on the bench. Steve Bould took charge of the team instead of Arsene Wenger as he began his 3 match touchline ban sanctioned by UEFA.

Lukas Podolski found the net for the third game running for Arsenal

On just 8 minutes, Arsenal were behind and Montpellier had their first Champions League goal. Thomas Vermaelen made contact with Younes Belhanda just inside the area and a penalty was given. It looked to be a very harsh one though as Belhanda was going away from goal and Vermaelen looked to have got the ball. It was Belhanda himself who got up to take the penalty and he dinked the ball down the middle which completely fooled Mannone.

Montpellier then had another chance as Podolski failed to clear the ball and it came out to Cabella but he drove his shot over the bar.

Arsenal's best chance of the match so far resulted in a goal from Lukas Podolski. Cazorla played the ball into Giroud who flicked the ball through to Podolski who calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net for the equaliser.

Two minutes later Arsenal found themselves in front. Carl Jenkinson found space on the right hand side to deliver a ball across the goal and into Gervinho who tapped the ball home.

Cabella was proving to be dangerous for the French Champions though as he cut inside past Gibbs and then fired a shot with his left foot which went just wide of the goal.

Olivier Giroud then had a chance to score against his old club as Kieran Gibbs crossed the ball into him but he fired wide.

The score at half time was 2-1 to Arsenal.

Montpellier almost found an equaliser just after the break as Abou Diaby was robbed of possession inside the box by Carbella but he blazed his attempt high and wide.

Cabella was then once again at the heart of an attack as he crossed the ball deep into the path of Bocaly but the shot was once again high and wide of Mannone and the goal.

Arsenal were up against it in the second half and were then once again tested as Cabella chipped a shot which lobbed Mannone and then came back off the cross-bar.

The Gunners however did finally find themselves a chance as Diaby powered his way towards the penalty area before feeding Cazorla whose driven shot was kept out by Jourden.

Younes Belhanda, scorer of the first goal, then had a brilliant chance to take all three points off of Arsenal as he fainted past Mertesacker and then smashed his shot straight at Mannone from close range.

The final score finished Montpellier 1-2 Arsenal.

The teams lineups:

Montpellier: Jourden, Bocaly, Yanga-Mbiwa, Hilton, Bedimo, Mounier(67), Saihi, Cabella, Estrada(77), Belhanda, Camara(78).
Subs: Pionnier, Congre, Stambouli(78), Jeunechamp, Marveaux, Herrera(77), Ait-Fana(67).

Arsenal: Mannone, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Diaby, Arteta, Cazorla(90), Gervinho, Podolski(90), Giroud(75).
Subs: Shea, Koscielny, Santos, Coquelin(90), Ramsey(75), Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott(90).

Man of the match: Lukas Podolski(Arsenal), Remy Cabella(Montpellier).

Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo(ESP)
Attendance: 30,000