Wilshere and Podolski goals see Gunners through group

Jack Wilshere and Lukas Podolski sealed a 2-0 win for Arsenal on Wednesday night against French Champions Montpellier. The victory ensured the Gunners a place in the knock out stages of the Champions League for the thirteenth successive season thanks to Schalke beating Olympiacos in the other group B tie of the round. Arsenal took a while to find their rhythm in the game and it was once more a pretty poor first half. However they turned things round in the second thanks to Wilshere's comeback goal and a sumptuous volley from Lukas Podolski. The Gunners made one change from the victory over Spurs as Oxlade-Chamberlain came in for the injured Theo Walcott. Meanwhile Gibbs and Gervinho returned to the bench following injuries.

Jack Wilshere scored his first goal since returning from injury

The first chance of the game came on 10 minutes as Vermaelen's cross found Koscielny but his header thundered back off the crossbar.

Montpellier's first opening came a few minutes later as M'Biwa split the defence with a pass through to Mounier but Szczesny came out to stop the player going any further with the ball.

Arsenal's next chance came from Jack Wilshere's corner. The ball wasn't cleared properly and it fell to Oxlade-Chamberlain on the edge of the box but he struck a tame effort which was easily saved.

On the half hour mark Podolski had a good chance to put the Gunners ahead. Koscielny surged forward from the back and then lost the ball. However Podolski picked it up, got into the penalty area and slid his shot wide of the goal.

Podolski then had another opportunity to score as Cazorla slid the ball through to him but the German put his effort wide once more.

Montpellier hadn't created much but just before the break Belhanda tried his luck from range but the ball flew over the crossbar.

The score at half time was 0-0.

Just 4 minutes after the break, Arsenal were ahead. Vermaelen's cross was knocked down by Giroud into the path of Wilshere who dinked the ball past the goalkeeper for his first goal in almost 2 years.

The Gunners then found themselves 2-0 up shortly after the hour mark. Podolski played a one-two with Giroud before letting fly with a thumping volley from 12 yards out which flew past Jourden in the Montpellier goal.

Cazorla then almost found the net in a rather fortuatous manner as Giroud found him in space but the Spaniard sliced his shot and Jourden managed to turn it behind for a corner.

Olivier Giroud hadn't created much for himself in the game but almost found the net against his old club but for the goalkeeper who saved well from almost point blank range with 10 minutes to go.

Montpellier then fired in their best shot of the game in injury time as Herrara let fly from outside the area but the ball bounced wide of the goal.

It was job done at the Emirates as the final score finished Arsenal 2-0 Montpellier.

The teams lineups:

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Arteta, Wilshere, Cazorla(84), Oxlade-Chamberlain(69), Podolski, Giroud(84).
Subs: Mannone, Jenkinson, Gibbs, Coquelin(84), Ramsey(69), Arshavin, Gervinho(84).

Montpellier: Jourden, Deplagne, Congre, El Kaoutari, Bedimo, Yanba-M'Biwa, Estrada(79), Belhanda, Mounier, Cabella(68), Charbonnier(68). 
Subs: Pionnier, Hilton, Marveaux(79), Martin(68), Herrera(68), Jeunechamp, Pitau. 

My man of the match: Jack Wilshere

Referee: Firat Aydinus(TUR)
Attendance: 59,760. 

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