Arsenal forced to settle for a point despite Walcott and Giroud goals

Arsenal had to settle for a point in Germany on Tuesday night as they drew 2-2 with Schalke. Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud had struck first half goals but the German side were allowed back into the game and Arsenal will be disappointed that they conceded two goals meaning they stayed second in the group behind yesterday nights opponents. The Gunners had looked like more of a threat going forward which was encouraging as Theo Walcott started for the first time, excluding League Cup games, since the opening day of the season. Meanwhile they still looked a little shaky at the back despite Andre Santos being dropped and Vermaelen pushing out to the left. Arsenal would have settled for a point at the Vetlins Arena before the game, however in these circumstances they wouldn't have. Jack Wilshere started his first European game since his injury as he looked to be ever improving. Italian goalkeeper Vito Mannone was also improving having really come into his own this season after some impressive performances so far in which last nights one was up there.

Theo Walcott continued his good form with a goal against Schalke

The first chance of the game fell to Schalke as Afellay raced down the left hand side before firing a shot towards the near post from the left hand side but Mannone kept the shot out.

A few mintues later Schalke had another chance as Howedes met Farfan's corner but the header went over the bar.

However it was the Gunner's who took the lead despite Schalke's bright start. Giroud managed to capitalise on a mistake from Neustadter as the Frenchman ran in on goal only to be tackled at the vital moment. The ball fell straight to Walcott though who dinked the ball past goalkeeper and defender before tapping the ball into an empty net.

Almost 10 minutes after Arsenal's first goal they grabbed another. Podolski did well down the left hand side to turn his man, and then fire in a great ball to Olivier Giroud who with a diving header from six yards out scored his first ever Champions League goal.

Six minutes before the break the German side had their best chance of the game so far as Farfan drove towards the area before smashing the ball wide.

Moments after, Giroud could have had his second of the night. Cazorla curled in a freekick from the right hand side into Giroud but his header was straight at Unnerstall in the Schalke goal.

Arsenal had looked fairly comfortable all night but on the stroke of half time Schalke pulled a goal back. Santi Cazorla lost the ball and it was then picked up by a Schalke player who chipped the ball into Holtby and then into Huntelaar who fired the ball beyond Mannone and into the back of the net.

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

Arsenal were the team to have the first chance of the second half as Cazorla fed Podolski down the left who then picked out Giroud at the back post but he smashed his shot into the ground and over the bar.

Klaas Jan Huntelaar then had a great opportunity to grab his and Schalke's second of the night as the ball was clipped into him but Mannone stood big and made a good save to deny the Dutchman when he should have scored.

Schalke then had two corners in quick succession and almost scored both of them. The first found its way out to Hoger but his shot was blocked on the line by Arteta and the next was headed wide by Neustadter.

The hosts were now dominating and Holtby then tested out Mannone as he drove a shot from distance but the Italian goalkeeper was equal to it and parmed the ball away.

Mannone was then tested once more as this time Afellay hit a shot from distance but again it was kept out.

Schalke then finally found themselves an equaliser. The ball was delivered into the box and then flicked on by Holtby into the path of Farfan who drilled a shot goalwards and in off Vermaelen.

With 10 minutes left the group leaders Schalke then tested Arsenal's keeper out again as Jones fired in a shot from outside the box but it was straight at Mannone.

In the dying seconds of the game Theo Walcott was gifted a great chance to win the game as he raced clear of the defence but with players around him, he could only find the goalkeeper.

The final score finished Schalke 2-2 Arsenal. 

The teams lineups:

Schalke: Unnerstall, Uchida((25), Howedes, Matip, Fuchs, Holtby, Jones, Neustadter, Afellay, Farfan, Huntelaar.
Subs: Hildebrand, Papadopoulos(66), Kolasinac, Hoger(25)(66), Moritz, Draxler, Marica.

Arsenal: Mannone, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Arteta, Wilshere, Cazorla(90), Walcott, Podolski(90), Giroud.
Subs: Shea, Djourou, Jenkinson, Santos(90), Coquelin(90), Arshavin, Chamakh. 

My man of the match: Vito Mannone

Referee: Nicola Rizzoli(ITA)
Attendance: 50,000

Gunners slip up in midweek thanks to late goals

Arsenal slid to their second defeat in a row as goals from Klass-Jan Huntelaar and Ibrahim Afellay sealed a 2-0 win for Schalke at the Emirates on Wednesday in the Champions League. The defeat meant that Arsenal's long unbeaten run at home in Europe had now come to an end. Arsenal were very poor, as they had been against Norwich at the weekend and once more failed to create many clear cut opportunities. The only shot on target came from the boot of 17 year old Serge Gnabry, that tells you all you need to know about how poor the Gunners were on the night. The midfield once again lived up to expectation, as did Per Mertsacker. However Andre Santos was ripped apart by Farfan all night whilst the attack failed to create much up top. Arsenal made just one change to the starting lineup as Francis Coquelin replaced Olivier Giroud as Ramsey pushed out wide with Gervinho down the middle. Meanwhile Marouane Chamakh returned to the substitutes bench.

Arsenal could do with the fire power of opening scorer Huntelaar after failing to score for 2 games in a row

The first chance of the game came 9 minutes in as Podolski found Gervinho at the near post but he steered his shot wide.

Arsenal had dominated the first 10 minutes and Schalke then tried to claim for a penalty as it looked like Mannone had brought down Afellay when in fact the Dutch winger had dived, and was subsequently booked.

Santi Cazorla then let fly from range as he got into a shooting position before seeing his effort deflected wide.

Schalke then had their first real chance as Uchida got to the byline before cutting the ball back to Farfan who stepped inside one man but Mertesacker slid in to block the attempt.

Just before the break the German side almost took the lead. Uchida was once more allowed to get beyond the Arsenal defence before sliding the ball to Huntelaar who put the ball wide when he should have scored.

The score at half time was 0-0.

Arsenal almost immediately had a chance to score as Cazorla wriggled out of the challenges before feeding Santos. His ball into the box found Coquelin who then found Ramsey but his flick fell into the hands of the goalkeeper.

Schalke then had a great opportunity to put themselves in front as Farfan skipped past Santos before finding Howedes who put the ball over from 12 yards out.

It was then the Gunners turn to appeal for a penalty as Gervinho got past Jones but then as the ball got away from the Ivorian he dived and the referee once again showed the yellow card and waved away the Arsenal protests.

With just 15 minutes left, Schalke took the lead. The ball was headed back into the box towards Huntelaar who beat the offside trap to smash the ball beyond Mannone and into the back of the net.

10 minutes later Schalke were 2 goals to the good. Farfan managed to get down the right hand side before sliding the ball across the box into Afellay who fired home at the back post.

In the last minute of the match, Arsenal finally had their first shot on target. Serge Gnabry cut inside from the right before seeing his shot beaten away. The ball went only as far as Cazorla but he put the shot over.

The final score finished Arsenal 0-2 Schalke.

The teams lineups:

Arsenal: Mannone, Jenkinson(83), Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Santos, Coquelin, Arteta, Cazorla, Ramsey, Podolski(83), Gervinho(75).
Subs: Shea, Djourou, Koscielny, Arshavin(83), Gnabry(83), Chamakh, Giroud(75).

Schalke: Unnerstall, Uchida, Howedes, Matip, Fuchs, Neustadter, Hoger(45), Holtby(65), Afellay, Farfan, Huntelaar(88).
Subs: Hildebrand, Kolasinac, Moritz, Jones(45), Barnetta(65), Draxler, Marica(88).

My man of the match: Francis Coquelin

Referee: Jonas Eriksson(SWE)
Attendance: 60,049