Arsenal vs Braga Match Report

Arsenal opened the Champions League campaign against Portuguese side Braga at the Emirates. The Gunners took full advantage of their fans' enthusiasm as they riled up the crowd with an 9th minute penalty kick following a reckless foul on Marouane Chamakh. The men in red followed up with an a great move to double their lead.

Jack Wilshere played a brilliant match setting up the third Arsenal goal with a delightful back heel to Marouane Chamakh. The 18-year old showed a swagger that the Gunners embodied on the weekend's 2-1 win against Bolton. The youngster combined with Cesc Fabregas to great effect. Like Kaka and Seedorf, he was the fulcrum of the midfield.

Braga threatened to get back into the game with their striker, Mattheus, kept Koscielny and Squillaci alert. The side, off a 3-2 loss against Porto FC, clearly struggled against Arsenal's deft passing. When Hugo Viana was subbed for Mossoro in the 54th minute, the Portugeuse appeared to put up the shutters.

After halftime, Arshavin turned from scorer to provider. The Arsenal midfielder chipped a nice ball captain Cesc Fabregas who obliged with a spot on header. With Vela's 63rd minute introduction, Arsenal did not slow down as the Mexico international grabbed a goal that is sure to boost his confidence. Following the Arsenal hat trick, Andrei Arshavin sought his second inclusion on the score sheet but settled for an assist to Vela. The younger Arsenal striker later doubled his tally on 85 minutes.

The Emirates faithful were in full voice tonight. More importantly, Arsenal looked the part. If the Gunners can consistently replicate their delicious form, there is no telling how far they will go.

Players to watch against Sunderland: Samir Nasri and Laurent Koscielny

Have your say: Has Wenger finally gotten it right?

Starting XI:

Arsenal

Almunia, Sagna, Koscielny, Squillaci, Clichy, Nasri, Song, Fabregas, Wilshere, Arshavin, Chamakh

Braga

Felipe, Miguel Garcia, Moises, Rodriguez, Silvio, Vandinho, Aguiar, Hugo Viana, Alan, Matheus, Paulo Cesar

Goals:

Fabregas 9' (Pen)

Arshavin 30'

Chamakh 36'

Fabregas 53'

Substitution (In/Out):

55'

Mossoro/Miguel Hugo Viana

60'

Lima/Mattheus

63'

Vela/Chamakh

Denilson/Alex Song

70'

Emmanuel Eboue/ Andrei Arshavin

Arsenal Beat Blackburn 2-1

Arsenal and Blackburn have met 116 times in all competitions. Today’s match was not a test of talent as much as it was a battle of tactics. Meetings between Arsene Wenger and Sam Allardyce are regularly frustrating affairs as the Frenchman often struggles to beat his counterpart. While at Bolton, Allardyce utilized El-Hadj Diouf and Nicolas Anelka, to make trips to the Reebok Stadium a headache. In May Blackburn, with Allardyce at the helm, beat Arsenal 2-1.

The Gunners opened their account early when Theo Walcott finished a brilliant move. Walcott’s 20th minute strike, similar to his first goal against Blackpool, was Arsenal’s eighth in just three games. The impressive goals to games ratio could not hide their infamously porous defence that conceded goals in their last 10 league and cup away matches.

Blackburn responded with a 26th minute goal from M.B Diouf. Blackburn, devoid of perennial thorn Anelka, still put Arsenal to the test. The Gunners succumbed to El-Hadj Diouf’s speed on the width. The Senegal international breezed passed Koscielny and drew the ball back to the younger Diouf who obliged.

In the first half, Arsenal gave away more than the lead as Robin Van Persie came off with an ankle injury. The Holland international was replaced my Maroune Chamakh, a clear choice in Bendtner’s absence. The first half concluded with few fireworks and set the stage for an interesting second 45 minutes.

Andrei Arshavin clearly stated Arsenal’s intentions with his 50th minute goal off a Bacary Sagna cross. The Mad Russian’s strike settled the game and gave control to the men in red.

Blackburn rebuffed efforts from Walcott, Chamakh, and Arshavin. After falling behind again, Rovers could not eke out another goal. Sam Allardyce, as usual, had done his homework but Wenger’s side were clearly better on the day.

Man of the Match: Theo Walcott

Substitutions (In > Out):

Arsenal
Maroune Chamakh > Robin Van Persie (34)
Tomas Rosicky > Cesc Fabregas (68)
Wilshere > Arshavin (84)

Blackburn
David Dunne > Vincenzo Grella (56)
Martin Olsson > Nikola Klasnic (65)

Bookings:
Gael Givet (73)

Highlights:

Arsenal Outgunned By Barca

Well folks, mark this day. For Arsenal fans it will be remembered as another Champions League campaign that yielded unconvincing evidence of the young gunners' prowess. For Barcelona supporters, the match brought them one step closer to a repeat Champions League final appearance.

Despite the 4-1 score line, the Gunners cannot say the Blaugrana are better man-for-man. Rather it was one man, a little one at that, who undid the Arsenal defense. The Gunners entered the game as wounded warriors. William Gallas, Alex Song, Cesc Fabregas led a parade of injuries ahead of their date at the Nou Camp.

In the run-up, Arsene Wenger said all the right things. His coy optimism was similar, yet noticeably subdued, compared to cautiously confident Pep Guardiola. Neither manager truly disappointed as both legs showed the world how football(soccer) is meant to be played.

Lionel Messi left an indelible impression on the match as he delivered four decisive strikes to settle the game long before the final whistle. The 22-year old Golden Boot and Player of the Year contender hammered a terrific shot past a helpless Manuel Almunia on 21 minutes. He continued on the contribute a hat trick on top of his wonder goal.

Undoubtedly, pundits will hail the result as further evidence the Argentine is the best in Europe. With Rooney on the mend, it will be difficult to argue otherwise. However, an astute observer will have to admit Arsenal were not at their best and contributed greatly the Barcelona fans' chants of "Messi, Messi, Messi" with each goal.

Caught too far up the pitch, mismatched, and, ultimately, lacking innovation against Barcelona, the result is more a testament to lost focus than Spanish superiority. After Nicklas Bendtner's industrious first minute goal, Barca chipped away at their confidence while expanding the score.

Tonight, one name will be mentioned in connection with Arsenal's demise but this writer believes there were eleven at fault and they were all in white.