Slipperduke
The Camden Cad
There is a swagger about Arsenal in Europe this year. Since the inception of the Champions League, the Gunners have struggled to take their domestic form with them when they go to the airport, reaching the final just once and crashing out early every other year. In that same time Manchester United have won it twice, Liverpool once and Chelsea, runners-up in Moscow last year, have made the semi-finals on three other occasions. By the standards of the super-size me, bling-happy Champions League, they are very much the poorer branch of the EPL clan. Not for much longer, perhaps.
Arsene Wenger's young side, average age 22, comprehensively dismantled Fenerbahce in front of their own fans, rattling home five fantastic goals, three of them coming in an astonishing opening 20 minutes. The home supporters, who began by whistling en masse every time an Arsenal player touched the ball, were silenced and could do nothing but applaud their conquerors off the pitch at the end. This was a result that will have all of Europe sitting up and paying attention. The build-up play was exactly what we have come to expect from this side, but the ruthlessness was a welcome addition to their routine. From Emmanuel Adebayor's calmly taken first goal, to Aaron Ramsey's emphatic final strike, Arsenal were exceptional.
Wenger's surprise selection of Abou Diaby had everybody, Fenerbahce manager Luis Aragones perhaps included, convinced that he would be lining up with a defensive 4-5-1, with Diaby as a shield, but it only took a few moments to realise that this wasn't the case. Diaby, making his first start of the season, galloped at the Turkish defenders, terrifying them into mistakes. Theo Walcott could not have been happier to see the ageing, sluggish Roberto Carlos in his headlights and Samir Nasri tormented Gokhan.
Manuel Almunia, captaining the side for the first time, prevented the Turks from forcing their way back into the game with a series of excellent one-on-one stops as Arsenal's reserve defence creaked under pressure. Daniel Guiza was able to cause Alexander Song a number of problems and perhaps deserved more than just the one goal. The Spanish striker had one chalked off before half-time and dragged two shots just past the post before the break, to remind Arsenal that the game wasn't quite over yet.
Cynics will focus on the fact that Fenerbahce have struggled since replacing Zico with Luis Aragones and that they are much less of a force since selling lynchpin Mehmet Aurelio to Real Betis. All fair points, but they obscure the real positive of the night. Arsenal's biggest weakness recently has been their lack of belief. If any team should have suffered inside an intimidating Turkish stadium, you would have put good money on it being Arsenal. And yet, without Kolo Toure, William Gallas and Bacary Sagna, they still prevailed in a style that suggested they saw it as little more than just another cup tie.
Arsenal are now just one win away from securing their place in the last 16, but with performances like this, and the knowledge that there are a number of players yet to return from injury, would you bet against them going further than that this year?
GAPS IN THE DEFENCE - Arsenal survived a number of scares as the Turks pushed at their second choice defenders. Only Gael Clichy would get in Wenger's first choice eleven and the rest have clearly got some catching up to do.
SAFE HANDS - Manuel Almunia had spoken of how proud he was to captain Arsenal and his performance matched his words. Brave under pressure and always aware of danger, would it be that much of a surprise if Fabio Capello began to take an interest?
CLUELESS - What were Fenerbahce doing playing an offside trap against Arsenal? Roberto Carlos didn't seem to concerned about keeping up with the line and the Gunners sprang it time and time again. Get back, get deep, that's the only way to cope with them.
PUNTERS RANT - Arsenal? Winning in a stadium in Istanbul? Lord knows, I wouldn't have backed it in a million years. Mind you, that's probably why most of my tips to the bookies end in tears....
MAN OF THE MATCH - It's a close run thing, but while Manuel Almunia deserves enormous credit for his leadership, Abou Diaby's performance was as exhilarating as it was surprising. For a man who has barely played in months, he was tireless and took his goal well.
MATCH STATS
Fenerbahce
Volkan Demeril 4, Lugano 4, Roberto Carlos 4, Edu 4, Alex 6, Daniel Guiza 7, Selchuk Sahin 6, Semih Senturk 6, Ugar Boral 6, Claudio Maldonado 5(Ali Bilgin 6), Gokhan 4 (Burak Yilmaz 6)
Arsenal
Manuel Almunia 8, Abou Diaby 8 (Aaron Ramsey 7), Cesc Fabregas 7, Samir Nasri 7, Theo Walcott 8 (Johan Djourou 6), Denilson 7, Alexander Song 6, Mikael Silvestre 6, Gael Clichy 7, Emmanuel Adebayor 7 (Carlos Vela 6) , Emmanuel Eboue 7
Yellow Cards - Semih, Lugano, Senturk (Fenerbahce), Song, Diaby (Arsenal)
Red Cards - None
Attendance - 42, 619
Arsene Wenger's young side, average age 22, comprehensively dismantled Fenerbahce in front of their own fans, rattling home five fantastic goals, three of them coming in an astonishing opening 20 minutes. The home supporters, who began by whistling en masse every time an Arsenal player touched the ball, were silenced and could do nothing but applaud their conquerors off the pitch at the end. This was a result that will have all of Europe sitting up and paying attention. The build-up play was exactly what we have come to expect from this side, but the ruthlessness was a welcome addition to their routine. From Emmanuel Adebayor's calmly taken first goal, to Aaron Ramsey's emphatic final strike, Arsenal were exceptional.
Wenger's surprise selection of Abou Diaby had everybody, Fenerbahce manager Luis Aragones perhaps included, convinced that he would be lining up with a defensive 4-5-1, with Diaby as a shield, but it only took a few moments to realise that this wasn't the case. Diaby, making his first start of the season, galloped at the Turkish defenders, terrifying them into mistakes. Theo Walcott could not have been happier to see the ageing, sluggish Roberto Carlos in his headlights and Samir Nasri tormented Gokhan.
Manuel Almunia, captaining the side for the first time, prevented the Turks from forcing their way back into the game with a series of excellent one-on-one stops as Arsenal's reserve defence creaked under pressure. Daniel Guiza was able to cause Alexander Song a number of problems and perhaps deserved more than just the one goal. The Spanish striker had one chalked off before half-time and dragged two shots just past the post before the break, to remind Arsenal that the game wasn't quite over yet.
Cynics will focus on the fact that Fenerbahce have struggled since replacing Zico with Luis Aragones and that they are much less of a force since selling lynchpin Mehmet Aurelio to Real Betis. All fair points, but they obscure the real positive of the night. Arsenal's biggest weakness recently has been their lack of belief. If any team should have suffered inside an intimidating Turkish stadium, you would have put good money on it being Arsenal. And yet, without Kolo Toure, William Gallas and Bacary Sagna, they still prevailed in a style that suggested they saw it as little more than just another cup tie.
Arsenal are now just one win away from securing their place in the last 16, but with performances like this, and the knowledge that there are a number of players yet to return from injury, would you bet against them going further than that this year?
GAPS IN THE DEFENCE - Arsenal survived a number of scares as the Turks pushed at their second choice defenders. Only Gael Clichy would get in Wenger's first choice eleven and the rest have clearly got some catching up to do.
SAFE HANDS - Manuel Almunia had spoken of how proud he was to captain Arsenal and his performance matched his words. Brave under pressure and always aware of danger, would it be that much of a surprise if Fabio Capello began to take an interest?
CLUELESS - What were Fenerbahce doing playing an offside trap against Arsenal? Roberto Carlos didn't seem to concerned about keeping up with the line and the Gunners sprang it time and time again. Get back, get deep, that's the only way to cope with them.
PUNTERS RANT - Arsenal? Winning in a stadium in Istanbul? Lord knows, I wouldn't have backed it in a million years. Mind you, that's probably why most of my tips to the bookies end in tears....
MAN OF THE MATCH - It's a close run thing, but while Manuel Almunia deserves enormous credit for his leadership, Abou Diaby's performance was as exhilarating as it was surprising. For a man who has barely played in months, he was tireless and took his goal well.
MATCH STATS
Fenerbahce
Volkan Demeril 4, Lugano 4, Roberto Carlos 4, Edu 4, Alex 6, Daniel Guiza 7, Selchuk Sahin 6, Semih Senturk 6, Ugar Boral 6, Claudio Maldonado 5(Ali Bilgin 6), Gokhan 4 (Burak Yilmaz 6)
Arsenal
Manuel Almunia 8, Abou Diaby 8 (Aaron Ramsey 7), Cesc Fabregas 7, Samir Nasri 7, Theo Walcott 8 (Johan Djourou 6), Denilson 7, Alexander Song 6, Mikael Silvestre 6, Gael Clichy 7, Emmanuel Adebayor 7 (Carlos Vela 6) , Emmanuel Eboue 7
Yellow Cards - Semih, Lugano, Senturk (Fenerbahce), Song, Diaby (Arsenal)
Red Cards - None
Attendance - 42, 619
