Oct 21
Match Report: Fenerbahçe 2-5 Arsenal
After Saturday’s rousing comeback against Everton, the Gunners looked to maintain their form with a tough away tie in Istanbul.
With Toure, Gallas and Sagna all missing from the usual back four, summer signing Silvestre and Alex Song provided the centre back paring with Eboue fitting in at right-back. Wenger opted for a more defensive 4-5-1 formation, with Abou Diaby taking up the previously promblematic defensive-midfield position.
It was up to goalkeeper Manuel Almunia to lead Arsenal out into the infamously atmospheric Sükrü Saracoglu Stadium in search of another Champions League win.
Fenerbahçe Starting XI:
Volkan
Gökhan – Lugano – Edu – Roberto Carlos
Maldonado – Sahin – Alex – Boral – Senturk
Guiza
Arsenal Starting XI:
Almunia
Eboue – Song – Silvestre – Clichy
Walcott – Fabregas – Diaby – Denilson – Nasri
Adebayor
First Half
The match kicked off with deafening chants from the home support, as Arsenal looked to get off to a positive start. The Arsenal goal was soon under attack after a dangerous cross wasn’t cleared and Almunia had to make a great point blank save to deny the Turkish side the lead.
Arsenal were looking to hold onto possession but the Fenerbahce players closing down was superb and the home supports incessant whistling when Arsenal had ball was making it hard for them.
Suddenly, a wave of silence swept the stadium as Fabregas sliced open the back four with a sublime through ball, that was met by Adebayor who expertly finished into the bottom corner passed the helpless Volkan.
Goal – Emmanuel Adebayor (10 mins)
Less than a minute later, Arsenal were at it again when yet another pin-point through ball from Fabregas found Walcott at pace, whose dancing feet rounded the keeper before cooly finishing at the near post. The teenage sensation can do no wrong.
Goal – Theo Walcott (11 mins)
There was no respite for Fenerabahce, as the porus defence were victim to Abou Diaby’s agile run as he rounded his marker and played it back to Nasri who would have scored if it hadn’t been more Volkan’s wonderful stop.
But Fenerbache were still pushing, and after Song’s foul the Turks free kick was met by the powerful volley of Guiza. The volley, was clearly going wide but the ball ricocheted of Silvestre into the back of the net. Fenerbache were back in it.
Goal – Mikael Silvestre – own goal (19 mins)
The crowd’s hostile atmosphere had returned, but not for long. Abou Diaby’s strength at the edge of the area saw him power past two flailing defenders before rifling a low shot past the forlorn Volkan in goal.
Goal – Abou Diaby (22 mins)
Arsenal still looked exposed at the back when crosses were whipped in, but Fenerbache couldn’t finish off the moves.
Arsenal looked lazy when it came to closing the Turkish sides wide men down and they were nearly made to pay severely. Gokhan was allowed enough space to get his shot away which was deflected and found Guiza who needed no invitation to net the ball. However, the flag was up and the goal was rightfully ruled out.
Fenerbache were clearly frustrated as they began to hack the likes of Nasri and Deilson to the ground as Arsenal passed the ball about with ease.
Arsenal were almost teasing Fenerbache’s defence with probing passes but each movement came to no avail.
The offside trap was then beaten by Daniel Guiza who latched on to a lofted ball and raced away from Song, only to drag his shot wide of the far post.
The back four were once again caught too square and Guiza was clean through on goal. But Guiza’s compatriot Almunia was lightning quick to react and reached the ball a fraction before the desperate striker.
The whistle was then blown for half-time after a scintillating half of football from both sides. Arsenal had the lead but Fenerbache’s main threat in the form of Guiza was still raring to go.
Second Half
As the second half started, a one-two between Diaby and Nasri saw the summer signing flattened. Fabregas was again the provider with a beautifully floated ball into the area from the resultant free kick. The ball was deflected up into the air before Alex Song thundered the ball into the far corner on the volley.
Goal – Alex Song (49 mins)
Arsenal were in cruise control as they looked hold on to their commanding lead. The Turkish fans were becoming slightly disenchanted with their team, jeering some stray passes.
The game was beginning to slow down, with much of Fenerbahce’s momentum being robbed by Alex Song’s strike.
Then came a flurry of goal mouth action, as Guiza beat the offside trap for the third time only to be stopped again by a massively brave Almunia who was floored in the process. The ball was still free and Eboue made a last ditch, goal line clearance to deny Edu’s attempt. Yet again the Gunners’ back four was caught cold.
Arsenal were passing the ball around Fenerbahce with ease and dominance as the 17-year old Aaron Ramsey came on to replace the outstanding Abou Diaby.
The pressure was soon back on Arsenal, as Daniel Guiza finally got his name on the scoresheet. Song’s poor backwards header was met by the Spanish striker who beat Almunia to the ball the chip it into the empty net.
Goal – Daniel Guiza (78 mins)
Much to the relief of cautious Arsenal fans, Johan Djourou was brought on for Theo Walcott to bolster the shaky back line.
With five minutes to go, the Mexican starlet Carlos Vela was brought on for Adebayor. Arsenal tried to walk it into the net with four minutes to go, Ramsey, Denilson, Nasri and Eboue seemingly having a kick about on the edge of the area.
With thirty seconds left to play, memerising pass play saw the opposition defence reduced to statues as Ramsey fired in a low drive from the edge of the area that went in off the post.
Goal – Aaron Ramsey (90 + 4 mins)
Fenerbahce could only look on in disbelief as the referee blew the final whistle. Outfought, outplayed and outgunned, Arsenal’s performance was truly a sight to behold.
Player Ratings
Almunia – 9: Some truly stunning saves and raw bravery displayed by the first-time Arsenal captain
Eboue – 7: Could of closed down better, but a solid performance in his original position
Song – 6.5: Half of the shaky CB pairing, but a wondrous strike for the 4th
Silvestre – 5.5: Not a good game for the Frenchman, looked nervous. Was unlucky with own goal
Clichy – 7.5: A solid and speedy performance
Walcott – 8: Lightning quick as usual and a superbly taken goal
Fabregas – 9: Simply magical with his masterful through balls for goals one and two.
Diaby – 9: What a comeback, marked his first start back from injury with a great goal and superb all round performance
Denilson – 8: Fluent passing and played with confidence
Nasri – 7.5: Some nice play down the left flank, another player whose confidence is building
Adebayor – 7: Cooly taken first goal to settle Arsenal’s nerves, fairly anonymous afterwards
Subs
Djourou – 7: Played some nice stuff in an oddly high position
Ramsey – 8.5: Fantastic goal and slick passing to boot
Vela – N/A
Men of the Match – Fabregas and Diaby share the spoils with some truly memerising passing from Cesc, and raw power and strength from Diaby
gr8 game, but the centre backs aren’t really reliable… almunia, cesc and diaby had a gr8 game!!
PS: you forgot diaby on the Top Scorers scoresheet
yo man, diaby wasnt playing defensive mid. he was playing behind ade, wasnt he?
I would go with Almunia for MOM, without him it couldhave ended up 5-5
I said all along that diaby is a better attacker than defender. Just because hes french, black and has long legs everyone thinks hes Vieira.
Who gave the assist for Diaby?
Athlon, I think it was a long kick from goalkeeper
Diaby is put in midfield. The formation does not have to be accurate, It’s pointed out clearly in the report that he supported Ade upfront.
Almunia made some good saves but was woefully at fault for their second goal. That should never have been a goal but he was in no man’s land, gifting a goal to Guiza.
Clichy continues to get the highest ratings for a defender on here. People can’t see he is so often out of position. Anyone remember that cross from his flank they nearly scored from early on? The winger had about five minutes to pick his man with Clichy marking nothing inside the box. We slate Eboue, but he was easily our best defender yesterday.
Denilson’s passing was poor at times, but all round he did ok. Diaby and Fab were class, Adebayor worked very hard playing alone up front. Would have liked to see more from Nasri, but he did ok. Ramsey was class when he came on, but remember it was at 4-1 against a fallen team.
Guys, common, I know Diaby played an attacking midfield role, just the way they put out the formation was with diaby in front of the back four.
I wrote the preamble to the match before it started, and every pundit on ITV, and myself, and im sure a few of you would’ve thought he was to play DM
“Denilson’s passing was poor at times” – his passing is always poor at times. We need to move Song to partner Cesc and give Diaby a run for a match or so behind Ade. RVP should not be given automatic starts up front until he consistently performs. I would give him a match or two out wide left and possibly swap Nasri in his spot (it works for Holland).
Song is not a good centre back. He, like Diaby, have surprisingly more offensive ambition than they look. Djourou is the best option there.
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