It was a banner day for English clubs in the UEFA Champions League group stages as Chelsea and Arsenal kicked off their group campaigns with emphatic victories.
Arsenal destroyed Portuguese side Braga, 6-0, while Chelsea made easy work of MSK Zilina, posting a 4-0 road victory.
There weren't many surprises in Wednesday's Champions League action, as Zlatan Ibrahimovic's brace lifted AC Milan to victory, while Jose Mourinho's first Champions League match with Real Madrid produced a 2-0 victory against Ajax.
Here is a rundown of today's UEFA Champions League results:
MSK Zilina 1, Chelsea 4
Real Madrid 2, Ajax 0
Arsenal 6, Sporting Braga 0
AC Milan 2, AJ Auxerre 0
Marseille 0, Spartak Moscow 1
Bayern Munich 2, Roma 0
CFR Cluj 2, FC Basel 1
Shakhtar Donetsk 1, Partizan Belgrade 0
What did you think of today's results? Starting to think this is Chelsea's year? Impressed with Real Madrid's performance? Surprised to see Arsenal destroy a tough Braga side?
Share your thoughts below.
I can only speculate because as a Gunner, I try to ignore anything Tottenham, but I saw Dos Santos start against BSC Young Boys (in the first leg) and he was not inspiring at all. He looked off the pace and seemed like he was just trying to pull of tricks and stuff.
I don’t think Spurs or Dos Santos have figured out how each can help the other. IMO he needs a loan, maybe to a lower-table La Liga team.
Good point Zach, I just assumed he would play more after RvP went down. Anybody know why Dos Santos doesn’t get more playing time with Tottenham? I heard their manager wasn’t a fan of his but I’m not sure.
Were the announcers being serious or was it hyperbole? I mean it’s a bit of a conundrum because Dos Santos has looked much better than Vela for Mexico but at club level, Vela is miles ahead.
I’d say that Wenger continues to use Vela as a super-sub. It’s working great at the moment. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Last time Mexico played, i heard the announcers debate whether he should continue getting capped. I couldn’t believe the discussion. Glad to see him score for Arsenal, maybe he will get some starts soon. Though I’m sure Wenger likes using him as a super-sub.
His finishing was clinical, there’s no disputing that, but I think Americans can take comfort in the fact that he does not have fellow countrymen who can provide such amazing assists as Arshavin and Fabregas provided him yesterday.
yikes sorry for the long-winded reply. Lineups never work on here either. I meant GK, Sagna (RB), Vermaalen and Koscielny (CB), Gibbs (LB), Song (CDM), Ramsey and Wilshere as right and left CM, and Arshavin (LW), RvP (ST), Walcott (RW) in Wenger’s 4-3-3. Also Frimpong (CDM), and Chamakh/Bendtner will get significant minutes at ST, especially if RvP never stays healthy, which is very likely.
i agree with you that Wenger probably was not expecting to use Wilshere quite this much this early in the season. But as I said, Wilshere’s performance at Bolton and also his amazingly good play this pre-season helped him first and foremost avoid being loaned out again. Secondly, it’s solidified his role in the 18 and even the starting 11. His rapid improvement in just a year’s time is really impressive.
I also agree that him and Cesc make a great pair in the middle. Hopefully, Aaron Ramsey returns from his horrific injury in November in the same form he was in pre-injury. People forget that he was starting regularly and playing amazingly before getting hurt. AR is the future replacement of Cesc. The eventual starting lineup in 1-2 years will be
GK
Sagna Vermaalen Koscielny Gibbs
Song
Ramsey Wilshere
Arshavin RvP/Chamakh Walcott
assuming Cesc moves on, and Arsenal cashes in on Clichy at some point when Gibbs is ready for a starting role. It’s nice to see that after so many recent years of Arsenal having 0 Englishmen in their starting 11 or even their 18, they now have some of England’s top up-and-coming prospects in Walcott, Wilshere, and Gibbs.
I think that short stint at Bolton really is going to help Wilshere in the long run. Coyle is a top class coach, and it was clear that he was very impressed with Jack. I doubt Wenger planned on relying on him so much in these first few games, but he has become quite a pair with Cesc. I know Cesc is probably going to be gone in the next year or so, but it would be an amazing pair to see a few years down the line.
Just to finish it off…
Clichy is 25 (Gibbs is just 20..)
Sagna is 26
Chamakh is 26
Arsha is 29
RVP is 27
It’s quite an amazing organization really. As a fan I would love to have won trophies in recent years, but honestly what Wenger said is totally valid. It is quite amazing what these kids did over the past few years. Can’t wait until all of these guys are about 25-27 when they will dominate both for club and country.
And when Ramsey comes back (hopefully as he was before) he’s only 20.
Auf gehts Bayern!
vela was quite impressive.
I have to warn Ozil, Madrid will clap for him and treat him like a slave in2 years..Arjen Robben and Sniejder are evidence
Madrid looked very good today. Ozil played very well. Once again though, strikers weren’t finishing. CR missed at least two that he has no excuse missing. Higuain off the cross bar. Good night for them overall.
Yes. Yes. No.
Just to add on to the Arsenal conversation, I’m really pleased with Wilshere’s progress in the past year. His loan to Bolton for the second half of last season really helped him. I know he played most recently for the England U-21 side, but Wilshere will be a fixture in the senior England side veryyy soon.
Oh, I’m an Arsenal fan. Guess i should have thrown that in there.
Your forgot the defense
Vermaelen is 24 and Koscielny is 24..that young for a Defence
I missed a name. “Bendtner shows promise at 22.”
Nasri is 23. Vela is 21. Walcott is 21. Shows promise at 22. Frimpong would have come on the radar this season if not for injury (typical Arsenal player). He is 18. There are more.
The most interesting thing (to me) Wenger said in his BBC interview was (paraphrasing), “What this team accomplished at 20/21 and 21/22, I thought, was exceptional.”
I am not sure this will lead to trophies. But there is a lot to like about the Arsenal organization.
Saw the 2h of the Bayern v. Roma match and Bayern looked class (and no I’m not a Bayern follower). Better tactics, technically and physically. Deserved victory. Looking forward to seeing more of them in the CL.
Fabregas is 23, Jack Wilshere is 18..Song is 22…how the hell does Wenger turn Young Boys into so much experienced Players.