Arsenal got a victory in the first leg of its UEFA Champions League qualifier with Udinese, but the 1-0 scoreline will hardly calm any nerves heading into next week's second leg in Italy.
Theo Walcott scored off an Aaron Ramsey cross in the fourth minute, and he nearly scored a second but his effort was stopped by Slovenian goalkeeper Samir Handanovic. Things got more complicated for Arsenal's already-thin defense when Kieran Gibbs and his replacement Johan Djourou both got injured.
Antonio Di Natale nearly scored off of two free kicks for Udinese only to be denied by the crossbar and by Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, and Szczesny came up big to deny Pablo Armero on a first-half breakway as well to keep Udinese off the scoreboard heading into the return leg.
Highlights from Arsenal's victory and the day's other qualifiers are after the jump:
ARSENAL 1, UDINESE 0
TWENTE 2, BENFICA 2
LYON 3, RUBIN KAZAN 1
BATE BORISOV 1, STURM GRAZ 1
VIKTORIA PLZEN 3, COPENHAGEN 1
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Do you see Arsenal pulling through to reach the group stage, or do you think Udinese will come back at home? What do you make of the other results?
Share your thoughts below.
Scottish league is better than MLS
I don’t see how you could say Udinese is in the driver’s seat here.
While a 1-0 lead is hardly insurmountable on its face, the fact that Arsenal didn’t give up an away goal is absolutely crucial. If Arsenal score just once in the second leg, Udinese will have to score THREE goals or else they lose the tie.
Arsenal will also have Van Persie available for the next game, so if you ask me, Udinese have their work cut out for them.
Not giving up an away goal is huge for Arsenal. One goal at Udinese should wrap things up for the Gunners unless the away goals rule is no longer current.
I’ll never understand the logic of some people. Udinese have nothing to be ashamed of, but they lost. Bottom line. That hardly puts them “in the driver’s seat.” A loss is not a tie. It’s a loss. While the Italians played well and have every right to feel that they can still advance, the Londoners are the clear favorites.
He may be going to Auxerre, Scotland is a crap league.
You’d have to think it’s essentially a tie at this point. But I see Arsenal improving more than Udinese in the interim, as Gervinho learns to operate in the system.
Arsenal needs a midfield enforcer. They should sign Mo Edu 🙂
Udinese could’ve won 3-1.
Udinese showed it’s probably the one in the driver’s seat. Great game, and no sense of inferiority.