Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey leaves it late to make a mark at Marseille

For Arsène Wenger any result against Marseille will always taste that little bit sweeter and when it comes courtesy of an injury-time winner, the emotion can only be intensified. The Arsenal manager will always harbour ill feelings toward the French club for the corrupt practices in the early 90s which he felt undermined his Monaco team, but tonight he could reflect with satisfaction upon a stoically accomplished job.

The victory gained was not pretty and the tie could be filed under one for the committed. Certainly, there was plenty to admire about Arsenal's resilience, which was epitomised by the man-of-the-match Laurent Koscielny, and having drawn the sting from what had shaped up as an intimidating game, they grabbed the glory at the death, when all of their substitutes combined to devastating effect.

Johan Djourou slung over a cross from the right, Gervinho touched the ball on and there was Aaron Ramsey, in yards of space, to drill low and unerringly into the near corner. Wenger had demanded four points from the two games against Marseille to top the group and avoid the other group winners in the last 16. He is emphatically ahead of schedule before the return with Marseille in two weeks' time.
Wenger might joke that smash-and-grab raids were more suited to the Marseille of the Bernard Tapie era, yet his team snatched all three points. They had endured a nervous start but gradually they wore down their opponents, who lost their way and their attacking vim. Towards the end it was Arsenal who created the chances and even Didier Deschamps, the Marseille manager, admitted that Ramsey's goal had been coming.

Arsenal have not gained renown on their European travels in recent times. They arrived in the south of France with only three away wins since the beginning of the 2008-09 season (excluding play-offs) and, despite Marseille's domestic toils and the intense pressure on Deschamps, there was a feeling that this tie represented their toughest assignment in the group.

It was cagey at the outset, with Arsenal pock-marking their play with errors, and the first-half was most notable for three handball controversies, with Marseille feeling the sense of injustice first. Jérémy Morel's cross from the left appeared to strike Carl Jenkinson's arm and although unintentional, the penalty pleas looked to have grounds. André Ayew's protests were so vociferous he was booked.

Arsenal's penalty claim was only visible after TV replays, but at the time they were more aggrieved that Robin van Persie's looping header following Mikel Arteta's corner had been cleared off the line by Alou Diarra. Upon closer examination it was clear that the defender Souleymane Diawara's hand had pawed at Arteta's delivery.

André Santos made up the hat-trick. Already booked, harshly, for a check on Mathieu Valbuena, Arsenal's left-back went for a header, missed it, but with an arm outstretched, he handled. The Brazilian was fortunate that the referee did not deem it worthy of a second yellow card.

Wenger seemed happy to contain in the first half. There was little incision or tempo from his team, despite Van Persie's inventive movement off the ball. They were also grateful to Koscielny for a perfectly timed tackle on Loic Remy, and Lucho González missed the only real chance of the half when he touched wide from Valbuena's cross.

It was stodgy fare. Arsenal struggled to get much out of Theo Walcott and Andrey Arshavin, but eventually they took control of the midfield. Patience was the watchword and Marseille, who looked happier on the counter-attack, could not force the issue.

Arsenal lost Jenkinson on the hour after he stretched his right knee when making a routine clearance. Wenger's headache at right-back deepened. Already without Bacary Sagna due to a broken leg, Jenkinson is his only other specialist in the position. Djourou came on in his stead.

Wenger could be pleased with the discipline that his team showed. The often-maligned Koscielny barely put a foot wrong and together with Per Mertesacker and Song in front of them, he helped to restrict Marseille. Wojciech Szczesny did not have a save to make while Arteta was neat and tidy throughout.

Arsenal created more openings as the game wore on. From Rosicky's pass after 64 minutes Walcott got the better of Nicolas N'Koulou, who was guilty of a slip and the winger wriggled through on goal. Steve Mandanda, though, narrowed the angle to block. The Marseille keeper had to repeat the feat to deny Van Persie soon after but he was powerless and exposed when Ramsey struck. Wenger's men now have one foot in the knock-out stage.

Source: David Hytner, The Guardian on 19 Oct 11