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Arsenal's Samir Nasri celebrates - Source: Reuters -
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Arsenal secured their place in the knockout phase of the
Champions League for the 10th successive season when a comfortable
2-0 win over Standard Liege secured top spot in Group H with a game
to spare on Wednesday.
First-half goals by Samir Nasri and Denilson settled the game and
though the Belgians twice hit the woodwork they were second-best
for most of the night.
Arsenal's victory takes them to 13 points, six clear of Olympiakos
Piraeus after their goalless draw at AZ Alkmaar.
Liege, with four points, need to win their last game at home to
Alkmaar and hope Arsenal beat Olympiakos at the Emirates to allow
them to progress on their better head-to-head record against the
Greeks.
After Arsenal's 1-0 Premier League defeat at Sunderland on Sunday -
the first time this season they had failed to score - manager
Arsene Wenger gave Carlos Vela his first start of the season.
The Mexico striker looked lively early on and was involved in a mad
scramble following a corner after 15 minutes which left Arsenal
wondering how they failed to score.
Andrei Arshavin's initial shot was blocked on the line, Vela hit
the post with the rebound, goalkeeper Sinan Bolat then saved from
William Gallas before Thomas Vermaelen's goal-bound effort was
deflected off Arshavin's head.
Breakthrough goal
Liege barely left their own half in the first 20 minutes but then
went close to taking the lead when Dieudonne Mbokani crashed a
20-metre effort against the bar.
Arsenal continued to make the pace with their usual quick passing
movements but the breakthrough goal was more Monday league than
Champions League as Liege defender Landry Mulemo slipped over while
trying to deal with a hopeful punt by Vermaelen, letting Nasri
through unopposed to clip in a neat half-volley.
Arshavin and Cesc Fabregas both shot inches wide as Arsenal cranked
up the pressure and after Liege had a strong penalty claim waved
away for a foul on Reginal Goreux the match was effectively settled
in first-half injury time when Denilson's speculative 30-metre
effort swerved beyond Bolat's hands.
Arsenal had come back from 2-0 down to win the teams' first meeting
in September 3-2 but there was no sign of Liege, without key
striker Milan Jovanovic, matching that, even though they had the
clearer chances in the second half.
Axel Witsel should have pulled one back seven minutes after the
restart when he chested down a free kick but he mishit his shot
from point-blank range while substitute striker Gohi Bi Cyriac hit
a post late on.
In between, Arsenal played the ball around in neat patterns without
really creating further chances and the only thing for the crowd to
get excited about was a needless 87th-minute red card for Mehdi
Carcela-Gonzalez for a hint of a head butt on Fabregas.
Champions League collated results click
here
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