Arsenal win in Holland

It will take a miracle for FC Twente to progress into the group stages of the Champions League. The Dutch side, managed by former England manager Steve McClaren suffered a home defeat at the hands of Arsenal. Only a total collapse at the Emirates Stadium in two weeks time will prevent Arsenal progressing. A young Arsenal side hampered by injuries to nine key players struggled to create chances on the night, and were lucky not to concede as Twente made their debut in the Champions League.

Mid-way through the first half FC Twente striker Arnautovic failed to control a perfectly weighted pass from the energetic Dutch midfielder Denneboom, and his weak shot was easily parried by Almunia. Denneboom had already tested Almunia with a long-range effort that seemed to swerve in mid-air and the Spanish goalkeeper was forced into making a good save. The Arsenal defence, weakened by the absence of injured Kolo Toure looked fragile, and Almunia was far the busier of the two keepers in the opening forty-five minutes.

Arsenal could have gone ahead before half time. Bacary Sagna fired wide after the Twente keeper failed to hold onto a long-range effort from Arsenal full back Gael Clichy. The ball rebounded to Sagna but his left-footed effort was a yard wide.

Arsenal showed more urgency after the break as they stepped up their efforts to grab an away goal. It came in the sixty-third minute when Gallas latched onto a Robin Van Persie free kick and managed to knock the ball past Twente keeper Boschker with his knee.

The Arsenal midfield duo of Denilson and Aaron Ramsey, making his full debut, used the ball more efficiently in the second half. However Arnautovic was presented with another opportunity to score towards the end of the match and should have equalised. With only Almunia to beat the sluggish Dutch striker hit the side netting with a poor effort.

Arsenal's superiority in the final third eventually told with ten minutes to go. A long ball from Denilson found Theo Walcott who used his electric pace to beat the Twente full back before squaring his pass to Adebayor who kept his shot low and found the back of the net.
Arsenal managed to achieve a positive result. But with the transfer deadline approaching Arsene Wenger will need to strengthen his squad if his team are win the competition proper.