Champions League - Arsenal cruise past Twente

Eurosport - Thu, 28 Aug 13:30:00 2008

An impressive all-round display by Arsenal booked their place in the Champions League group stage as they beat FC Twente 4-0 at the Emirates Stadium and 6-0 on aggregate.

FOOTBALL; Samir Nasri, Arsenal, Aug 2008 - 0

Goals from Samir Nasri, William Gallas, Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner saw the Gunnners secure their spot.

Arsene Wenger's team began the better with the Dutch side providing little threat to Manuel Almunia's goal.

Defender Johan Djourou turned in the box but he missed the target from 12 yards out as the home side began to dominate the game.

Twente looked dangerous on the counter attack but Stein Huysegems failed to get his shot on target following an Arsenal corner.

Steve McClaren's side looked good on the ball but they rarely enjoyed a sustained period of possession during the first half.

Robin van Persie failed to take a good chance from just outside the area, firing well over in the 21st minute.

Nasri's strike on 25 minutes put the Gunners into a deserved lead after dominating possession during the opening stages.

Walcott always looked dangerous on the right wing, taking on defenders and beating them for pace.

The England international also ended his runs with decent crosses into the box, giving Twente's defence plenty to worry about.

Shortly after the break Bendnter had a shot saved but skipper Gallas tapped in the rebound from close-range for 2-0.

Youngster Walcott then curled in a right-footed shot from the edge of the area to end the tie as a contest.

The only way the Dutch outfit looked likely to get on the scoresheet was through a set-piece or from a fast counter-attack.

With the game all but won the two sides battled in midfield during the last 20 minutes, but the home team always had the upper hand.

Dane Bendtner then got a goal of his own after good link-up play with Walcott in the area on 89 minutes.

Watch the draw for the Champions League group stage LIVE on eurosport.yahoo.com on Thursday from 17:00 BST!

Martin Wakinshaw / Eurosport

Comment 42 - 61 of 61

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  1. Wenger is a professional coach/manager not like the managers of MU, Chlse,Lpool who simply roam around looking for already trained players. None of the Teenagers who have passed through AW's hands has never flopped. Mention a few Pennant, Aliadiere, Bently,Hoyte,..............name it. Leave alone the numerous players who have risen to recognition under Wenger. P'se leave Professor alone for knows what he is up to not snatchers in the rest 3 top in England.

    Enoch - Kampala,Uganda

    From cadriboe, on Fri 29 Aug 3:00PM
  2. Wenger is a professional coach/manager not like the managers of MU, Chlse,Lpool who simply roam around looking for already trained players. None of the Teenagers who have passed through AW's hands has never flopped. Mention a few Pennant, Aliadiere, Bently,Hoyte,..............name it. Leave alone the numerous players who have risen to recognition under Wenger. P'se leave Professor alone for knows what he is up to not snatchers in the rest 3 top in England.

    Enoch - Kampala,Uganda

    From cadriboe, on Fri 29 Aug 2:59PM
  3. eboue is one of our greats????? hahahahaha... are you having a laugh

    From doggs, on Thu 28 Aug 9:01PM
  4. denilson n van persie still not in good perfomance..but tumb 4 nasri n fabregas...good job

    From kuzai, on Thu 28 Aug 5:40PM
  5. have faith gunners supporters, have faith. doesn't matter who we played last night, we needed that to build our confidence. it also reminded fans and supporters what arsenal is capable of.
    well done team, well done arsene!!

    From carmen, on Thu 28 Aug 4:31PM
  6. all gunners fans in port harcourt should please try and register with arsenal nigeria. we will soon inaugrate port harcourt chapter. arsenal for life.....

    From chima, on Thu 28 Aug 1:49PM
  7. Gunners are hunters alright. they've got the guns and going for the kill. Watch out devils and sea-shells. Here's a little secret "you are the prey". GUNNERS FOR LIFE, Jessica (Port Harcourt, Nigeria)

    From jessica4jacob, on Thu 28 Aug 1:40PM
  8. Dear ghiedrukas
    I have no problem with all other mentioned players. To me, when I employ you to clean my garden, your main work will be cleaning that garden. What I mean is, Ade is at Arsenal to score goals, we need him to do that job and not otherwise. A real forward doesn't need ten chances for just two goals. They usually score even in very tight and tough conditions! Is it happen the same? Actually in time to come if all players will be fine and retained at the club, Arsenal will never be compared to any club in the World. All the best for our team

    From LIMBU, on Thu 28 Aug 12:41PM
  9. Great play, good combination and compact defense was what the Gunners did last night against FC Twente. I strongly believe that come October ending, the Gunners would've blended so well as to be able to take on any team in the whole world. However, an experienced defensive midfielder is very much required to give great depth to the team cos i strongly believe the trophyless erra is gone. GUNNERS 4 EVER.
    McCarthy (Warri, Nigeria0

    From maconyi, on Thu 28 Aug 12:05PM
  10. can arsenal fans please make their comments on players more realistic than personal hatred? eboue is an outstanding player we all know it. before the arrival of bacary sagna, eboue was the best right back in the premiership. on the road to the 2006 CL finals, eboue held paved nedved and made him useless in all the 180 mins. infact nedved had a red card out of frustrations. the arrival of bacary sagna marked a new challenge for a right back eboue who is now being converted as wide player in the mid field. now he is an utility player and that is what the manager wants him to be. he is doing it very well. such roles takes a little time to perfect. stop the attack on one of our greats. arsenal for life..........

    From chima, on Thu 28 Aug 12:01PM
  11. mchelelimb. You were wrong saying that gunners don;t have great forwards. Ok, maybe I agree with Abeb, he is wasting too much chances, but here is Percie too. He is top class player only his form is terrible at the moment. DOn't forget that he had infury and was out around the half of season. I think him needs only few more successful matches and he will regain his confidence and start score goal like he did before!
    There is Bend too. He is really young and I think him needs only more experience and he will become great scoring person. DOn't forget Eduardo. only question how many time will him need regain his form... How about Vella? He looks great too even is really young.
    So don't talk bullshits about forwarders. Please Wenger sign Alonso, or another great MD and gunners will become strong power.

    From ghiedrukas, on Thu 28 Aug 11:42AM
  12. awesome game!
    RVP needs some work out really, bendtner did better then him

    From shivnesh, on Thu 28 Aug 11:15AM
  13. I said it..Arsenal will make HISTORY like what they did with AC Milan last season..

    From YVONNE, on Thu 28 Aug 11:11AM
  14. A much needed win after the fulham nonsense.
    I STILL maintain arsenal need 3 experienced players and yes if ti costs 30million then so be it - but soon Arsene ok - we all know it makes sense.

    Great win and as for Walcott - it looks like the transfer fee paid to the scummers was well spent.

    Aj.

    From ajk6408, on Thu 28 Aug 10:45AM
  15. will people stop going on about eboue please.
    everyone goes through difficult times
    all the arsenal team are gifted and arsene wenger is such a great manager.#
    i love arsenal

    From billiball2002, on Thu 28 Aug 10:09AM
  16. that is just the beggining Gooners pls keep it up

    From Iliyasu, on Thu 28 Aug 10:03AM
  17. also anyone else think that when walcott took his strike he looked like a young henry with the same number just seeing his shirt number brought back happy memories, an the finish was sweet too

    From steve m, on Thu 28 Aug 9:42AM
  18. Eboue is absolute pants. I like watching the gunners and respect Wenger as a manager but Eboue...WTF you still doing here, please make the world a better place and retire from football.

    From liam.broughton, on Thu 28 Aug 9:40AM
  19. i think eboue is a great player an very good with the ball who ever said why is he stil at the club!

    From steve m, on Thu 28 Aug 9:18AM
  20. i think eboue is a great player an very good with the ball who ever said why is he stil at the club!

    From steve m, on Thu 28 Aug 9:16AM
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