Galatasaray vs. Arsenal: Score, Grades and Reaction from Champions League Game
Aaron Ramsey and Lukas Podolski both bagged a brace to help Arsenal move past a weekend of frustration with a satisfying 4-1 victory at Galatasaray on Tuesday, as both teams closed out play in UEFA Champions League Group D.
Podolski fired the Gunners in front with a powerful early strike before Ramsey doubled the visitors' lead in the 11th minute. Ramsey then hit a sublime second to give his side three-goal advantage at half-time.
Both sides made multiple changes at half-time, lowering the quality of play in the second half. Wesley Sneijder pulled back a late consolation via a free-kick before Podolski added Arsenal's fourth with the final kick of the game.
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With the win, Arsenal finished second in Group D with 13 points in six matches, behind group winners Borussia Dortmund on goal difference.
The Gunners will now enter the draw for the Champions League knockout phase as an unseeded team, meaning they could draw top sides like Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the round of 16.
Even so, Tuesday's victory will have restored some confidence to Arsene Wenger's side following a disappointing 3-2 defeat at Stoke last weekend in the Premier League.
Having broken a long scoring drought against the Potters, Ramsey's two goals against Galatasaray—especially the quality of the second—suggest he is nearing a return to top form.
Meanwhile, Podolski's goal could give Wenger something to think about in regards to Arsenal's attack. Podolski played the full 90 minutes for the first time this season and showed a willingness to contribute defensively as he helped create Arsenal's second goal.
In addition, full-back Mathieu Debuchy returned for Arsenal after missing three months through injury. The French defender left the match for a substitute in the 77th minute, but his return will boost Arsenal's defensive depth ahead of the Premier League's busy festive period.
Up next for Arsenal is a Premier League match at home to Newcastle United on Saturday.
Galatasaray, who finished at the bottom of Group D with one point, play at Torku Konyaspor in the Turkish league the same day.
With the defeat at Stoke still fresh, Arsenal needed a positive start in Turkey. Podolski provided just that with a fine finish in only the third minute to send the Gunners on their way. Ramsey provided the assist with an angled pass to Podolski on the left flank. After advancing on goal, the German slammed a high shot into the top corner at the near post.
Galatasaray had a good chance to equalise in the seventh minute after Arsenal were unable to fully clear a corner. Alex Telles had a long-distance shot blocked, but the ball bounced to Hakan Balta in a dangerous position in the box.
But with time to pick his spot, Balta dragged his shot wide of the far post.
Arsenal made Gala pay four minutes later, doubling their lead through Ramsey's first strike of the night. Podolski started the sequence, winning the ball in midfield before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain led a quick counter down the middle.
Oxlade-Chamberlain then slipped a pass to Ramsey on the left, and Ramsey passed the ball into the far corner for a 2-0 Arsenal lead.
Podolski came close to a second goal in the 20th minute, striking the middle of the crossbar after being set up by an Oxlade-Chamberlain backheel. The German nearly scored again eight minutes later, but Galatasaray goalkeeper Sinan Bolat tipped his high shot into the side netting.
It was only a momentary let-off for the hosts, however. From the resulting corner, Arsenal grabbed their third—and best—goal of the night.
Any danger seemed to have passed when Gala headed clear a Joel Campbell corner, but the ball flew to Ramsey in a central position well outside the box. With his first touch, Ramsey smacked an unstoppable, rising half-volley into the top corner to give Arsenal a 3-0 advantage heading into half-time.
Ramsey departed during the break along with fellow midfielder Mathieu Flamini as Wenger brought on promising youngsters Gedion Zelalem and Ainsley Maitland-Niles for the second 45 minutes.
Galatasaray made a pair of changes as well, introducing Hamit Altintop and Yasin Oztekin in place of Tarik Camdal and Burak Yilmaz.
The hosts began to improve soon after, with Sneijder curling off target in the 53rd minute and Oztekin shooting straight at Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny seven minutes later. In the 66th minute, Per Mertesacker made a fine block to deny Umut Bulut from close range.
In the 74th minute, Altintop bounced a shot wide of the target from a good position on the right. Five minutes later, he missed again, firing over the bar following a scramble in Arsenal's box.
For all of Galatasaray's work, a goal felt inevitable, and in the 88th minute, Sneijder delivered. After the hosts won a free-kick along the edge of the box, Sneijder lashed in a fierce shot that flew past Szczesny and into the top corner.
It was little more than consolation for Galatasaray, though. With the final kick of the game, Podolski netted Arsenal's fourth goal, finishing off a one-two with Yaya Sanogo.
Grades
| Wojciech Szczesny | 7.3 |
| Mathieu Debuchy | 7.8 |
| Calum Chambers | 7.0 |
| Per Mertesacker | 6.8 |
| Hector Bellerin | 6.7 |
| Aaron Ramsey | 9.2 |
| Mathieu Flamini | 6.5 |
| Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain | 7.2 |
| Joel Campbell | 7.1 |
| Yaya Sanogo | 6.3 |
| Lukas Podolski | 8.4 |
| Gedion Zelalem (for Flamini, 46') | 6.1 |
| Ainsley Maitland-Niles (for Ramsey, 46') | 6.6 |
| Stefan O'Connor (for Debuchy, 77') | 6.4 |
Reaction
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger (Sky Sports via BBC Sport):
"There's a little bit of frustration that we have finished runners-up, but we knew at half time we needed to score six goals without conceding. Fortunately, it wasn't enough, we finished with 13 points and did the job tonight. We came out strong and that's what I wanted from these players.
…
When (Ramsey) took the shot I thought that was maybe not the best idea, but the way he took it, it flew in. The goals he is scoring is linked to his performances at the moment and that certainly helps his confidence to score goals like that.
"
