Arsenal Show Some Life in Impressive Win over Udinese

And just like that, hope was restored.

You half-expected a deus ex machina to come crashing out of the humid Italian night sky, so sudden and convincing was the resolution displayed by the seemingly left-for-dead Gunners.

If only for just a night, all was well again in the world of Arsenal football.

A 2-1 victory over Udinese propelled them into the Champions League group stages on a 3-1 aggregate. It was a victory that allowed Arsene Wenger to maintain his perfect record in these playoff fixtures.

While it wasn't as comprehensive or thorough as the 2009 version versus Celtic (5-1), or the 2008 version versus wannabe Dutchman Steve McLaren's FC Twente (6-0), it was more than enough to instill some hope into a side that had seemed bereft after the painstaking events of recent weeks.

Amid the furor of endless rumor-mongering and rampant criticism that has enveloped the Emirates Stadium in recent weeks (Wenger seems to walk about in a cloud of the stuff, like that weird little dude from Charlie Brown), it was imperative that the Gunners exhibit solidarity and, don't forget, win.

The hefty payday granted to teams who participate in the group stages of Champions League football is no small change—per the Sky Sports second announcer during today's match, it is apparently in the ballpark of £20 million to 25 million.

Even more importantly, as that announcer explained, this win guarantees Arsenal a 15th consecutive season in the group stages. If any potential recruits (Wenger has said Arsenal are in the market) were on the fence before this match, unwilling to make a commitment until absolutely certain Arsenal would get past this playoff—that worry is banished, and will hopefully fly into di Natale's evening pasta bowl.

Sure, the defensive frailties were still there—with Arsenal, you get the feeling they'll never quite disappear entirely—but the response to getting punched in the mouth was what mattered in this one.

Going 1-0 down after a brilliant looping header by Antonio di Natale just before halftime could have been the kiss of death for young Gunners, who have shown a frightening capacity to fold under pressure in recent seasons. The Udinese No. 10 who showed exactly why he has led Serie A in goals the past two seasons with that exquisite finish.

One gets the sense that Arsenal have begun to take on the persona of their manager, who often appears to feel hard done-by and unfairly punished.

His teams play positive, attractive football, and the club operates in sound fiscal shape. Like Job in the bible, you half expect God and the devil to be playing a test of wills with the man (recent events only strengthen that observation).

Wenger often seems to throw up his hands in disbelief and resignation, claiming injustice when results don't go his way. It is a trait that has become bred in his club, who often seem to expect victory due to their swashbuckling displays.

Football doesn't work like that. And, thankfully, Arsenal's performance today was lined with a healthy dose of reality.

After all, if Udinese were ever going to sneak a win past Arsenal, this was their chance, what with the shaky ground the club has attempted to stand upon throughout the summer.

Gervinho, an offseason recruit whom many people seem to ignore in their haste to chastise Wenger for not spending enough this summer (the Ivorian cost roughly £10 million), put in the kind of polished, professional and reassuring display Arsenal fans have craved for so long.

It was his darting run past two Udinese defenders in the 55th minute—that drag dribble of his is fast becoming an unstoppable entity (expect it to become an iconic move in FIFA soon)—to the end line that set up the Arsenal equalizer.

Cutting back a decent pass for Robin van Persie, the Dutch marksman could do little else than score from six out—1-1.

With that score, Arsenal were through. But it was never going to be easy with this bunch, who seem dead-set on rivaling baseball's San Francisco Giants for the team best exemplifying "torture" for their fans in attendance or watching on TV.

A controversial hand-ball by defender Thomas Vermaelen led to an Udinese penalty only minutes after van Persie's goal.

Up stepped the compact di Natale, who you felt certain would score. He just seems like one of those guys who score from the spot.

He struck the penalty well, but not far enough left, allowing Wojciech Szczesny to make a superb save, parrying the shot up over the bar.

The 21-year-old Pole has improved rapidly during his short tenure as No. 1, and today, he was immense. Confident in his distribution, Szczesny's positioning was often stellar, and his reactions were top-notch.

With that stop propelling them once more in a momentous shift, Arsenal pushed for a second goal.

They got it in the 69th minute, when a neat one-two between Theo Walcott and Bacary Sagna at the halfway line sent the jackrabbit winger on his way in a footrace toward goal he was always going to win.

A tidy finish over the right shoulder of the onrushing Slovenian shot-stopper Samir Handanovic's—who was spectacular over the two legs—flew into the net, sealing the tie.

From that point on, Arsenal kept possession well, with certain individuals going for glory, almost in attempts to break out of the recently arrived doldrums.

After that rollicking first 70 minutes of vintage end-to-end Champions League football, the two teams looked spent. The four games played in less than two weeks by Arsenal began to show in their players' legs. Udinese seemed resigned to their fate.

During another trying time for Arsenal—way back in that long-lost year of 2010—the Gunners were trailing 3-1 to Manchester United at the Emirates in a late-January match that had seen them thoroughly outclassed by the visitors but for a lone, though sensational, Thomas Vermaelen goal.

Announcer Martin Tyler, using that brilliant iconic wit inherent in all English broadcasters, began summarizing the ensuing difficulties Arsenal would encounter.

Summing up their predicament with perfect simplicity, Tyler said, "Where do Arsenal go from here? The answer is Stamford Bridge (they would lose to Chelsea next week).

It was great stuff from the announcing legend. I bring it up now because it resonates perfectly with Arsenal's upcoming fixture.

Arsenal have little time to bask in the glow of their victory, with an immense fixture at Old Trafford awaiting on Sunday upon their return from northern Italy. There's truly no rest for their weary legs.

Having only taken one point from six to start the Premier League season, a positive result is an absolute necessity at this point.

With the impressive Gervinho joining fellow Wednesday starters Alex Song and Emmanuel Frimpong on the sidelines due to suspension, and with Jack Wilshere still not recovered from an ankle injury, Arsenal's midfield will be stretched ever thinner. The departed Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri can no longer be called upon to conjure up magic.

It will be a chance for Arsenal to show that their resolute performance in Udine tonight was no aberration.

It will be a chance for them to use all that frustration building up over the past weeks, and pour it into another positive result. Because you don't win by complaining about the injustice of it all. You claim victory by going out and getting a result.

I'll tell you what—should they (fingers crossed tight) manage to beat United, they'll have sent a resounding message to the rest of the league.

To quote Kid Cudi, "Beat me up, and I'll fight right back."