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Played
November 1, 2011 7:45 PM GMT
Emirates Stadium — London
Referee:‬ P. Tagliavento‎
Attendance:‬ 59961‎
 
Top of the Match
Thomas Vermaelen
Thomas Vermaelen
Arsenal
Thomas Vermaelen
Thomas Vermaelen
Arsenal
Flop of the Match
Chu-Young Park
Chu-Young Park
Arsenal
Chu-Young Park
Chu-Young Park
Arsenal

Arsenal 0-0 Marseille: Gunners have to wait for Champions League progression after uninspiring encounter

Gunners put in a frustrating performance, and couldn't break the deadlock despite good chances for Gervinho and Aaron Ramsey in stalemate

By Joe Doyle

CL - Arsenal FC v Olympique de Marseille, Aaron Ramsey
Getty Images
Arsenal were forced to wait for qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League as they played out a 0-0 draw with Marseille in Group F.

The Gunners looked slightly drained, perhaps a hangover from the intense game they won against Chelsea at the weekend, and in the first half were short of class as captain Robin van Persie started on the bench.

Theo Walcott almost put the Gunners into the lead on the 10th minute, as he found space on the right to shoot across Steve Mandanda, but the goalkeeper got a glove on the effort to steer it wide.

At the other end, Wojciech Szczesny was slightly busier than he would have wanted following Carl Jenkinson's short back-pass, dancing around Remy before clearing, much to the relief of the Arsenal support.

Aaron Ramsey should have then opened the scoring on 20 minutes. The Welshman came hurtling onto a cross from an overlapping Andre Santos at the far-post, but wasn't quite in control, having to slide to meet the ball and lashed over the bar.

Following this, the Gunners broke well and Gervinho found Ramsey again in front of goal, but the midfielder was slightly more ponderous on the ball than in the reverse fixture, allowing the defender to get back and block the shot while Walcott advertised his freedom in vain.

The Gunners started the second half at break-neck speed, threatening the Marseille goal on the counterattack, but still with no real end-product.

The ineffectual Park Chu-Young was replaced on the hour mark for Van Persie, but the Dutchman didn't really get much time on the ball in his first 10 minutes on the pitch, despite the rest of his team's efforts.

The match reached the 75th minute without too many more moments of note, as both teams seemed to be settling for a draw.

Then Van Persie got his chance to shine, racing onto a Tomas Rosicky through-ball before looking up to see Mandanda creeping off his line. But the Dutchman's effort was poor, a chip that was easily caught by the goalkeeper, and probably heading wide as well.

Morgan Amalfitano, the Marseille substitute was the next to have an effort at goal, but he dragged his shot wide of the far post as the visitors broke well.

The main moment of quality for Arsenal in the second half came in stoppage time as Van Persie put in a delicious cross, but the left-back Morel flung himself at the ball to clear, and the game was over.

But the match ended goalless, and Arsenal will have a second chance to secure progression from Group F when they face Dortmund on matchday five.

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Arsenal

13
Wojciech Szczesny
Goalkeeper
6.5
4
Per Mertesacker
Defender
6.5
5
8.0
11
Andre Santos
Defender
6.0
25
Carl Jenkinson
Defender
5.5
8
Mikel Arteta
Midfielder
6.0
16
Aaron Ramsey
Midfielder
66′
7.0
17
Alex Song
Midfielder
7.0
9
5.0
14
Theo Walcott
Striker
5.5
27
Gervinho
Striker
77′
6.5

Olympique de Marseille

7.5
30
Steve Mandanda
Goalkeeper
6.5
-
N. N'Koulou
Defender
6.5
15
Jérémy Morel
Defender
7.0
21
6.5
24
Rod Fanni
Defender
6.0
4
Alou Diarra
Midfielder
40′
6.0
7
Benoît Cheyrou
Midfielder
6.0
28
Mathieu Valbuena
Midfielder
74′
6.5
11
Loïc Remy
Striker
68′
7.0
20
André Ayew
Midfielder
6.0
23
Jordan Ayew
Striker
84′

Substitutes

21
Lukasz Fabianski
Goalkeeper
-
6
-
20
Johan Djourou
Defender
-
7
Tomas Rosicky
Midfielder
66′ 85′
5.0
30
Yossi Benayoun
Midfielder
-
10
Andrey Arshavin
Midfielder
77′
-
10
6.0

Substitutes

-
1
-
13
Djimi Traore
Defender
5.5
8
Lucho González
Midfielder
74′
-
12
Charles Kaboré
Midfielder
6.0
19
Morgan Amalfitano
Midfielder
68′
-
10

Coach/Manager

-
-

Coach/Manager

-
-
 
  • Goal
  • Own Goal
  • Penalty
  • Penalty Missed
  • Yellow Card
  • Assist
  • Penalty Save
  • Penalty Shootout Goal
  • Penalty Shootout Miss
  • Yellow Card / Red Card
  • Red Card
  • Substitution IN
  • Substitution OUT
  • Injury
  • Goal.com Rating
  • Goal.com Man of the Match
  • Goal.com Flop of the Match
  • Top & Flop Global Ranking
  • Fans' Man of the Match
  • Fans' Flop of the Match
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Lionel Messi Lionel Messi
Striker
Barcelona
14 4
Mario Gomez Mario Gomez
Striker
Bayern
13 0
Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker
Real Madrid
10 2
Karim Benzema Karim Benzema
Striker
Real Madrid
7 0
Didier Drogba Didier Drogba
Striker
Chelsea
6 0