Arsenal 0 - 0 Marseille: Visitors make Gunners play waiting game

Arsenal’s progression to the Champions League knockout stages will have to wait for another night after they struggled to a drab draw with Marseille.

The north Londoners had come into the Group F encounter hoping for the victory that would see them make it to the knockout stages for the 12th successive season, although a mixture of resolute defending and poor finishing put paid to that.

Arsenal looked weary from the exertions of Saturday’s 5-3 victory at Chelsea and lacked the cutting edge brought by talisman Robin van Persie, who started on the bench against the French outfit. While the home side were frustrated at their inability to emulate last month’s win at the Stade Velodrome, a point was the least Marseille deserved from a plucky performance.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Didier Deschamps’ side started with a free-flowing attacking formation in which brothers Andre and Jordan Ayew shone, especially in a first half they dominated for the most part.

Arsenal managed to keep the visitors at bay but the majority of the 59,961 crowd at the Emirates Stadium were sent home disappointed, with a Van Persie chip the only opportunity of note in a poor second period.

Arsenal looked to be struggling after their weekend exertions at Stamford Bridge as the match petered out into a tepid affair which in truth could easily have gone the way of a determined French side .

Arsenal: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Andre Santos, Song, Arteta, Walcott, Ramsey (Rosicky 66), Gervinho (Arshavin 76), Park (van Persie 62). Subs not used: Fabianski, Koscielny, Djourou, Benayoun.

Marseille: Mandanda,Fanni, Diarra, N’Koulou, Morel, Diawara, Andre Ayew, Valbuena (Gonzalez 74), Cheyrou, Jordan Ayew (Gignac 84), Remy (Amalfitano 68). Subs not used: Bracigliano, Azpilicueta, Kabore, Traore.