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Tuesday, September 18, 2012
 Full Time
Montpellier
1
 
2
Arsenal
Y. Belhanda  (Pen)  9' 1-0 
 1-1L. Podolski  16'
 1-2Gervinho  18'
HT: 1-2
La Mosson (Attendance: 30,000)
Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo
Stats
CommentaryLineupsStatistics Events Shotchart
Montpellier vs. Arsenal
Minute Commentary
90' RECAP: RELIEF FOR ARSENAL
A barrage of pressure from the home side in the second half put Arsenal under all sorts of pressure in a pacy, physical encounter. Curiously though, despite their potent attacking threat, Montpellier never seemed to have enough efforts on goals to come back into it. Arsene Wenger will be disappointed by his sides willingness to let their opponents boss the middle of the park throughout the second forty five, but, ultimately, clinical finishing from Gervinho and Lukas Podolski at the expense of a slipshod Montpellier defence midway through the opening half means the Gunners have come away with three valuable points. A lesson learned for the impressive French champions. They will certainly cause problems for other teams as the competition progresses, and will rue their inability to make control of the ball count here tonight.
90' FULL TIME
That's it, Arsenal hold out and win 2-1.
90' ADDED TIME
Three minutes to hold out for Arsenal.
90' GUNNERS CHANGES
Santi Cazorla and Lukas Podolski go off and Francis Coquelin and Theo Walcott come on.
87' CALMER TIMES FOR THE GUNNERS
Arsenal play the ball around. The home side have been reduced to pumping long balls up to the big presences of new men Herrerra and Stambouli.
86' TIME RUNNING OUT
Arsenal are roughly ten minutes from a very satisfactory three points. Montpellier waste two opportunities to centre the ball and the impetus is beginning to ebb away on the pitch and in the stands. Younes Belhanda is shown a yellow card for nothing more than a coming together with Mikel Arteta, who'll certainly sleep well tonight after a torrid tussle in midfield.
81' POINT BLANK MISS
Emanuel Herrera from three yards, straight into the midriff of Vito Mannone. A guilt edged chance for Montpellier, he should have buried it!
81' DOUBLE CHANGE FOR THE HOSTS
Marco Estrada makes way for Emanuel Herrera and Souleymane Camara goes off to be replaced by Benjamin Stambouli. Despite their dominance, I struggle to remember a clear-cut chance on goal for Montpellier since Remy Cabella in the 47th minute. 12 minutes to play and just a sign or two now that they are running out of steam.
76' GUNNERS CHANGE
Olivier Giroud is withdrawn after a disappointing return to his former club. Aaron Ramsey has been sent on, no doubt with instructions to take control of the centre of the park.
72' MONTPELLIER DOMINATING
Souleymane Camara has Per Mertesacker with the ball traped under his feet and is unlucky to concede a foul. The non-stop home pressure continues, Arsenal are suffering from a lack of an experienced head to put their foot on the ball and settle his side. Arsene Wenger of course is not on the touchline tonight so Steve Bould must marshal his troops before their rearguard is breached.
71' ARSENAL CHANCE
Kieran Gibbs forces a last ditch clearance as Olivier Giroud bears down on goal. Then Lukas Podolski tries to wriggle his way through, but Montpellier again press the Arsenal defence from the set piece. This really could go either way, the dynamic home side stretching the game on all fronts.
64' HOME SUBSTITUTION
Montpellier make the first change, Karim Ait-Fana, an adventurous attacking midfielder, replaces Anthony Mounier. They're still in the ascendency and, with Schalke leading at Olympiakos, neither of those sides will fancy a visit to the Stade de Mallon in the weeks to come.
60' HOME DOMINANCE
Remy Cabella looks for Souleymane Camara in the middle but the offside flag goes up. Some sublime technical play by the hosts is moving the ball left and right, confidence surging through the side. Aaron Ramsey and Theo Walcott are warming up for Arsenal, a change must be imminent.
57' STAND AND DELIVER FOR THE ENGLISH SIDE
It's a question of putting their foot on the ball for Arsenal and subduing their opponents. Santi Cazorla stings the palms of Geoffrey Jourdren with a rasping shot and the resulting corner sees Thomas Vermaelen arriving at the back post to nod tamely into the goalkeeper's clutches. That's more like it from the Gunners.
55' CABELLA VITA
Remy Cabella chips an impudent effort onto the bar. What an effort! Arsene Wenger's side are well and truly on the rack. How long can they hold out?
55' FRENCH FRY
Mikel Arteta is out-muscled in the centre of the park and Montpellier come again as the ball is centred without finding a man. What vintage were the home quaffing at half-time I wonder? Whatever it was, they're firing on all cylinders in a rambunctious atmosphere.
52' HOME PRESSURE
Early possession for Montpellier on both flanks. Henri Bedimo wins a corner and its played short before falling to Anthony Mounier on the volley. He scuffs his effort, but its been a good start to the second half by the French side.
49' DIABY MISTAKE
Abou Diaby makes a terrible hash of things, dwelling on the ball to let Remy Cabella steal it and smash a shot just past Vito Mannone's near post. A big let-off for the French international.
46' WE'RE UNDERWAY
The second half begins, Arsenal in red and Montpellier sporting navy blue shirts and orange shorts.
45' HALF TIME RECAP
No shortage of incident then in the first ever 45 minutes of Champions League football in Montpellier. Perhaps the home side deserved a slice of luck in winning a penalty to take the lead and the finish was nothing short of delightful, delicately chipped past Mannone. Arsenal bustled forward almost straight away though, and had the lead within nine minutes following a lapse of concentration in the Fench defence. Since then you'd have to say Montpellier have applied more pressure but Arsenal appear more clinical. Arsene Wenger will no doubt be stressing a need for composure from his side and gaps may well open up for them as the game goes on. Stand by for second half commentary...
45' HALF TIME
That's the halfway mark, it's 2-1 to Arsenal.
44' GERVINHO-OO!
Gervinho just fails to reach an Abou Diaby through-ball at the feet of the goalkeeper. Montpellier are perhaps playing too high a line as they push for an equaliser, Gervinho and co have had plenty of space to move into.
40' SILKY FRENCH BREAK
Lovely feet from Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and Montpellier break with pace after the defender had intercepted Arsenal when they were trying to do the same. Montpellier are doing more than edge the encounter as it stands, they look the more likely as half-time approaches.
38' MANNONE GATHERS
Another Montpellier corner is caught confidently by Vito Mannone. This is good pressure now from the home side.
36' MONTPELLIER CHANCE
Vito Mannone tips a Marco Estrada shot round his left post. Smart save and Montpellier win a corner from which they blast another long-ranger high and wide.
34' MONTPELLIER
It's easy to see why Montpellier were so effective in winning Ligue 1 last term. They're a big, athletic, well organised side who work hard for one another and emphasise sending the ball wide. Olivier Giroud no doubt lapped up the service of the likes of Remy Cabella and Younes Belhanda. As it is though, the game has settled and a compact Arsenal side will hope some of their quality shows as the game goes on.
27' FOUL ARTETA
Mikel Arteta stops Remy Cabella in his tracks after he'd broken up a probing move on the left from Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla. Despite the action in front of goal, it's a disjointed game thus far.
25' BELHANDA LOOKING DANGEROUS
Younes Belhanda threatens the Arsenal goal. His talent has been evident to a number of Europe's top sides and looks the most likely attacking option for Montpellier. Arsenal then win two corners, both easily cleared, and a lively game is off up the other end again.
23' GUNNERS ON TOP
Montpellier led for only 7 minutes before the Premier League side's superior attacking movement has made their less than convincing defense pay for a naive start to the match. Arsenal will fancy their chances of opening up the home side again.
19' THE GUNNERS ARE IN FRONT
Carl Jenkinson sped down the right, found Gervinho 3 yards out and he could hardly fail to crash the ball into the roof of the net. What a comeback!
18' GOOAALLLL!!!
2-1 Arsenal! Gervinho!
16' ARSENAL REPLY
It's 3 in 3 games for Lukas Podolski. He slotted home under an advancing Geoffrey Jourdren in goal having been played through neatly down the middle. Montpellier's manager won't be happy with the way the Gunners carved them open there.
16' GOOAALLL!!!
Podolski strikes for Arsenal!!
11' GAME ON
So Montpellier have the lead. The game has yet to settle and the French champions are ahead from what was pretty much their first meaningful foray forward. Replays show that Thomas Vermaelen never took the ball but equally his opponent was not in the area. You can't do anything but applaud the way Younes Belhanda took the penalty though, cool as you like, it's game on.
11' GOOAALLL!!
Impudently stroked into the centre of the goal by Belhanda a la Pirlo after Thomas Vermaelen committed a contentious foul. Arsenal fans may well feel a little hard done by.
10' PENALTY!
Montpellier win a spot kick!
5' CAZORLA EFFORT
Arsenal win a free kick on the edge of the area and Santi Cazorla smashes it into the wall.
2' DIABY YELLOW
It took only twenty seconds for Abou Diaby to earn himself a yellow. His studs were up and he left the referee no choice.
1' WE'RE UNDERWAY
The referee blows his whistle.
1' LINE UPS
Its a balmy night in southern France, the teams are out on the pitch. Olivier Giroud starts against his former club with Santi Cazorla and Lukas Podolski joining him in attack. Mikel Arteta and Abou Diaby will play ahead of a defensive four of Carl Jenkinson, Per Mertesacker, Thomas Vermaelen and Kieran Gibbs.
0' PREVIEW: MONTPELLIER VS. ARSENAL, STADE DE LA MOSSON, 19:45
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will watch from the stands as he serves the first of a three-match ban for his tirade against the referee following their last 16 exit at AC Milan in March. Steve Bould will take charge on the sidelines. French title winners Montpellier make their Champions League debut after a shaky start to the season, winning only one of their first five games. Last year's success came in no small part thanks to the twenty goals of Arsenal summer signing Olivier Giroud. It remains to be seen what part he will play on his return, having once again failed to break his duck in the 6-1 thrashing of Southampton at the weekend.
0' ARSENAL TEAM NEWS
Vito Mannone began the season as the Gunners' fifth choice goalkeeper, but will start tonight. Wojciech Szczesny has an ankle complaint to add to Lukasz Fabianski's shoulder injury so youngster James Shea will occupy the bench. Abou Diaby, who was doubtful, is in the squad, though Andrey Arshavin was left out. Jack Wilshere, Bacary Sagna, Emmanuel Frimpong and Tomas Rosicky all remain unavailable.
0' MONTPELLIER TEAM NEWS
Former Portsmouth man John Utaka has a thigh injury and will not play. Tunisian midfeilder Jamel Saïhi will return after a three match absence with a chest infection.
0' STAY TUNED
Stay tuned for build-up and live text commentary.
CommentaryLineupsStatistics Events Shotchart
Team Stats
Montpellier Arsenal
1 Goals 2
0 Assists 2
15 Shots 7
5 Shots on Goal 4
2 Saves 4
1 Penalties Scored 0
1 Penalty Kicks 0
30 Crosses 12
6 Corner Kicks 6
6 Offsides 2
13 Fouls Committed 12
2 Cautions/Yellow Cards 1
0 Red Cards 0
Montpellier
No. Player MinP G YC RC GA Svs
16Geoffrey Jourdren 90 - 0 0 2 2
2Garry Bocaly 90 0 0 0 - -
3Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa 90 0 1 0 - -
4Vitorino Hilton 90 0 0 0 - -
5Henri Bedimo 90 0 0 0 - -
8Anthony Mounier 68 0 0 0 - -
10Younes Belhanda 90 1 1 0 - -
13Marco Estrada 78 0 0 0 - -
19Souleymane Camara 78 0 0 0 - -
20Remy Cabella 90 0 0 0 - -
23Jamel Saihi 90 0 0 0 - -
Substitutes
11Emanuel Herrera 12 0 0 0 - -
18Karim Ait-Fana 22 0 0 0 - -
22Benjamin Stambouli 12 0 0 0 - -

Arsenal
No. Player MinP G YC RC GA Svs
24Vito Mannone 90 - 0 0 1 4
2Abou Diaby 90 0 1 0 - -
4Per Mertesacker 90 0 0 0 - -
5Thomas Vermaelen 90 0 0 0 - -
8Mikel Arteta 90 0 0 0 - -
9Lukas Podolski 89 1 0 0 - -
12Olivier Giroud 76 0 0 0 - -
19Santi Cazorla 89 0 0 0 - -
25Carl Jenkinson 90 0 0 0 - -
27Gervinho 90 1 0 0 - -
28Kieran Gibbs 90 0 0 0 - -
Substitutes
14Theo Walcott 1 0 0 0 - -
16Aaron Ramsey 14 0 0 0 - -
22Francis Coquelin 1 0 0 0 - -
CommentaryLineupsStatisticsEventsShotchart
Montpellier vs. Arsenal
Minute Event
90' Game Over  Montpellier 1-2 Arsenal
90' Half Over  Montpellier 1-2 Arsenal
90' Cross  Garry Bocaly (Montpellier)
90' Throw-In  Garry Bocaly (Montpellier)
90' Foul  Saihi fouled by Francis Coquelin (Arsenal)
90' Throw-In  Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal)
90' Throw-In  Carl Jenkinson (Arsenal)
90' Throw-In  Garry Bocaly (Montpellier)
90' Throw-In  Carl Jenkinson (Arsenal)
90' Substitution  Theo Walcott (on). Podolski (off). (Arsenal)
90' Substitution  Francis Coquelin (on). Cazorla (off). (Arsenal)
89' Cross  Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa (Montpellier)
88' Foul  Yanga-Mbiwa fouled by Lukas Podolski (Arsenal)
88' Offside  Emanuel Herrera (Montpellier)
88' Cross  Vitorino Hilton (Montpellier)
88' Shot  Benjamin Stambouli (Montpellier)
88' Cross  Remy Cabella (Montpellier)
87' Offside  Gervinho (Arsenal)
86' Offside  Emanuel Herrera (Montpellier)
85' Cross  Garry Bocaly (Montpellier)
85' Throw-In  Henri Bedimo (Montpellier)
84' Yellow Card  Younes Belhanda (Montpellier)
84' Foul  Arteta fouled by Younes Belhanda (Montpellier)
84' Goal Kick  Vito Mannone (Arsenal)
84' Cross  Garry Bocaly (Montpellier)
83' Throw-In  Henri Bedimo (Montpellier)
83' Cross  Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa (Montpellier)
82' Foul  Arteta fouled by Karim Ait-Fana (Montpellier)
82' Goal Kick  Vito Mannone (Arsenal)
81' Cross  Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa (Montpellier)
81' Foul  Cabella fouled by Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal)
80' Shot on Goal  Younes Belhanda (Montpellier)
78' Throw-In  Garry Bocaly (Montpellier)
78' Substitution  Benjamin Stambouli (on). Camara (off). (Montpellier)
78' Substitution  Emanuel Herrera (on). Estrada (off). (Montpellier)
77' Throw-In  Carl Jenkinson (Arsenal)
76' Substitution  Aaron Ramsey (on). Giroud (off). (Arsenal)
75' Foul  Gervinho fouled by Younes Belhanda (Montpellier)
75' Corner Kick  Younes Belhanda (Montpellier)
73' Cross  Remy Cabella (Montpellier)
71' Shot on Goal  Karim Ait-Fana (Montpellier)
70' Foul  Vermaelen fouled by Souleymane Camara (Montpellier)
70' Cross  Garry Bocaly (Montpellier)
69' Cross  Marco Estrada (Montpellier)
69' Cross  Marco Estrada (Montpellier)
69' Free Kick  Marco Estrada (Montpellier)
69' Foul  Belhanda fouled by Abou Diaby (Arsenal)
68' Cross  Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal)
68' Throw-In  Carl Jenkinson (Arsenal)
68' Substitution  Karim Ait-Fana (on). Mounier (off). (Montpellier)
64' Throw-In  Garry Bocaly (Montpellier)
64' Goal Kick  Vito Mannone (Arsenal)
63' Throw-In  Henri Bedimo (Montpellier)
63' Goal Kick  Geoffrey Jourdren (Montpellier)
62' Corner Kick  Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal)
62' Throw-In  Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal)
61' Goal Kick  Vito Mannone (Arsenal)
60' Offside  Souleymane Camara (Montpellier)
60' Cross  Garry Bocaly (Montpellier)
58' Foul  Mounier fouled by Mikel Arteta (Arsenal)
58' Shot on Goal  Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal)
58' Cross  Santi Cazorla (Arsenal)
58' Corner Kick  Santi Cazorla (Arsenal)
57' Shot on Goal  Santi Cazorla (Arsenal)
57' Cross  Marco Estrada (Montpellier)
57' Free Kick  Marco Estrada (Montpellier)
56' Foul  Cabella fouled by Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal)
56' Throw-In  Henri Bedimo (Montpellier)
56' Cross  Anthony Mounier (Montpellier)
56' Throw-In  Garry Bocaly (Montpellier)
55' Goal Kick  Vito Mannone (Arsenal)
55' Shot  Remy Cabella (Montpellier)
55' Shot  Remy Cabella (Montpellier)
54' Offside  Anthony Mounier (Montpellier)
54' Goal Kick  Vito Mannone (Arsenal)
54' Shot  Anthony Mounier (Montpellier)
53' Goal Kick  Vito Mannone (Arsenal)
53' Shot  Garry Bocaly (Montpellier)
52' Cross  Remy Cabella (Montpellier)
52' Cross  Henri Bedimo (Montpellier)
51' Goal Kick  Vito Mannone (Arsenal)
51' Cross  Garry Bocaly (Montpellier)
50' Shot  Anthony Mounier (Montpellier)
50' Cross  Remy Cabella (Montpellier)
50' Corner Kick  Younes Belhanda (Montpellier)
49' Throw-In  Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal)
49' Throw-In  Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal)
49' Cross  Younes Belhanda (Montpellier)
49' Corner Kick  Garry Bocaly (Montpellier)
48' Cross  Remy Cabella (Montpellier)
48' Goal Kick  Vito Mannone (Arsenal)
47' Shot  Remy Cabella (Montpellier)
47' Throw-In  Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal)
47' Throw-In  Garry Bocaly (Montpellier)
46' Foul  Jenkinson fouled by Anthony Mounier (Montpellier)
46' Start Half 
45' Half Over  Montpellier 1-2 Arsenal
45' Corner Kick  Santi Cazorla (Arsenal)
45' Goal Kick  Geoffrey Jourdren (Montpellier)
45' Shot  Olivier Giroud (Arsenal)
45' Cross  Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal)
45' Throw-In  Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal)
44' Shot  Gervinho (Arsenal)
43' Throw-In  Carl Jenkinson (Arsenal)
43' Foul  Arteta fouled by Younes Belhanda (Montpellier)
42' Goal Kick  Vito Mannone (Arsenal)
42' Cross  Abou Diaby (Arsenal)
41' Yellow Card  Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa (Montpellier)
41' Foul  Arteta fouled by Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa (Montpellier)
39' Shot on Goal  Marco Estrada (Montpellier)
38' Cross  Remy Cabella (Montpellier)
38' Throw-In  Santi Cazorla (Arsenal)
37' Corner Kick  Younes Belhanda (Montpellier)
36' Cross  Anthony Mounier (Montpellier)
36' Cross  Younes Belhanda (Montpellier)
35' Goal Kick  Vito Mannone (Arsenal)
35' Shot  Marco Estrada (Montpellier)
35' Corner Kick  Anthony Mounier (Montpellier)
34' Shot on Goal  Remy Cabella (Montpellier)
32' Foul  Giroud fouled by Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa (Montpellier)
31' Foul  Vermaelen fouled by Souleymane Camara (Montpellier)
30' Throw-In  Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal)
29' Foul  Cazorla fouled by Marco Estrada (Montpellier)
28' Throw-In  Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal)
28' Cross  Remy Cabella (Montpellier)
28' Corner Kick  Younes Belhanda (Montpellier)
27' Offside  Souleymane Camara (Montpellier)
26' Foul  Cabella fouled by Mikel Arteta (Arsenal)
26' Throw-In  Garry Bocaly (Montpellier)
25' Throw-In  Garry Bocaly (Montpellier)
24' Cross  Santi Cazorla (Arsenal)
24' Corner Kick  Santi Cazorla (Arsenal)
24' Corner Kick  Santi Cazorla (Arsenal)
23' Cross  Carl Jenkinson (Arsenal)
22' Foul  Vermaelen fouled by Younes Belhanda (Montpellier)
22' Shot  Younes Belhanda (Montpellier)
22' Offside  Gervinho (Arsenal)
22' Throw-In  Carl Jenkinson (Arsenal)
21' Throw-In  Carl Jenkinson (Arsenal)
21' Cross  Marco Estrada (Montpellier)
21' Throw-In  Marco Estrada (Montpellier)
21' Cross  Younes Belhanda (Montpellier)
21' Free Kick  Younes Belhanda (Montpellier)
20' Foul  Cabella fouled by Lukas Podolski (Arsenal)
20' Throw-In  Garry Bocaly (Montpellier)
20' Throw-In  Carl Jenkinson (Arsenal)
18' Goal  Gervinho (Arsenal). Assist by Jenkinson
18' Shot on Goal  Gervinho (Arsenal)
18' Cross  Carl Jenkinson (Arsenal)
16' Goal  Lukas Podolski (Arsenal). Assist by Giroud
16' Shot on Goal  Lukas Podolski (Arsenal)
15' Cross  Gervinho (Arsenal)
14' Goal Kick  Vito Mannone (Arsenal)
14' Shot  Remy Cabella (Montpellier)
14' Cross  Marco Estrada (Montpellier)
14' Free Kick  Marco Estrada (Montpellier)
13' Foul  Cabella fouled by Mikel Arteta (Arsenal)
12' Foul  Saihi fouled by Olivier Giroud (Arsenal)
11' Cross  Henri Bedimo (Montpellier)
11' Throw-In  Henri Bedimo (Montpellier)
10' Cross  Olivier Giroud (Arsenal)
9' Penalty Goal  Younes Belhanda (Montpellier)
9' Shot on Goal  Younes Belhanda (Montpellier)
9' Free Kick  Younes Belhanda (Montpellier)
8' Foul  Belhanda fouled by Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal)
7' Cross  Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal)
6' Throw-In  Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal)
6' Corner Kick  Santi Cazorla (Arsenal)
6' Cross  Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal)
5' Cross  Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal)
5' Throw-In  Carl Jenkinson (Arsenal)
5' Throw-In  Carl Jenkinson (Arsenal)
4' Shot  Santi Cazorla (Arsenal)
4' Free Kick  Santi Cazorla (Arsenal)
3' Foul  Jamel Saihi (Montpellier)
2' Foul  Podolski fouled by Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa (Montpellier)
2' Offside  Souleymane Camara (Montpellier)
2' Cross  Anthony Mounier (Montpellier)
1' Yellow Card  Abou Diaby (Arsenal)
1' Foul  Estrada fouled by Abou Diaby (Arsenal)
1' Start Half 
CommentaryLineupsStatistics Events Shotchart

Players
No.Number
MinPMinutes Played
GGoals
AstAssists
SHTSShots
SOGShots on Goal
CKCorner Kicks
CRCrosses
OffOffsides
FCFouls Committed
FSFouls Suffered
YCYellow Cards
RCRed Cards
GAGoals Against
SvsSaves
w1 © 2013 by STATS LLC.
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