Source: Daily_Mail
Arsenal 2 Standard Liege 0: Wenger's not smiling as Gibbs and Gallas limp off
Arsene Wenger may think World Cup considerations to be far too premature, but as Arsenal progressed in the Champions League as group winners he might already be thinking about a certain date in the Bernabeu next May.[LNB]Wenger has sounded like a man in need of a bit of cheering up of late and this result against Standard Liege will certainly help. As will the fact that Arsenal's game against Olympiacos in a fortnight is purely academic.[LNB]But a broken metatarsal in his left foot for Kieran Gibbs and a swollen eye and ankle knock for William Gallas meant that there was still no beaming smile on the Arsenal manager's face.[LNB]Wenger is hopeful that Gallas is available for Sunday's derby against his former side Chelsea but Gibbs will have an operation this morning and faces three months on the sidelines after only recently recovering from severe bruising in his right foot.[LNB] Playing the pain game: Arsenal's Andrey Arshavin and William Gallas clash heads after going for a header together[LNB]Wenger said: 'Gallas has an ankle problem and a swollen eye. I thinkhe will recover from the eye. From the ankle we hope so. Gibbs is muchmore serious. We have to X-ray him and I think he's gone to hospital tocheck. He has a big hole in his leg. It was a very bad challenge from Eliaquim Mangala and it was not his first try. Kieran doesn't look too good.'[LNB]All the pre-match build up concerned Theo Walcott and Wenger's angerat the fixation on his World Cup prospects. But Walcott was denied thechance to prove he is focused on club matters as Wenger chose to startwith him on the bench.[LNB]VIDEO: Wenger on Emirates victory...[LNB]Instead, it was Denilson who made the most of his first start in more than two months after recovering from a back injury with a sumptuous 30-yard strike after Samir Nasri had given Arsenal the lead.[LNB]Wenger said of Denilson's strike: 'I think he has a typical Brazilian shot, this floating ball. It is typically Brazilian technique.'[LNB] Letting fly: Denilson doubles Arseanl's lead immediately before half-time with this stunning 30-yard strike[LNB]Eduardo, like Walcott, also had to be satisfied with a place on thebench. Instead, Carlos Vela was handed his first start of the season inthe absence of the injured Robin van Persie.[LNB]Wenger was pleased with what he saw from the Mexican. 'I thought Ihad an opportunity to give him a game,' said the Arsenal manager. 'Hedid, like the team, very well in the first half and dropped after that.But I was pleased with his movement off the ball and his combinationplay with team-mates.'[LNB]Vela was involved in Arsenal's early attacking moves and there wasprecious little for Wenger to take issue with in terms of a lack ofcreativity his gripe at the Stadium of Light.[LNB]Early chances fell to Nasri and Cesc Fabregas while Vela had a goalbound shot blocked by Felipe. Arsenal fans are no doubt still wonderinghow their side failed to take the lead on 15 minutes as Standardsurvived four attempts on their goal in quick succession.[LNB] Andrey Arshavin saw his header from Fabregas corner saved by SinanBolat before Vela crashed the rebound against the post. Then, Gallasshinned an effort at the Standard keeper before Thomas Vermaelen sawhis goal-bound strike cleared off the line by the unfortunate Arshavin.[LNB]Standard striker Dieudonne Mbokani did manage a reminder of what theBelgians could conjure up when he skipped away from Vermaelen with thepost coming to Manuel Almunia's rescue.[LNB]But it was only a brief response to Arsenal pressure. Arshavininadvertently prevented his side going ahead once more afterhalf-an-hour when he jumped with Gallas to meet Fabregas' cross, thedefender sending his header over the bar and the pair needing lengthytreatment after a nasty clash of heads.[LNB] Seeing red: Arshavin comes off worst after the collision[LNB]But with 10 minutes to go before the break, Arsenal got thebreakthrough when an unlucky slip by Landry Mulemo allowed Nasri tocollect Vermaelen's long-ball. Still, the finish from the Francemidfielder was typically classy as his side-foot evaded Bolat's reach.[LNB]The bang on the head for Gallas may have been responsible ReginalGoreux getting the jump on him and for a moment his challenge lookedlike earning a penalty for Standard, but referee Konrad Plautz wavedaway the appeal.[LNB]Any nerves were settled on the stroke of half-time, when Denilson,doubtless expecting the whistle, took a quick look before unleashing adipping 30-yard drive which took Bolat well and truly by surprise.[LNB] Off the mark: Samir Nasri breaks the deadlock[LNB]With Chelsea visiting at the weekend, Wenger took no chances withGallas, introducing Mikael Silvestre for the second period. Arsenal didreceive anotherreminder from Standard soon after the restart when MehdiCarcela-Gonzalez chipped his free-kick over the wall which Axel Witselchested down although he could not steer the ball past Almunia.[LNB]Standard went close again seven minutes from time when substituteGohi Bi Cyriac drive struck the base of the post and there was stilltime for Emmanuel Eboue to test Bolat.[LNB] Headache: Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas feels the force of Mehdi Carcela-Gonzalez[LNB] [LNB]With three minutes to go Carcela-Gonzalez was shown a red card forpushing his forehead into that of Fabregas, although what the Arsenalskipper had done that was deserving of a booking was difficult tofathom.[LNB]Indeed, Mangala should have received a second booking for his latechallenge on Gibbs which forced the young defender to limp out in thedying moments.[LNB] Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger reckons Liverpool fans are losing faith in Benitez's sideKroenke snaps up more Arsenal shares to edge closer to Emirates takeoverARSENAL 2 Standard Liege 0: As it happenedARSENAL FC
