Arsenal won 2-1 at Anderlecht in UEFA Champions League Group D
Reaction after Arsenal won 2-1 at Anderlecht in UEFA Champions League Group D on Wednesday (22 October).
Kieran Gibbs and Lukas Podolski scored in the final minutes to give Arsenal a stunning 2-1 victory over Anderlecht and a UEFA Champions League birthday present to manager Arsene Wenger.
"I think that the turning point was when not to concede the second goal, they had a good chance they did not take and in the end the quality of the players who came on and our experience made the difference, unexpectedly. But as long as we did not concede the second goal I thought we have a chance at least to take a point, it is a bit unexpected to take the three considering the quality of the match that Anderlecht played tonight."~ Arsene Wenger
With defeat seemingly assured, Gibbs brought Arsenal back into the game in the 89th minute with a low volley.
Podolski followed up from close range in stoppage time after a goalmouth scramble to keep the London side second in Group D.
Anderlecht had sensed victory after midfielder Andy Najar gave the Belgian champions a 1-0 lead with a powerful header which wrong-footed Arsenal's third-choice goalie Emiliano Martinez in the 71st minute.
Dortmund lead the group with nine points ahead of Arsenal, whose coach Wenger celebrated his 65th birthday on Wednesday, with six points.
Anderlecht and Galatasaray have one point each.
Aresenal manager Arsene Wenger said he has no worry for young goal keeper Martinez because he is a quality goal keeper.
"I had no worry for our goalkeeper (Emilio Martinez) because he has the presence, he has the quality and he resists well to stress and (Lukas) Podolski we know he can always score you a goal. He is frustrated and I can of course understand that, but he is important as well and he has shown that again tonight and he will be important in the coming months. I have said that many times, it took him a while to get back to a good physical level and now he is nearly there." Wenger said
Wenger believe Belgium league always produce talented and great players always.
"(I was asked) just did you expect such a strong resistance from Anderlecht and I said I have a big respect for Belgium because I suffered a lot here and they showed again tonight that they produce top quality players, we could think that all the big players have left the country but they produce again. I have seen some good players tonight and they do a remarkable work with the academies in Belgium." Wenger added
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| Podolski |
Kieran Gibbs and Lukas Podolski scored in the final minutes to give Arsenal a stunning 2-1 victory over Anderlecht and a UEFA Champions League birthday present to manager Arsene Wenger.
"I think that the turning point was when not to concede the second goal, they had a good chance they did not take and in the end the quality of the players who came on and our experience made the difference, unexpectedly. But as long as we did not concede the second goal I thought we have a chance at least to take a point, it is a bit unexpected to take the three considering the quality of the match that Anderlecht played tonight."~ Arsene Wenger
With defeat seemingly assured, Gibbs brought Arsenal back into the game in the 89th minute with a low volley.
Podolski followed up from close range in stoppage time after a goalmouth scramble to keep the London side second in Group D.
Anderlecht had sensed victory after midfielder Andy Najar gave the Belgian champions a 1-0 lead with a powerful header which wrong-footed Arsenal's third-choice goalie Emiliano Martinez in the 71st minute.
Dortmund lead the group with nine points ahead of Arsenal, whose coach Wenger celebrated his 65th birthday on Wednesday, with six points.
Anderlecht and Galatasaray have one point each.
Aresenal manager Arsene Wenger said he has no worry for young goal keeper Martinez because he is a quality goal keeper.
"I had no worry for our goalkeeper (Emilio Martinez) because he has the presence, he has the quality and he resists well to stress and (Lukas) Podolski we know he can always score you a goal. He is frustrated and I can of course understand that, but he is important as well and he has shown that again tonight and he will be important in the coming months. I have said that many times, it took him a while to get back to a good physical level and now he is nearly there." Wenger said
Wenger believe Belgium league always produce talented and great players always.
"(I was asked) just did you expect such a strong resistance from Anderlecht and I said I have a big respect for Belgium because I suffered a lot here and they showed again tonight that they produce top quality players, we could think that all the big players have left the country but they produce again. I have seen some good players tonight and they do a remarkable work with the academies in Belgium." Wenger added
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