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Galatasaray
Champions League | Group Stage
Dec 9, 2014 at 7.45pm UK
 
Arsenal logo

1-4

Sneijder (88')
FT(HT: 0-3)
Podolski (3', 92'), Ramsey (11', 29')

Player Ratings: Galatasaray 1-4 Arsenal

Sports Mole looks back at who impressed during Arsenal's 4-1 victory over Galatasaray in the Champions League.

Arsenal rounded off their Champions League Group D campaign with a comprehensive 4-1 victory over Galatasaray at the Turk Telekom Arena this evening.

The Gunners were ahead inside the opening three minutes when Lukas Podolski fired the ball into the roof of the net, while Aaron Ramsey added two more before the interval.

Wesley Sneijder managed to pull one back for the hosts in the second half, although Podolski converted once more with what was the last kick of the game to regain his side's three-goal cushion.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look back at who impressed across the 90 minutes of action.


GALATASARAY

Joel Campbell of Arsenal battles with Felipe Melo of Galatasaray during the UEFA Champions League Group D match on December 9, 2014© Getty Images

Goal

Sinan Bolat: Beaten twice inside the opening 11 minutes with strikes he could possibly have kept out. Not a lot he could have done about the following two goals, but overall this was not a great showing from the second-choice keeper. (5/10)

Defence

Alex Telles: While he was poor in the first half, the full-back moved into far more advanced positions following the restart in an attempt to peg the opposition back. (6/10)

Hakan Balta: Poor defensively, only heading the ball as far as Ramsey for Arsenal's third, while he squandered arguably his side's best chance of the opening 80 minutes early on. (5/10)

Semih Kaya: Could not handle the raw pace of Oxlade-Chamberlain on the turn, and was guilty of pulling the Englishman down which led to a booking shortly before the hour. (5/10)

Tarik Camdal: Another player who struggled with the Gunners' attacking movement, bringing down Campbell to earn a caution in the first half which led to him being replaced at half time. (5/10)

Midfield

Emre Colak: Saw his free kick pushed away by Szczesny late on, but that aside he did very little to affect the outcome of the contest from his deep-lying position. (6/10)

Felipe Melo: A defensive midfield player who helped break up play at times, Melo was unable to get a grip on proceedings in the first half. More composed following the restart when Gala asserted their authority a little more. (6/10)

Wesley Sneijder: The Turkish outfit had 24 attempts at goal this evening, and it is fair to say that Sneijder had a large chunk of those efforts. Finally found a way through late on with a fine free kick to prove that he has still got it. (7/10)

Bruma: Seemed to switch flanks in the second half, yet it did not pay off which perhaps explains why he was pulled off 13 minutes from time. (6/10)

Attack

Burak Yilmaz: A poor first half was capped when he failed to emerge following the restart, allowing manager Hamza Hamzaoglu to change things around slightly. (5/10)

Umut Bulut: Came close to scoring on 70 minutes when he struck the ball goalwards from close range, but Mertesacker dived in the way of the shot to deny the forward. (6/10)

Substitutes

Hamit Altintop: Brought on at the break and added some urgency to the home side's play. Should have done better with his second-half shot which was dragged wide. (6/10)

Yazin Oztekin: Looked lively after being introduced, forcing Sczcesny into making a couple of saves. Perhaps staked his claim for a starting spot. (7/10)

Olcan Adin: Brought on with just 13 minutes remaining, meaning that he had little time to make any sort of real impact. (5/10)


Aaron Ramsey of Arsenal (R) scores their second goal during the UEFA Champions League Group D match against Galatasaray on December 9, 2014© Getty Images

ARSENAL

Goal

Wojciech Szczesny: Returning to the Arsenal side this evening following a few weeks out, the Poland international had seven saves to make, although it is hard to remember him having to break stride at at any time. Could do little to keep out Sneijder's free kick. (6/10)

Defence

Mathieu Debuchy: A welcome sight for the travelling supporters as Debuchy lined up in an Arsenal shirt for the first time in free months. Enjoyed a fine first half, but understandably became more and more fatigued as the game wore on before eventually being withdrawn. (7/10)

Per Mertesacker: One of the more experienced Arsenal players this evening, and he made up for his poor showing against Stoke last time out by diving in the way of Bulut's goal-bound effort with 20 minutes remaining. (6/10)

Calum Chambers: Fielded at centre-back for the second game running, Chambers certainly improved on his horror show against the Potters, although a clean sheet eluded his side this evening. (6/10)

Hector Bellerin: Far better from the teenager, who looked to push forward this evening and create chances. Was pegged back in the second half, but that came as a result of sustained pressure from the opposition all over the field. (6/10)

Midfield

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: An assured performance from the England international, who continues to grow in stature. Dominated proceedings in the first half in particular, while remaining his side's best player in the second. Could not quite add a goal to round off his fine performance. (8/10)

Aaron Ramsey: He may only have been on the field for 45 minutes but the Welshman showed that he is back to his best form with another two goals and an assist. Was withdrawn after complaining of a tight hamstring, which is the only real concern of the night for Wenger. (9/10)

Mathieu Flamini: Did not have an awful lot to do in the opening 45 minutes, although he was replaced at the break presumably due to the yellow card received for bringing down Bruma. (6/10)

Lukas Podolski: What more can Podolski do? Given a chance to impress from the off tonight, the German forward fired home a lethal struck in the opening minutes before rounding off the scoring with the last kick of the game. (8/10)

Attack

Yaya Sanogo: Tasked with collecting the ball from wide areas, Sanogo would have liked to have had more of an attacking influence on the game, but the team has to come first. (6/10)

Joel Campbell: Looked fairly lively across the duration of his first Champions League start, although he lacked the defensive discipline late on which led to a bombardment of crosses from his side. (7/10)

Substitutes

Gedion Zelalem: Part of an Arsenal bench which boasted an average age of just 18, the youngster came on for the second half and tried his best to break up play. (6/10)

Ainsley Maitland-Niles: Not a bad arena to make your first-team debut, although perhaps understandably he could not match the same levels set by Ramsey. One for the future, no doubt. (6/10)

Stefan O'Connor: Another debutant at the age of just 17, the Under-21s regular was given 12 minutes to gain some experience in Europe's showpiece event, without making any real waves. (5/10)


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Aaron Ramsey of Arsenal (3R) celebrates with team mates as he scores their third goal during the UEFA Champions League Group D match against Galatasaray on December 9, 2014
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3Lens62228
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Group C

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Group D

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Group E

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4Newcastle61235

Group G

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Group H

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