Arsenal vs Galatasaray: Five things we learnt from the Emirates

Welbeck disproves doubters

This game was a triumph for Danny Welbeck but also a vindication for his supporters. Welbeck sympathisers have always said that just because he did not always show composure in front of goal for Manchester United, it did not necessarily follow he was incapable of it. Rather, composure is linked to confidence and with a run of games as a centre-forward – which he never quite had at United – he would start to show the quality in front of goal he was capable of.

So it was last night when Welbeck converted three chances of the type he might have missed last season. All three were good runs in behind, showing intelligence as well as athleticism, but it was three technical confident placed finishes, the third a chip, which proved his ability.

Off the ball, on the mark

One of the many complaints about Arsenal in recent years has been that they have too many players who run towards the ball but not enough who run away from it. So it was impressive last night to see Alexis Sanchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the wings, both punchy, powerful runners capable of stretching and dragging Galatasaray’s defence with them.

Oxlade-Chamberlain played high and wide on the right, running in behind Alex Telles and crossing well. Sanchez was more direct, running at goal and scoring the third when he took Mesut Özil’s pass, beat Aurélien Chedjou and found the bottom corner.

The more good runners Arsenal have – and Sanchez, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Welbeck were all excellent – the easier it is for their passers, and Özil and Santi Cazorla both flourished.

Szczesny’s costly weakness

Wojciech Szczesny is an excellent goalkeeper, especially for a 24-year-old, but if he does have a weakness it is in judging when best to come off his line. So it was here when Szczesny mistimed an advance in the second half, brought down Burak Yilmaz and was sent off.

It did not especially matter, even though Yilmaz beat David Ospina – who will play the Anderlecht away game in three weeks’ time – thereby changing the feel of the final 30 minutes.

This weakness has cost him before. At the opening game of Euro 2012, he brought down the Greek striker Dimitris Salpigidis. In the last 16 of the Champions League this year it was Arjen Robben, and Arsenal went out.

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Timely reminder from Özil

Özil still has some way to go but this performance was an important reminder of something that was at risk of being forgotten: that he is a supremely talented footballer, one of the most naturally gifted in Europe, and with the right focus and application he can be decisive.

Özil was involved in an intriguing battle with Wesley Sneijder, two creative midfielders signed and then discarded by Real Madrid, forcing them to rebuild their careers. Özil’s movement and skill were excellent, especially when playing the perfectly timed through pass for Sanchez’s goal. Arsène Wenger last month said it was Özil’s timing, more than anything, that stood out and so it appeared here.

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Arsenal can go the distance

Arsenal are sometimes labelled as wilters under pressure but they can be proud of the way they saw out a game that might have become rather nervy. Even without their captain Mikel Arteta, and their sleekest midfielder in Aaron Ramsey, they kept their heads and kept the ball and never looked in much danger. It certainly helped that they could bring on Tomas Rosicky, whose game-management skills and football instincts are as sharp as ever, even if his legs are tiring.