Arsenal opened their 15th successive Champions League campaign with an unconvincing victory over French champions Montpellier.
Arsene Wenger’s side fell behind after just nine minutes when captain Thomas Vermaelen conceded a needless penalty on the edge of his area.
But two goals in three first-half minutes, from Lukas Podolski and Gervinho, turned the game on its head.
Victory leaves Arsenal top of Group B, level with German side Schalke.
It was a night to forget for Olivier Giroud, who left Montpellier for Arsenal in a £13m deal over the summer.
The 25-year-old had been desperate to shine on his return to a club where he won the French title and the golden boot last season but in truth Arsenal were some way short of full capacity all over the field.
They worked hard, counter-attacked intelligently, using the energy of Abou Diaby and the guile of Santi Cazorla, and finished decisively but it was not a classic performance from Wenger’s team.
It did not have to be, but for much of a breathless second half a tired Arsenal side were left hanging on with a late Montpellier penalty shot controversially waved away by referee Carlos Velasco Carballo.
That they did, was ultimately all that mattered.
Arsenal arrived on French soil with a formidable record, having never lost to Ligue 1 opposition in eight previous European matches.
That, coupled with the vast European experience of Wenger’s side – the last season in which they did not compete in the Champions League was in 1997-98 – against opponents making their debut in the competition, pointed towards another encouraging night for Arsenal.
And yet with Wenger confined to the stands as he started a three-match touchline ban for confronting referee Damir Skomina after Arsenal’s Champions League exit last season at the hands of AC Milan, there was also a measure of uncertainty.
Assistant manager Steve Bould took charge from the sidelines, having been promoted from his role as the under-18 academy coach in the summer, and his previously miserly defence were stretched to the limit as Montpellier moved through the gears as the match wore on.
The Premier League side had also looked the more vulnerable in the opening stages, with Vito Mannone continuing to deputise in goal for the injured Wojciech Sczeszny and the inexperienced duo of Carl Jenkinson and Kieran Gibbs at full-back.
BBC
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