These were not the scenes on this evening at the Stade Veldrome as reconstruction caused capacity to be limited to 30,000 and make the match appear on Television as if no body was there. Europe!
Player Ratings
Arsenal
Wojciech Szczęsny - 6 - He had precious little to do all evening, and apart from a near repeat of last year's carling cup disaster with his compatriot koscielny, it was a routine night. He's shown the tendency now to stray a little far from his six yard box on occasion though.
Laurent Koscielny - 7.5 - He was a rock at the back, covering tons of ground, and winning everything in the air. His life will get a lot easier when Vermaalen returns.
Per Mertesacker - 5 - If you watch him play, it almost looks as if he himself isn't convinced that he should be out there. He didn't have the worst game in the world, but was left for dead by Remy and others on several occasions and just simply does not possess the requisite speed to play center back at this level.
André Santos -4- - I'm not sure Arsenal fans realize how good they had it with Gael Clichy. Santos is clearly comfortable going forward, but he also clearly has his PhD from the Brazilian Academy of Defending. How lazy can you be, honestly? I'm not sure if he's out of shape or he just figures none of the millions watching will notice how poor his marking is. Gibbs must be preferred to him.
Carl Jenkinson - 6 - This was a positive learning lesson in the young career of Jenkinson. Fans might have been frustrated for his insistence on the first time cross, but he is a limited young lad who is just trying to hang with the big boys, so you shouldn't blame him for playing to his strengths.
Alex Song - 7 - After his atrocious early hiccup he turned in another vintage workmanlike performance that you can't say enough about. He time and time again bails out what is otherwise a rather frail outfit with his tireless running and closing down. When you put yourself in harms way as often as he does, we might owe him a bit of margin for error as he could have gifted Marseille a goal on two occasions this evening.
Mikel Arteta- 6.5 - It was a nice and tidy game for the Spaniard who is doing an admirable job filling the gaping hole left by a certain other Spaniard in arsenal's midfield. His premiership experience is proving valuable and he has shown a welcome willingness to win the ball back on occasions. You'd like to see him play a few more incisive final balls though.
Tomas Rosicky - 6 - Similar to Arteta, he had a nice clean game and made a few timely tackles on occasion, although he faded a bit in the second half. I fear his best years may be behind him however, two years with niggling hamstrings will do that to you I suppose.
Andrei Arshavin - 4 - Call it disinterested or whatever you like, but something is clearly not right with Shava. You're willing to forgive his ludicrous backheels when he's scoring goals and running at people, but not when he's giving the ball away routinely. Something needs to change, quickly.
Theo Walcott -5.5- He is such an asset solely for his pace, that you always want to have him out there even when he isn't at his best. Probably had the best chance of the game fall to his feet and couldn't convert. Wonder what he would look like playing as a striker.
Robin Van Persie- 7- Enjoy him while he lasts Arsenal fans, because he's long overdue for that annual ankle sprain, muscle problem. He's sure turning in some solid performances at the moment though, and I hope more than anyone that he stays healthy. It's only history that isn't on his side.
Subs -
Djourou- Arsenal certainly didn't lose anything when he came on for the injured Jenkinson. He did have an extended run a CB last year, so he should be comfortable.
Gervinho - Looked useful, seems to be comfortable with his role as a support winger/striker.
Ramsey - Right place, right time, tidy finish.
Marseille
Steve Mandanda - 7 - Steve-o! This rating might be a little inflated due to him executing the biggest punch I have ever seen in a competitive match. It almost flew to the halfway line. Kudos, but Lloris really flew by you, huh?
Nicolas N'Koulou - 7 - He was the Koscielny to Marseille's Mertesacker. Really solid performance, and kept RVP in relative check.
Souleymane Diawara - 4 - Provided several head-scratching moments and sliced clearances. Somewhat redeemed himself when he headed off the line, but he made way too many mistakes for a centerback.
Jérémy Morel - 5 - Although they never amounted to anything, most of Arsenal's attacking was coming down the right-hand side where he was supposedly defending. Provided a few decent crosses but nothing of consequence.
César Azpilicueta - 5.5 - Hardly heard his fun-sounding name called all night, might be owed some credit for the ineffectiveness of Arshavin.
Alou Diarra - 6.5 - Solid game from the French international, he had better be preferred to old man Toulalan next summer.
Benoit Cheyrou - 6 - His trusty left peg couldn't find the killer pass, but he put in a good shift and was active throughout.
Lucho González - 5 - For a man with such a reputation that was a rather inconspicuous performance. Maybe its the new haircut, but I think I like the old Lucho back in his Porto days.
Andre Ayew - 5.5 - He proved that he knows how to draw a foul, and often times win a card, but you'd have like to see more end product from the talented Ghanian.
Loïc Remy - 5.5 - Surely he's had better nights, but was largely starved for service in the first half when Marseille had the better of their chances.
Mathieu Valbuena - 5 - You had to like his ambition, and his constant involvement, but the final ball was too often unforgiveable, and he will need to play better in Europe if he wants to keep his place in the national team.
Subs
Gignac - Lively when he came on, could have used twenty more minutes.
Arsenal Verdict - Having themselves been on the wrong end of so many late goals, this will no doubt be a glorious flight back to London having stolen points and now sitting comfortably atop the group. With their domestic hopes essentially dashed after a few weeks, it will be interesting to see if Arsene can channel his team's efforts towards Europe, but it's still plain as day that Arsenal are missing two or three key players.
Marseille Verdict - They will feel extremely hard done, and it is a harsh result, but all is not lost as Dortmund emphatically lost in Athens which means they are still nicely poised to progress. Deschamps will be kicking himself for having not attacked more, and I'd expect them to come out guns blazing in the reverse fixture.
MOTM - Koscielny
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