Jordan Ayew netted a late penalty to set up a nervous
final few minutes, but the Premier League side will fly home happy after a
confident performance in Europe.
Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey scored second-half goals as
Arsenal opened their Champions League campaign with a 2-1 win at Marseille.
Arsene Wenger's men earned a win in their last visit to
the Stade Velodrome back in 2011, and they replicated they feat on Wednesday,
Walcott finding the net with a close-range volley before Ramsey wrapped things
up with a fine individual effort after the break.
Jordan Ayew grabbed a late consolation from the penalty
spot for the hosts, but Arsenal held on to claim all three points.
Elie Baup made just one change to the Marseille side that
drew 1-1 with Toulouse on Saturday, Andre Ayew replacing Florian Thauvin on the
left-hand side of midfield.
With pre-match doubts over the fitness of clinical
frontman Olivier Giroud and record signing Mesut Ozil, Arsene Wenger will be
more than pleased to have kicked off Arsenal's Champions League campaign with a
win.
Aaron Ramsey again shined in what is shaping out to be a
landmark season for the midfielder, while Theo Walcott brushed off the
profligacy of Saturday to open the scoring.
Many tipped Marseille to pose Arsenal's toughest
challenge in the imposing Stade Velodrome, so Wenger will be impressed with his
squad's ability under pressure.
The Gunners current situation seems a million miles away
from the loss to Aston Villa on the opening day of the season, and the
continual improvements do not look like letting up.
Arsenal's only alteration
came in defence, with manager Arsene Wenger - who has seen his side win five of
their last six competitive outings - opting to select the experienced Per
Mertesacker in favour of Carl Jenkinson.
Marseille made a bright start to proceedings with
Andre-Pierre Gignac and Mathieu Valbuena both testing Wojciech Szczesny in the
early going.
Arsenal responded quickly however, Theo Walcott forcing
Steve Mandanda into a save with a close-range effort after beating left-back
Jeremy Morel for pace.
Still, it was the hosts that continued to dictate play.
Valbuena volleyed over before Andre Ayew headed narrowly wide after an
excellent right-wing cross from Dimitri Payet.
The visitors struggled to gain a foothold in the
midfield, with Valbuena and 21-year-old Giannelli Imbula particularly
impressive for Baup’s men.
And Marseille almost got their reward for a positive
display shortly before the break, Gignac heading just over the bar at the near
post after powering onto a Payet corner.
Baup's side continued in the ascendancy straight after
the break, Rod Fanni volleying inches wide of the post after good work down the
right from Alaixys Romao.
Arsenal remained an attacking threat, though, and they
almost took the lead in superb fashion, Kieran Gibbs denied by a fantastic
reaction save from Mandanda after latching on to a deft backheel from Mesut
Ozil.
The game quickly became stretched, with both sides
crafting regular goalscoring opportunities, Payet keeping Szczesny busy with a
fierce drive, before Jack Wilshere drew a near-post stop from Mandanda at the
other end.
Arsenal never looked settled at the back, and they had
Gibbs to thank for keeping them level as he showed great awareness to head a
Payet cross off the line after miscommunication between Mertesacker and
Szczesny.
But Marseille were finally made to pay for their
profligacy 19 minutes into the second half, Walcott firing a magnificent volley
into the top corner after Morel had failed to deal with Gibbs' far-post cross.
Payet and Valbeuna both then went close as the Ligue 1
club searched for an equaliser, but it was Arsenal who proved the more clinical
of the two sides, Ramsey securing the points as he jinked through the home
defence before sending a precise low shot beyond the grasp of Mandanda.
Marseille did get one back in injury time, though, Jordan
Ayew scoring from 12 yards after Laurent Koscielny had felled Andre Ayew in the
box.
