Arsenal were made to battle for their second win in Group H as Steaua Bucharest put up a spirited display before succumbing 1-0.
Van Persie strike sinks Steaua Bucharest
Arsenal were made to battle for their second win in UEFA Champions League Group H as Steaua Bucharest put up a spirited display before succumbing 1-0.
The Gunners overcame some early pressure from Steaua to dominate the first half, but a horrendous Cesc Fabregas shot from six yards out typified their poor finishing.
Steaua goalkeeper Robinson Zapata almost carried the ball over the goalline as he scrambled back to catch Gael Clichy's deflected cross, while at the other end Kolo Toure had to retreat to head clear Nicolae Dica's lob.
The two sides traded chances in the second half before Robin van Persie made the crucial breakthrough on 76 minutes with a powerful shot into the roof of the net from Emmanuel Adebayor's cut-back, to clinch Arsenal's ninth successive victory in all competitions.
Talk off the pitch may be of a supposed Russian takeover but on it, Wenger's young Gunners show little sign of anything distracting them.
Pressure
Even so, it was the hosts who started the better and created the first decent opening on five minutes when Valentin Badea headed over a left-wing cross from Romeo Surdu.
The Romanians then had the ball in the net when Badea swept home a free-kick at the far post, only for the offside flag to silence the celebrations.
Captain Nicolae Dica then drilled a low 20-yard strike wide of Manuel Almunia's right-hand post.
Arsenal soon started to build a spell of pressure themselves, with the hard-working Emmanuel Adebayor seeing plenty of the ball.
On 29 minutes he got in behind the defence and cut an intelligent pass back across the six-yard box but there was no-one on hand for the tap in.
There looked to be a let off for the home side on 40 minutes after Arsenal worked the ball out to the left, where Gael Clichy whipped it in from the byline.
A deflection wrong-footed keeper Robinson Zapata and as the Colombian fell back to gather the ball, he appeared to carry it over the line.
Fumbled
The Steaua number one then showed quick reflexes to beat away a close-range effort from Mathieu Flamini as Arsenal pressed again.
At the start of the second half, Clichy whipped a free-kick into the box but Adebayor just could not get enough contact as the goalkeeper almost fumbled the ball into his own net.
It was then Toure's turn to save his side, heading off the line after Adrian Neaga had sent a looping 25-yard shot back up over Almunia, who had raced out to head a long throughball clear.
Steaua made a change on the hour, with Victoras Iacob replacing Badea.
The home side then enjoyed their best spell of the game as the crowd suddenly found its voice.
However, despite plenty of possession, Steaua were also unable to find the decisive pass when it mattered.
Arsenal then finally made the breakthrough on 75 minutes, working the ball down the left side and to Adebayor in the box.
The Togo striker cut the ball back just behind Fabregas but it fell perfectly for van Persie, who made no mistake from six yards.
The hosts desperately looked for a way back into the match but the Gunners comfortably played out the closing stages to continue their impressive start to the campaign.
| Steaua Bucharest |
Team Statistics |
Arsenal |
|
| 0 |
Goals |
1 |
|
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
|
| 0 |
Shots on Target |
4 |
|
| 5 |
Shots off Target |
7 |
|
| 2 |
Blocked Shots |
5 |
|
| 0 |
Corners |
5 |
|
| 15 |
Fouls |
7 |
|
| 13 |
Offsides |
4 |
|
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
|
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
|
| 78 |
Passing Success |
86.1 |
|
| 37 |
Tackles |
23 |
|
| 70.3 |
Tackles Success |
82.6 |
|
| 35 |
Possession |
65 |
|
| 42.2 |
Territorial Advantage |
57.8 |
|
|
