Arsenal Lose to Napoli, Survive Group F

 2-0 

Arsenal came into today's Champions League match against Napoli on top of Group F with just one match left in group-play.  Napoli was even with Borussia Dortmund and needed a big win to pull ahead of the German club.  Arsenal won the previous match against Napoli two-nil in London back in October, so the pressure was all on the Neapolitan club.

Napoli was not particularly good in the first-half and starting center-forward Gonzalo Higuaín did not get involved.  Arsenal were not much better and the half ended scoreless.  Shortly into the second-half Napoli manager Rafa Benítez introduced Lorenzo Insigne which pushed up José Maria Callejón next to Higuaín in the attack.

Together Callejón and Higuaín were more effective and managed to break Arsenal's defense.  Higuaín scored the first goal of the match when he linked up with Callejón around the Arsenal penalty box.  Higuaín was able to turn away from defender Mertesacker to get the shot away that beat the keeper (73').

Arsenal went deeper into the hole when captain Mikel Arteta was shown a second yellow card following a tackle from behind.  Arteta had to pass on the armband and Arsenal had to play the last fifteen minutes down a man.

Unfortunately for Napoli the other match between Dortmund and Marseille did not play out in their favor, and now they had to win by three goals.  Napoli got one more in stoppage-time when Callejón was able to float a shot over the keeper, but there simply was not enough time for a third (90 +3').

Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund advance to the knockout rounds, along with Chelsea who finish on top of their group with a win today over the Romanian team from Bucharest.

Arsenal Two-Nil Over Napoli, Top Group

2-0

Arsenal had a convincing win against Swansea City over the weekend and the Gunners took that momentum into the Champions League match against Napoli.  The Italian club finished second in Serie A last season with Juventus winning the league.  Today Napoli travelled to London and were sporting interesting black and gray camouflage uniforms.

Arsenal got off to a hot start and scored twice in the first fifteen minutes.  Olivier Giroud helped Aaron Ramsey get forward with an overlap pass on the right side.  Ramsey then found Mesut Özil making a trailing run into the box.  Özil hit the shot first-time running on to the ball for the first early goal (8).

Özil then got behind the Napoli defense and setup Giroud in the box.  The pass came back across the goal from the end-line for Giroud who finished easily from close range (15').

Napoli prevented Arsenal from scoring further, but never found the quality on the attacking side.  Possession was heavily in Arsenal's favor and keeper Szczesny was only forced to make one save.  Arsenal's attack wasn't as threatening in the second-half either, but the two goal lead was more than enough for the home side.

Arsenal are on top of the Premier League and following today's win sit on top of their Champions League group.  It has been a great start for the Gunners, but there can be no slowing down if they hope to win either competition.