Blues and Gunners go marching on

by The Rumor Monger
(Cyberspace)

Chelsea and Arsenal continued their progress to the UEFA Champions League knock-out stages with convincing wins last night.

Having both lost their league matches at the weekend the English duo responded strongly, Chelsea beating Marseille 2-0 and Arsenal winning 3-1 at Partizan Belgrade.


Chelsea, without the injured Frank Lampard and suspended Didier Drogba, got off to a flyer when skipper John Terry flicked in a near post corner on 7 minutes.

The Blues doubled their lead through a Nicolas Anelka penalty in the 28th minute and were always in control against the French champions.

Elsewhere in Group F Spartak Moscow maintained their 100% start with an easy 3-0 victory over MSK Zilina.

In Belgrade, Andrey Arshavin gave Arsenal the lead before Cleo equalised from the penalty spot following a Denilson handball.

Arshavin then missed a penalty, but goals from Marouane Chamakh and Sebastien Squillaci made it 3-1 to the Gunners.

There was even time for a second Partizan penalty, which was brilliantly saved by Lukasz Fabianski.

Shakhtar Donetsk joined Arsenal at the top of Group H after a 3-0 stroll against Braga in Portugal.

In the night's other matches, there were wins for Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Roma, while AC Milan drew with Ajax.

Real left it late before Angel Di Maria lashed home a winner ten minutes from time against Auxerre.

In Group G's other game, Ajax picked up their first point with a 1-1 draw at home to AC Milan.

In Group E, Roma secured a narrow 2-1 win over Romanian minnows Cluj at the Stadio Olimpico, while Bayern Munich came from behind to beat Basel 2-1 in Switzerland.

Full Results

Group E

Basel 1 Bayern Munich 2
Roma 2 CFR Cluj 1

Group F

Spartak Moscow 3 MSK Zilina 0
Chelsea 2 Marseille 0

Group G

Ajax 1 AC Milan 1
Auxerre 0 Real Madrid 1

Group H

Braga 0 Shakhtar Donetsk 3
Partizan Belgrade 1 Arsenal 3