Three Things We Learned From Arsenal’s 4-1 Demolition Of Galatasaray

A hat-trick from Danny Welbeck and a well-taken goal by Alexis Sanchez was enough for Arsenal to overcome a Galatasaray side, who didn’t pose much of a threat until Szczesny’s needless red card on the hour mark. But the polish keeper’s red card was probably the only blot on Arsenal’s book which was otherwise faultless. The speed that the Gunners showed especially on the counter is something that bodes well for the game against Chelsea on Sunday.

Here are the major talking points from the game.

Welbeck shows just what he can bring to the table

Over the summer, if there was one thing that every Arsenal fan wanted, aside from a defensive midfielder was someone to either replace or support Olivier Giroud up front. When the Gunners snapped up Danny Welbeck, not many thought that it was a particularly good deal. The Englishman, for all of his work rate, his pressing and his ability off the ball, wasn’t renowned for his goal scoring prowess and a proven goal scorer was exactly what the Gunners needed.

But the game against Galatasaray certainly showed that if given the opportunity and the support from midfield, Welbeck can score goals. While the fact that he scored the first hat-trick of his career was certainly great, the way he took his goals and his all-round play was something that would have pleased Wenger to no end. The Englishman displayed not only composure in front of goal, but also added plenty of pace to the attack , something the Gunners haven’t had of late.

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Galatasaray’s English blues continue

Cesare Prandelli’s reign as Galatasaray hasn’t gotten off to the greatest of starts and the last place he would have wanted to go to was England. The Turkish side have never won on English soil and on the evidence of their first half display, it looked as though that wasn’t going to change anytime soon. The former Italy manager started with a slightly unusual back three, against a Arsenal side who were playing with plenty of pace up front.

While the system could still have worked, the fact that the wingbacks ended up playing as wingers for much of the first half meant that there was plenty of space for the likes of Welbeck, Sanchez and Oxlade-Chamberlain to run into. The longer the half went on, the more it looked as though Prandelli had got it all wrong. But the Italian persisted and paid the price in the end, as the visitors were much after changed to a more traditional back four and started creating chances. Szczesny’s red card was testament to that as the keeper wouldn’t have had to make that clumsy tackle in the first half, as the visitors barely attacked. In the end, although they scored, it was a case of too little, too late and the Turkish side certainly have their task cut out for them if they are to progress out of this group.

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Can the Gunners carry on this momentum?

The game against Galatasaray was a crucial one for the Gunners. Not only because of the fact that they had lost their opening Champions League game against Borussia Dortmund, but also because of their upcoming clash against Chelsea. While a victory would have held them in good stead for the crucial League game against the table-toppers, a defeat would have been disastrous for not only their Champions League campaign but also lowered the morale, which was already shot due to the plethora of injuries the club have suffered already.

But by beating the Turkish side, not only did the Gunners get on the board in the Champions League, but also gave Wenger the perfect 18th anniversary present. Things haven’t always gone according plan for the Gunners on the most important of games, but a victory here at least set that right. But what Wenger would want is for them to kick on and make the most of the momentum they have and try and win the game against Chelsea, who are unlikely to be as generous as the Turkish side were, in defense.