Arsenal and Schalke 04 have gone in goalless at the break in tonight's Champions League Group B clash at the Emirates Stadium.

© PA Photos

The hosts got off to a strong start and had an early opportunity when Gervinho was off target from Lukas Podolski's cross.

Schalke were unlucky not be awarded a penalty with 14 minutes on the clock as Ibrahim Afellay went down under the challenge of Vito Mannone after a lack of communication in the Arsenal box. However, the striker was booked for diving by the referee.

The home crowd were on their feet midway through the half when Gervinho was put through on goal by Santi Cazorla, but there were soon groans of disappointment around the stadium as the forward's lack of pace saw him closed down by the visiting defence.

Meanwhile, the away side repeatedly threatened on the left as they looked to exploit Andres Santos.

Per Mertesacker came to Arsenal's rescue towards the end of the half when he threw himself in front of Afellay's goal-bound effort.

The best chance of the half came in the final minutes of the opening 45 as Klaas-Jan Huntelaar somehow slipped the ball wide from five yards after Atsuto Uchida had eased past Santos.