Arsenal have finished second in Group D of the Champions League despite a comprehensive 4-1 win away at Galatasaray this evening.
Their deserved victory in Istanbul was not enough to top the group, as Borussia Dortmund drew 1-1 with Anderlecht to seal top spot.
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Arsenal made a dream start as Lukas Podolski lashed the ball into the roof of the net from a tight angle in the third minute of the match to give the visitors an early 1-0 lead.
The hosts then had two chances to restore parity, but Hakan Balta flashed a shot wide of goal before Wesley Sneijder was denied by Wojciech Szczesny.
Sixty seconds after Szczesny's save, Aaron Ramsey put Arsenal two goals ahead with a calm finish into the bottom corner following a neat interchange with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Podolski.
The German forward then rattled the crossbar with a powerful strike, and shortly afterwards Ramsey effectively put the game out of Galatasaray's reach with a thunderous half-volley from 25 yards which flew into the top corner.
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Podolski squandered another chance shortly before the interval as Arsenal completely dominated the first half.
The game took on a slightly more pedestrian pace in the second half and Galatasaray came close to making it 3-1 through Sneijder, but the midfielder's curling effort dropped narrowly wide of the upright.
After a comfortable first half, the Gunners were forced to defend after the break and only a flying Per Mertesacker block prevented Umut Bulut from getting on the scoresheet.
In the 88th minute, Sneijder netted a consolation goal for Galatasaray, but Podolski ensured that Arsenal had the final say with his second goal of the game in the 93rd minute.
Kristian Johnson
