MX23RW : Monday, December 23 17:18:19| >> :60:244:244:

Arsenal through to Champions League last 16

Arsenal reach the knockout stages of the Champions League with a 2-0 win over Montpellier at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal have made it through to the knockout stages of the Champions League with a 2-0 win over Montpellier at the Emirates Stadium.

Second-half goals from Jack Wilshere and Lukas Podolski were enough to give the Gunners the three points against their French opponents.

Jack Wilshere celebrates scoring for Arsenal on November 21, 2012© AP Photos

Arsenal got off to a slow start, but they nearly took the lead with 10 minutes on the clock as Laurent Koscielny's header came back off the crossbar.

Koscielny was in the thick of the action again on 35 minutes when he made a marauding run from his own half towards the Montpellier goal. However, Lukas Podolski could only end the move by firing wide with his right foot.

The German should have broken the deadlock towards the end of the half after he was played in by Santi Cazorla, but he again fired wide of goal.

Lukas Podolski on the ground after missing a chance for Arsenal on November 21, 2012© AP Photos

However, the Gunners made the breakthrough four minutes after the restart as Jack Wilshere got on the end of Olivier Giroud's knockdown before finding the net.

The advantage was doubled in style on 63 minutes when Podolski lashed home a superb volley from just inside the area following Giroud's clever assist.

Emanuel Herrera had Montpellier's best chance with 15 minutes left to play, but a heroic Koscielny managed to block the striker's effort.

ID:55735: cacheID:55735:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3333:
Written by
Jack Prescott
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Laurent Koscielny takes a header which hits the crossbar on November 21, 2012
Read Next:
Half-Time Report: Arsenal goalless with Montpellier
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool16123137162139
2Chelsea17105237191835
3Arsenal1796234161833
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest179442319431
5Bournemouth178452721628
6Aston Villa178452626028
7Manchester CityMan City178362925427
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle177552721626
9Fulham176742422225
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1772839251423
12Brentford177283232023
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd176472122-122
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham175572230-820
15Everton163761421-716
16Crystal Palace173771826-816
17Leicester CityLeicester173592137-1614
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1733112740-1312
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1713131136-256


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!