Published: 18 September 2012

by RICHARD OSLEY

UEFA Champions League

Montpellier 1 Arsenal 2

ARSENAL called on their Champions League experience to outflank organised French outfit Montpellier as their latest European adventure got off to a winning start.

The Gunners fell behind in the south of France to a ninth minute penalty conceded by captain Thomas Vermaelen on the very edge of the area. With a moment of showboating, Montpellier's Younes Belhanda pulled a chipped penalty down the middle of the goal to deceive Vito Mannone.

But Arsenal have a good record in the group stages of the Champions League and are used to advancing, partly on the basis of good performances away from home and ten minutes later they had already drawn level and then moved ahead.

Instead, with surprise choice Gervinho leading the line, they were flush with ideas and attacking options. The Ivorian has never really impressed the home fans at Ashburton Grove but Arsene Wenger has remained faithful to him and he actually had a very bright pre-season.

The flourishing attacking options of Lukas Podolski and in-form Gervinho got the goals. The leveller was Podolski's, a clinical finish after a passing move involving four Arsenal players. Almost immediately after the restart, Gervinho dribbled past a couple of Montpellier defenders, switched the play to Carl Jenkinson and the right back cannoned in a low cross which Gervinho stretched to meet for his third goal in two games.

Suddenly, after their shaky start, Arsenal were in control, knowing that an away win here effectively means that winning their home ties will now safely see them through to the knockout stages. Schalke remain the danger in the competition for top spot in the group.

The Gunners shut up shop in Montpellier, retreated, scarcely mustering a chance in the second half beyond a Santi Cazorla rifled shot. There were a couple of frights at the other end. Remi Cabella's audacious chip from distance was not repelled by Mannone, but the crossbar. Late on, Belhanda lacked the composure shown from the penalty spot by firing straight at the Arsenal keeper when free with the ball with the box.

The scares only led Arsenal to hold onto possession even more and were passing it around the back four as injury time was wiled away.

Assistant manager Steve Bould said afterwards: "We looked a little tired in the second half because it was very humid and the crowd got behind them. It is quite an intimidating place to come and play, so we are glad to get the result."

ARSENAL: Mannone, Jenkinson, Vermaelen, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Diaby, Arteta, Cazorla (Coquelin 90), Podolski (Walcott 90), Gervinho (Walcott 74), Giroud (Ramsey 76)
Man of the match: Podolski
Attendance: 30,000