Champions League and Football News – Wednesday 24th August 2011

Arsenal faced their biggest match of the season when they headed to Italy to face Udinese in the second leg of their Champions League qualifier. Arsenal held a slender 1 goal advantage to the Stadio Friuli after their 1 nil victory at the Emirates.

The first half was a nail bitter for Arsenal fans and when Di Natale hit the post the Gunners travelling support were fearing the worse which was on its way. The Italian side had the better of the first half and got their reward when Di Natale’s superb looping header tied the scores on aggregate just before half time.

At half time Wenger decided to replace Emmanuel Frimpong with Tomas Rosicky to add an experienced head to the team, as Frimpong had looked out of his depth during the first half. Arsenal would restore their lead in the tie 10 minutes into the second half when their new club captain Robin Van Persie scored after an pull back from new signing Gervinho.

However Arsenal almost literally handed Udinese a way back into the tie when Thomas Vermaillen handled a Di Natale corner in the area. Yet luck would be on Arsenals side when goalkeeper Szczesny made a great penalty side to maintain Arsenals lead. Arsenal would make sure of their lead when Theo Walcott was put clear and made the score 2-1 and gave Arsenal the 3-1 aggregate victory and qualification to this seasons Champions League.

BATE Borisov, Lyon, Plzen & Benfica also secured their passage into Thursday’s Champions League draw where the group stages will be drawn.

In football transfer news the transfer of Samir Nasri was finally completed today when he made the move from Arsenal to Man City. The move was for a reported £25million and brought to the end another long transfer saga featuring Arsenal.

In other football news the biggest shock of this weeks Carling Cup games when League 2 Aldershot defeated West Ham 2-1 at Upton Park. West Ham took the lead  through Junior Stanislas and held that lead until the 78th minute when Luke Guttridge equalised from close range. The giant killing was completed after a goal mouth scramble ended with Danny Hylton scored in the 89th minute, Matt Taylor almost equalised in stoppage time but could only find the side netting.

There were no other shocks in Wednesday’s league cup games with Liverpool, Blackburn, Bolton & Everton getting into the next round of the competition.

Well that wraps up our look at Wednesday’s sports news and be sure to check back tomorrow for more sporting news at Real Sporting News.

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