Udinese v Arsenal..

This was a very open game, a game that Arsenal could have easily lost. People are only interested in the scoreline, and it blinds them from their own faults, for example, Arsenal may have had a majority of possession but they gave the ball away too easily and too often, they would have been severely punished if they came up against a better team. Not only that but they couldn't string passes together, there was no movement off the ball and players were often seen just strolling or doing nothing, anyone who compares the to Barca should be made to eat their tie!! The only thing they have in common with Barcelona is that the both wear shorts, jerseys, socks and football boots!!

Udinese were in this competition for the first time, so they were all a little inexperienced, but not only that, they are an older squad with Antonio Di Natale at 33. Now compare that with Arsenal who put out a young squad with the average age of 21, a significant advantage in terms of pace and endurance, least we forget it was 36 degrees in Udine! Udinese had also lost the "spine" of their team, they had lost Sanchez, Inler and Zapata. The absence of Sanchez was really apparent, especially when Di Natale would strike the ball towards the goal and there was no one to follow up. Udinese were perhaps guilty of burning out too quickly as they over performed in the first half and were unable to sustain that momentum in the second half, where they dropped of a little, allowing Arsenal to take the game.
Arsenal have great pace, but pace alone can't win a game, you must also know what to do with it, as Theo Walcott showed on a number of occasions, he would have the ball, get past the players and then he wouldn't know what to do.

Udinese can only learn from this and do better next time, atleast they showed those critics out there that Serie A is far from dull!