• Champions League

Arsenal battle past 10-man Partizan

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Arsenal maintained their 100% record in Group H with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Partizan Belgrade in Serbia, with their much-criticised goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski saving a late penalty.

The Gunners claimed their first win in Belgrade thanks to goals from Andrey Arshavin - who later missed a penalty - Marouane Chamakh and Sebastien Squillaci, with Cleo on target for the home side.

Before the match, a floodlight failure at one end of the ground threatened to force an abandonment - but a late call from the referee allowed the game to kick off on time. The Gunners appeared be caught cold by the official's decision as they got off to a jittery start, with the centre backs particularly vulnerable.

After Partizan spurned three glorious chances to take the lead in the first 15 minutes, the Gunners nudged ahead against the run of play. Jack Wilshere showed some classy close control in the area before backheeling the ball into the path of the onrushing Arshavin, who hammered the ball home.

The Gunners looked more at ease after taking the lead and began to seize control of the game, with Arshavin and Tomas Rosicky passing up opportunities to extend the advantage. They were left to rue their wastefulness when the home side drew level from the penalty spot - Cleo sending Fabianski the wrong way - after Denilson senselessly handballed in the area.

Arsenal had a penalty of their own ten minutes into the second half after Marko Jovanovic saw red for hauling down Chamakh in the area. Arshavin became the second man in ten days to miss a penalty for the Gunners, however, when he blasted it straight into the goalkeeper's legs.

But although Partizan had a reprieve there, it was clear that they faced an uphill struggle if they were to avoid sinking to a second successive loss in their first Champions League campaign in seven years. Their resistance was finally broken by Chamakh, who reacted quickest to nod in after seeing his initial header smack against the crossbar.

Squillaci's header on 82 minute, his first for Arsenal, put the game out of the home side's reach and handed the London side their first win for three games - although they were grateful for Fabianski's late penalty save after Kieran Gibbs gave away a spot-kick.

Meanwhile, an injury-ravaged Chelsea side seized control of Group F by strolling past Marseille 2-0 at Stamford Bridge. Despite the absence of Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard, Carlo Ancelotti's men breezed past the French champions with goals from John Terry and Nicolas Anelka.

In his press conference on the eve of the match, Ancelotti urged his players for a reaction following their disappointing loss at Manchester City at the weekend. Terry answered his manager's rallying call by flicking Florent Malouda's corner into the net after seven minutes, before Anelka doubled the lead from the penalty spot after Stephane Mbia used his hands to stop Michael Essien's cross.

The second half was, with the exception of Essien twice hitting the post, largely uneventful as Chelsea took their foot off the gas with one eye on Sunday's key Premier League clash with Arsenal.

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