Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/183948
24 Sport maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 2 OCTOBER 2013 SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL Ozil on target as Arsenal outclass Napoli ARSENAL club-record signing Mesut Ozil scored his first goal since a £43million deadline day move as the Gunners took control of Champions League Group F with a 2-0 win over Napoli at the Emirates Stadium. German international Ozil, signed from Real Madrid, dispatched a classy finish on eight minutes following a fine cross by in-form Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey. Ozil then turned provider to set up Olivier Giroud for a quick-fire second with just quarter of an hour played to leave Rafael Benitez's men shell-shocked. It was a 10th straight win in all competitions for Arsene Wenger's side, who have stormed to the top of the Barclays Premier League and now look on course for safe passage through to the knockout stages of Europe's elite club competition. Arsenal's victory was, however, somewhat overshadowed by reports of trouble caused by Napoli fans as they vandalised shops on Holloway Road en route to the Emirates Stadium. It was a bright start by Arsenal, who started with England midfielder Jack Wilshere as Mikel Arteta came into the team along with fitagain Czech playmaker Tomas Rosicky, while teenager Serge Gnarby, who scored in the win at Swansea on Saturday, was among the substitutes. The Gunners swept into the lead on eight minutes with a goal of the highest quality. Giroud, who turned 27 on Tuesday, laid the ball out to the right as Ramsey darted clear. The Wales midfielder, enjoying a fine personal start to the new camaign, strode towards the by-line before looking up and clipping a perfectly weighted pass back towards the penalty spot. Ozil arrived on queue to cushion an instinctive halfvolley past former Liverpool stopper Pepe Reina to open his Arsenal account in some style. Before Napoli - missing injured Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain, who was one of Wenger's summer targets - could mount a recovery, they trailed 2-0 on 15 minutes. Giroud latched on to a poor throwin to find Ozil on the right. The German playmaker, signed from Real Madrid, waltzed past his markers and into the penalty area before cutting a pass back to Giroud, who had continued his run on through to the six-yard box and the France forward promptly crashed home his sixth goal from close range. Benitez had talked about the need to calm the euphoria following Napoli's home win over last season's beaten finalists Borussia Dortmund on matchday one. But for the former Liverpool boss, who guided Chelsea to Europa League success while 'interim manager' last season, it was very much a case of damage limitation before his side had even got a chance to take the match to the Gunners, who continue to impress with every performance as Ozil revels in his role as the heartbeat of the side. In other matches, Ramires scored twice as Chelsea claimed a 4-0 win over Steaua Bucharest to get their Champions League Group E campaign back on track at the National Arena. The Brazil midfielder netted either side of an own goal and Frank Lampard added a late fourth as Jose Mourinho's side made amends for the round one loss to Basle and last season's Europa League defeat at the home of the Romanian champions, despite the early departure of striker Fernando Torres with a knee injury. Skipper Scott Brown was sent off as Celtic slumped to a 1-0 defeat by Barcelona in their Champions League clash at Parkhead. The home side were reduced to 10 men in the 58th minute when Brown was red carded by referee Stephane Lannoy after a kick at Neymar following his original foul on the the Brazilian. Julian Draxler scored the only goal as Schalke won 1-0 away to Basle in a Champions League Group E game which was held up by a Greenpeace protest. Draxler netted the winner in the second half of a game which was halted after only four minutes when the protesters abseiled down from the roof of Basle's St Jakob-Park sta- dium. Last season's beaten finalists Borussia Dortmund got their Champions League campaign up and running with a 3-0 home win over Marseille. Robert Lewandowski struck either side of a poorly defended Marco Reus free-kick as Dortmund got their first points after defeat away to Napoli in their opener a fortnight ago. Zenit St Petersburg and Austria Vienna both picked up their first points in this season's Champions League with a goalless draw in Russia. The home side had the better chances overall but were hurt by the sending off of Alex Witsel just before half-time and could not find the breakthrough. The result is a blow to Zenit's hopes of making it out of Group G, with Atletico Madrid and Porto still to visit the Stadion Petrovski. Arda Turan scored late winner as Atletico Madrid fought back from a half-time deficit to beat Porto in their Champions League Group G clash at the Estadio do Dragao and continue their stunning start to the season. Porto started well and claimed a deserved lead through Jackson Martinez's early header but Atletico improved after the break and Diego Godin drew them near the hour mark before Turkey international Turan slotted home an 86th-minute winner. The 2-1 success leaves Diego Simeone's men with six points from their two Group G games and is further proof that the Rojiblancos could be a force to be reckoned with both in Spain and Europe this season. Ajax and AC Milan saved all the drama for the final few minutes as they shared a 1-1 draw in Amsterdam. A largely uneventful match of few chances came alive in the 89th minute when Stefano Denswil headed in Lasse Schone's corner for Ajax. But the home fans' celebrations were cut short seconds later as Mike van der Hoorn fouled Mario Balotelli and the Italy striker fired in the resulting penalty - a week after missing his first spot-kick as a professional. Yesterday's Champions League results Basel - Schalke 04 Steaua Bucuresti - Chelsea Arsenal - SSC Napoli Borussia Dortmund - Marseille Zenit P. - Austria Wien FC Porto - Atletico Madrid Ajax - AC Milan Celtic - Barcelona Tonight's Champions League matches 0-1 0-4 2-0 3-0 0-0 1-2 1-1 0-1 Bayern L. - Real Sociedad Shakhtar Donetsk - Manchester U. Juventus - Galatasaray Real Madrid - FC Kobenhavn Anderlecht - Olympiakos Paris Saint Germain - Benfica CSKA Moscow - Viktoria Plzen Manchester City - Bayern Munich