A stunning first 21 minutes paved the way for Arsenal to beat Fenerbahce 5-2 in their Champions League Group G match at the intimidating Sukru Saracoglu stadium in Istanbul.

 

Emmanuel Adebayor and Theo Walcott put the Gunners 2-0 up inside 11 minutes and although Mikael Silvestre's own goal reduced the deficit, Abou Diaby restored the Gunners' cushion.

Four minutes after half-time Alex Song volleyed in a fourth to extend the Gunners' lead at the top of the group.

The profligate Daniel Guiza pulled a goal back in the 77th minute but it was too late to affect the outcome and substitute Aaron Ramsey fired in off a post in the fourth minute of injury time.

It was the hosts' first defeat in Europe at home in 16 matches but in truth they were the architects of their own downfall.

Both teams defended poorly and the only difference between the two was up front where Arsenal took their chances and Fenerbahce did not.

Spain striker Guiza was the main culprit, squandering two excellent opportunities just before half-time which could have made it 3-3 at the interval and a much different proposition for Arsene Wenger's side.

In only the fourth minute Gunners goalkeeper Manuel Almunia, captain for the night, made the first save, rushing out to block Ugur Boral's close-range shot from Claudio Maldonado's right-wing cross.

The famous Fenerbahce atmosphere was evident from the start with every Arsenal attack greeted with a cacophony of boos and whistles.

But the crowd were silenced in the 10th minute when Adebayor beat the offside trap to collect Cesc Fabregas' through-ball and coolly slot past Volkan Demirel for his third Champions League goal in as many matches.

A minute later it was 2-0 as Fabregas replicated his defence-splitting pass and Walcott rounded the goalkeeper, who got half a touch, before firing inside the near post.

Had Samir Nasri had the confidence to hit Emmanuel Eboue's right-wing cross first time with his left foot three minutes later it would have been a third but he cut it back on to his right at the far post and Volkan saved.

Fenerbahce should have pulled one back immediately when Guiza's shot was half-blocked by Gael Clichy and it fell to Semih Senturk, who fluffed his kick from just five yards.

However, the hosts were gifted a goal in the 19th minute when Alex floated in a free-kick and Guiza volleyed across the six-yard area where Silvestre stuck out a leg and diverted the ball past Almunia.

Within two minutes Arsenal restored their two-goal cushion when a long ball forward picked out Diaby, who held off the challenge of two defenders to fire left-footed across Volkan and into the far corner of the net.

The tall midfielder was booked for pulling his shirt over his head but it could not dampen his delight at scoring.

In the 31st minute later Guiza volleyed past Almunia from close range from Gokhan Gonul's pass but it was ruled out for offside.

The Spain striker then twice raced clear but narrowly shot wide and then ran the ball straight into the goalkeeper when he should have done better on both occasions.

Arsenal took less than four minutes to extend their lead, and once again it came from some poor defending.

Fabregas' left-wing free-kick was not even half-headed away and when the ball dropped to Song on the edge of the six-yard area he lashed home a volley.

Fenerbahce tried to respond but they found the Arsenal defence less generous than had been the case in the first half.

Alex's superb pass picked out charging full-back Roberto Carlos but having controlled the ball with his left foot in the penalty area he could not hit it with his right and the chance was lost.

Guiza missed another chance when he again caught the defence square but shot straight at Almunia and then Edu's follow-up was cleared off the line Eboue.

With 17 minutes remaining Diaby was withdrawn and Ramsey sent on for his first proper taste of the Champions League having previously only played in the qualifying round.

In the 77th-minute Guiza finally atoned for his previous errors when he lobbed Alex's pass over Almunia but it appeared too little too late.

Seconds later he broke through again and fired at the goalkeeper, although he had already been flagged offside.

But in the fourth minute of injury time Ramsey fired in off a post to complete the rout.

 

-- Edited by shamar at 23:33, 2008-10-21