21 Oct 2011

Big guns ease on, Arsenal stun Marseille

6:13 am on 21 October 2011

AC Milan and Chelsea maintained their easy run towards the Champions League knockout stage with home wins but Olympique Marseille's flying start ended with a stoppage-time defeat by Arsenal.

It is only the halfway stage in qualifying but Group H already looks done and dusted after holders Barcelona beat Viktoria Plzen 2-0 and Milan defeated BATE Borisov by the same score to both move to seven points.

Group E leaders Chelsea hammered Racing Genk 5-0 with two goals for a sharp-looking Fernando Torres to move to seven points.

Marseille showed little attacking intent and were punished when substitute Aaron Ramsey scored at the death for Arsenal, the 1-0 win taking the Gunners to the top of their group.