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Chelsea, Arsenal march on in Champions League

September 30, 2010 00:00:00


PARIS, Sept 29 (AFP): Chelsea and Arsenal maintained their perfect records to edge closer to the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday, while Europe's elite club competition revelled in a little Brazilian magic.
Chelsea handed former player Didier Deschamps a miserable Stamford Bridge return as his French champions Marseille suffered a 2-0 defeat.
Arsene Wenger's Arsenal, rocked by their shock 3-2 Premier League defeat by West Brom, overcame a testing night, as well as faulty floodlights, in Serbia to see off 10-man Partizan Belgrade 3-1.
Carlo Ancelotti's Chelsea had suffered their first Premier League defeat of the season at Manchester City on Saturday, just days after crashing out of the League Cup against Newcastle.
But there were no such problems against Marseille thanks to an early goal from John Terry and Nicolas Anelka's first-half penalty.
The win left Chelsea top of Group F, ahead of Spartak Moscow on goal difference, after two games of their latest bid to win Europe's elite club competition for the first time.
Ancelotti said: "We had a good analysis about the last defeat, then we prepared this game well and played a good game. Now those defeats are forgotten."
Deschamps was scathing of his team, who have lost both of their opening games.
"We were dominated both technically and physically. There was a huge difference between the two sides," said the 1998 French World Cup winner.
Arsenal are top of Group H after following up their 6-0 demolition of Braga with a 3-1 win at Partizan, despite missing a penalty.
It was also a match where Gunners goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski restored some of his tarnished reputation.
Andrey Arshavin gave Arsenal a 15th-minute lead but Partizan draw level through Brazil-born striker Cleo.

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