Optimum Sports : Arsenal Reach Knockout Stage

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Goals from Jack Wilshere and Lukas Podolski saw Arsenal beat Montpellier and qualify from Champions League Group B.

Laurent Koscielny had the best chance of the first period at the Emirates but headed against the crossbar from close range.

Wilshere broke the deadlock four minutes after the re-start with a close range effort after Olivier Giroud had headed down Thomas Vermaelen's cross from the left into his path for his first goal since November 2010.

Podolski then played a one-two with Giroud before volleying into the net to seal with the win on 63 minutes.

Schalke beat Olympiakos in the other Group B game, meaning Arsenal qualify with the German side ahead of their final group game in Greece in a fortnight.

In the early stages, Montpellier failed to clear a corner and the ball was worked out to Wilshere on the left wing, with his cross into the penalty area sent crashing against the bar by a bullet header from Koscielny.

The Gunners, however, also had to be on their guard from the quick counter attack as Anthony Mounier got clear behind the defence and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, just back in the side after an injury lay-off, had to come out to the edge of the box to make an important block.

Arsenal took the lead four minutes into the second half. Captain Vermaelen floated a deep ball into the penalty area, which was knocked down by former Montpellier striker Giroud into the path of Wilshere, who lifted the ball over the keeper.

The goal settled Arsenal down, and it was 2-0 on 63 minutes after another swift counter by the hosts.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain carried the ball down the right, before feeding Giroud on the edge of the penalty area. The Frenchman exchanged a neat one-two with Podolski, who ran on to fire a sublime left-foot volley over Geoffrey Jourdren

The win sees Arsenal move into the last 16, sitting a point behind leaders Schalke.

Boss Arsene Wenger will now target victory in Athens next month to keep alive hopes of topping the group and securing a place among Europe's top seeds for the knockout stages.