Arsenal 0 Schalke 2: match report Schalke had come into the game off the back of an impressive victory over Borussia Dortmund, the Bundesliga champions, and their threat was also evident throughout an entertaining and open first-half. Ibrahim Afellay, previously a transfer target of Wenger, broke into the penalty area and, even after losing control of the ball, provoked a rash challenge from Vito Mannone in the Arsenal goal. Afellay, though, was clearly going to ground before any contact with Mannone, with referee Mathias Klasenius correctly waving away the penalty appeal and also producing a yellow card for the dive. Jefferson Farfan, cutting in from the right, was then also rather theatrical under a challenge from Thomas Vermaelen but, on this occasion, it was the Arsenal captain who rather harshly received a booking. Schalke maintained their pressure at the start of the second-half. Andre Santos always has the look of a full-back who is rather more comfortable on the attack and, as he wandered out of position, Farfan broke clear down the right. His cross was perfectly weighted for Howedes, who had perfectly timed his run into the penalty area, but the finish, fortunately for Arsenal, was that of a centre-back. Farfan continued to torment Santos at left-back but, after again reaching the byline on two further occasions, his crosses just evaded Huntelaar. At the other end, it was Gervinho who was still providing Arsenal's moments of greatest hope and frustration all rolled into one. Drifting again into his more natural position out wide, he got behind Astuto Uchida, the right-back, but could then only cross into an empty penalty area. Gervinho never stopped running but his desperation was underlined by a blatant dive, and a deserved yellow card, when he next drove into Schalke's penalty area. Finally, with 16 minutes remaining, Gervinho was spared and Wenger introduced Giroud. Generously, and showing that every football crowd appreciates effort above any other quality, Gervinho still departed to a standing ovation. Those same supporters, however, were then given a glimpse of the poise and clinical finishing that Gervinho - and their team - had so lacked. A loose bouncing ball in the midfield was not attacked by any of the midfield, allowing Affellay to dissect Vermaelen and Mertesacker with a deftly weighted header. Huntelaar duly pounced and, with the precision that helped him amass 48 goals last season, he smashed his low finish past Mannone. More dreadful defending following as Farfan again got behind the hapless Santos and crossed for Afellay to apply a deserved cushion to the scoreline.