Progression must wait for Gunners and Blues

Arsenal winger Theo Walcott admitted to feeling some frustration after the Gunners failed to make the most of home advantage against Marseille and book their spot in the last 16 of the Champions League.

A victory at the Emirates Stadium would have ensured Arsenal of a place in the knockout stages for the 12th successive season but they were unable to find a way past Marseille as the match finished in a drab goalless draw.

When asked if he was frustrated at not being able to qualify last night, Walcott said: “Of course, we had the home support, we need to be winning our home matches,

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“But yet again we were solid at the back, we kept a clean sheet, but our strikers didn’t manage to get it in the net this time.”

While the home side were frustrated at their inability to emulate last month’s win at the Stade Velodrome, a point was the least Marseille deserved.

Chelsea blew the chance to put one foot in the knockout stage, being held to a 1-1 at Genk.

The Blues threw away a half-time lead at the Cristal Arena, with Ramires putting them ahead and David Luiz missing a penalty before Jelle Vossen netted Genk’s first goal of the competition.

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That threw Group E wide open with two matches remaining but of far more concern to Chelsea will be the behaviour of their fans, who repeatedly chanted about QPR defender Anton Ferdinand in response to the John Terry racism inquiry.

Last night’s result and Valencia’s victory over Bayer Leverkusen means the top three sides are now separated by only three points.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will miss Saturday’s Premier League game against Swansea and England’s friendlies against Spain and Sweden.

The midfielder has undergone treatment on an infected right ankle, which has been placed in a protective cast.