By Saj Chowdhury BBC Sport

Substitute Aaron Ramsey scored in stoppage time to hand Arsenal a victory which moved them to the top of Champions League Group F at the expense of opponents Marseille.

The Wales star fired in from just inside the area after Johan Djourou's cross fell into his path.

Robin van Persie had a header cleared off the line before both he and Theo Walcott had low shots saved.

Marseille's Loic Remy went close when his effort was deflected wide.

ARSENAL'S REMAINING GAMES

  • 1 Nov - Marseille (h)
  • 23 Nov - B.Dortmund (h)
  • 6 Dec - Olympiakos (a)

The win moves the Gunners to seven points, one ahead of the French side and four ahead of third place Olympiakos.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will be delighted with the result although the match itself was poor on quality.

Possession was more or less evenly shared, but both sides frustrated by giving the ball away cheaply.

There were very few clear-cut chances in the match, although Arsenal created the lion's share.

GROUP F

Played Points

Arsenal

3

7

Marseille

3

6

Olym'kos

3

3

B.D'mund

3

1

Van Persie went close when his looping header was cleared off the line by Souleymane Diawara from Mikel Arteta's corner.

What referee Damir Skomina and his assistants did not notice was that Marseille's hero of the moment had initially handled when the corner was delivered.

The Arsenal fans who travelled over to France had to wait until the 65th minute for their side's next opportunity.

Nicolas N'Koulou made a mess of trying to clear the Marseille area which allowed Walcott to fire in a low shot that was saved by the feet of home keeper Steve Mandanda.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Both of Ramsey's goals in the Champions League have come in the 90th minute or later

And the Marseille stopper repeated the feat again when he blocked Van Persie's fiercer effort, with just a few minutes remaining.

The match was heading towards a forgettable draw until two minutes into stoppage time when Swiss defender Djourou swung the ball in from the right which Gervinho took the sting out of en route to Ramsey.

The midfielder, who replaced Andrey Arshavin, controlled the ball before firing past Mandanda.

Arsenal limited Marseille to one clear chance when Remy beat Per Mertesacker but his goalbound shot was deflected off course by the foot of Carl Jenkinson.

Lineup, Bookings (6) & Substitutions (6)

Marseille

  • 30 Mandanda
  • 02 Azpilicueta
  • 03 N'Koulou
  • 15 Morel
  • 21 Diawara Booked
  • 04 Diarra
  • 07 Cheyrou (Kabore - 87' )
  • 08 Gonzalez (Amalfitano - 73' )
  • 28 Valbuena
  • 11 Remy (Gignac - 69' Booked )
  • 20 A Ayew Booked

Substitutes

  • 01 Bracigliano
  • 13 Traore
  • 26 Jean-Philippe Sabo
  • 31 Roland
  • 12 Kabore
  • 18 Amalfitano
  • 10 Gignac

Arsenal

  • 13 Szczesny
  • 04 Mertesacker
  • 06 Koscielny
  • 11 Santos Booked
  • 25 Jenkinson (Djourou - 62' Booked )
  • 07 Rosicky
  • 08 Arteta
  • 14 Walcott (Gervinho - 67' )
  • 17 Song Booked
  • 23 Arshavin (Ramsey - 78' )
  • 10 Van Persie

Substitutes

  • 21 Fabianski
  • 20 Djourou
  • 16 Ramsey
  • 30 Benayoun
  • 39 Coquelin
  • 27 Gervinho
  • 29 Chamakh
Ref: Skomina
Att: 24,534

Match Stats

Shots

6 8

On target

2 6

Corners

1 9

Fouls

10 10

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:37 Full time

Full Time The referee blows for the end of the match.

90:00 +3:16

Unfair challenge on Yao Gervinho by Nicolas N'Koulou results in a free kick. Mikel Arteta takes the direct free kick.

90:00 +1:45

Assist on the goal came from Yao Gervinho.

90:00 +1:45 Goal scored

Goal - Aaron Ramsey - Marseille 0 - 1 Arsenal Aaron Ramsey grabs a goal from just inside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Marseille 0-1 Arsenal.

90:00 +0:19

Robin van Persie decides to take the corner short.

90:00 +0:01

Robin van Persie takes a shot. Save made by Steve Mandanda.

86:02 Substitution

Substitution Charles Kabore on for Benoit Cheyrou.

84:39

Robin van Persie is caught offside. Steve Mandanda takes the free kick.

83:34 Booking

Booking Booking for Andre Pierre Gignac for unsporting behaviour.

83:34 Booking

Booking Andre Pierre Gignac receives a yellow card for dissent.

83:12

The ball is swung over by Per Mertesacker.

77:27 Substitution

Substitution Aaron Ramsey replaces Andrey Arshavin.

75:01

Tomas Rosicky concedes a free kick for a foul on Benoit Cheyrou. Benoit Cheyrou restarts play with the free kick.

74:37

Free kick awarded for a foul by Mathieu Valbuena on Tomas Rosicky. Per Mertesacker restarts play with the free kick.

73:07

The free kick is swung in right-footed by Mathieu Valbuena, clearance by Tomas Rosicky.

73:07 Booking

Booking Johan Djourou is given a yellow card.

72:59

Johan Djourou gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jeremy Morel.

72:12 Substitution

Substitution Lucho Gonzalez leaves the field to be replaced by Morgan Amalfitano.

70:54

Unfair challenge on Andre Ayew by Clarindo Andre Santos results in a free kick. Free kick crossed by Benoit Cheyrou.

69:33

Clarindo Andre Santos challenges Alou Diarra unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Alou Diarra.

68:34 Substitution

Substitution Andre Pierre Gignac joins the action as a substitute, replacing Loic Remy.

68:23

The assistant referee signals for offside against Yao Gervinho. Indirect free kick taken by Steve Mandanda.

67:08

The assistant referee flags for offside against Robin van Persie. Indirect free kick taken by Steve Mandanda.

66:26 Substitution

Substitution Theo Walcott goes off and Yao Gervinho comes on.

63:07

Theo Walcott takes a shot. Fantastic save by Steve Mandanda.

61:27 Substitution

Substitution Johan Djourou comes on in place of Carl Jenkinson.

60:21

Robin van Persie takes a shot. Save by Steve Mandanda.

54:13

Carl Jenkinson concedes a free kick for a foul on Jeremy Morel. Free kick crossed by Mathieu Valbuena, free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Tomas Rosicky by Benoit Cheyrou. Wojciech Szczesny takes the free kick.

52:00

Robin van Persie concedes a free kick for a foul on Lucho Gonzalez. Indirect free kick taken by Alou Diarra.

51:05

Carl Jenkinson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jeremy Morel. Steve Mandanda takes the free kick.

48:47

Carl Jenkinson produces a cross, Steve Mandanda makes a save.

48:06

Clarindo Andre Santos crosses the ball in from the free kick.

48:06 Booking

Booking Souleymane Diawara booked for unsporting behaviour.

47:49

Souleymane Diawara concedes a free kick for a foul on Andrey Arshavin.

45:01

The match restarts for the second half.

45:00 +1:04 Half time

Half Time The half-time whistle blows.

45:00 +0:20

Clarindo Andre Santos is penalised for a handball. Benoit Cheyrou crosses the ball in from the free kick, free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Wojciech Szczesny by Andre Ayew. Indirect free kick taken by Wojciech Szczesny.

44:51

The ball is sent over by Andre Ayew.

44:25

The ball is delivered by Jeremy Morel.

41:37

Corner taken by Mikel Arteta from the left by-line, save by Steve Mandanda. Robin van Persie has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the goal.

41:23

Centre by Andrey Arshavin, clearance by Benoit Cheyrou.

41:07

Corner taken short by Robin van Persie.

40:19

Unfair challenge on Theo Walcott by Cesar Azpilicueta results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Clarindo Andre Santos.

38:51

The ball is swung over by Carl Jenkinson, Nicolas N'Koulou manages to make a clearance.

36:50

Mathieu Valbuena fouled by Clarindo Andre Santos, the ref awards a free kick. Alou Diarra crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from right channel.

36:32

The ball is delivered by Andrey Arshavin, clearance made by Alou Diarra.

35:55

The ball is swung over by Theo Walcott, Alou Diarra makes a clearance.

34:31

The ball is sent over by Mathieu Valbuena, Shot by Cesar Azpilicueta from deep inside the penalty area misses wide to the left of the target.

34:09

The ball is sent over by Mathieu Valbuena.

33:32

Alex Song fouled by Mathieu Valbuena, the ref awards a free kick. Alex Song takes the direct free kick.

33:23

The ball is sent over by Andre Ayew.

32:47

Alou Diarra delivers the ball, save by Wojciech Szczesny.

32:30

A cross is delivered by Mathieu Valbuena, Tomas Rosicky manages to make a clearance.

31:39

Mikel Arteta takes the outswinging corner, Steve Mandanda makes a save.

30:10

Loic Remy takes a shot. Blocked by Clarindo Andre Santos. Corner taken by Mathieu Valbuena.

26:40

The ball is swung over by Andrey Arshavin, blocked by Andre Ayew.

26:16

Corner from the right by-line taken by Robin van Persie, clearance made by Cesar Azpilicueta.

25:50

Centre by Theo Walcott, clearance by Alou Diarra.

25:11

The ball is sent over by Carl Jenkinson, Alou Diarra manages to make a clearance.

24:48

A cross is delivered by Robin van Persie.

23:07

Shot from outside the area by Alou Diarra misses to the left of the goal.

19:31

Corner taken by Mikel Arteta from the left by-line, Robin van Persie takes a shot. Andre Ayew makes a clearance. Corner taken right-footed by Mikel Arteta from the left by-line, save by Steve Mandanda.

19:31

Outswinging corner taken by Mikel Arteta, Per Mertesacker takes a shot. Clearance by Alou Diarra. Robin van Persie takes a shot. Clearance by Cesar Azpilicueta. Corner from the left by-line taken by Mikel Arteta, Steve Mandanda makes a save.

18:43

Corner taken by Mikel Arteta, save made by Steve Mandanda.

16:55

A cross is delivered by Carl Jenkinson, Souleymane Diawara makes a clearance. Corner taken by Robin van Persie, save by Steve Mandanda.

15:27

A cross is delivered by Benoit Cheyrou, Alou Diarra takes a shot. Wojciech Szczesny makes a save.

15:27 Booking

Booking The referee cautions Clarindo Andre Santos for unsporting behaviour.

15:24

Clarindo Andre Santos challenges Mathieu Valbuena unfairly and gives away a free kick.

15:00

Mathieu Valbuena gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Clarindo Andre Santos. Clarindo Andre Santos takes the direct free kick.

13:11 Booking

Booking The referee shows Andre Ayew a yellow card for dissent.

11:26

Free kick awarded for a foul by Alou Diarra on Andrey Arshavin. Clarindo Andre Santos takes the direct free kick.

11:04

Cesar Azpilicueta takes a shot.

7:25

The offside flag is raised against Andre Ayew. Wojciech Szczesny restarts play with the free kick.

8:58

Theo Walcott delivers the ball, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Robin van Persie misses to the left of the goal.

7:25

The referee blows for offside against Mathieu Valbuena. Indirect free kick taken by Wojciech Szczesny.

6:23

Clarindo Andre Santos fouled by Benoit Cheyrou, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Clarindo Andre Santos.

5:01

Carl Jenkinson sends in a cross, Cesar Azpilicueta gets a block in.

3:30

Strike on goal comes in from Andre Ayew from the free kick, Wojciech Szczesny makes a save.

3:30 Booking

Booking Alex Song is shown a yellow card.

3:27

Free kick awarded for a foul by Alex Song on Loic Remy.

2:57

The ball is swung over by Alex Song.

2:30

The ball is swung over by Carl Jenkinson, Jeremy Morel gets a block in.

0:00

The game gets underway.

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