Champions League playoffs: Arsenal 1 Udinese 0

Arsenal will take a narrow lead to the return leg of their Champions League play-off tie with Udinese after a 1-0 victory at the Emirates.

Theo Walcott’s fourth-minute goal was the difference between the sides in their first leg on Tuesday, with Udinese left to rue their profligacy after Antonio Di Natale hit the bar and Pablo Armero passed up a one-on-one with Wojciech Szczesny.

But Udinese could not quite peg the English Premier League side back, and paid a heavy price for an early lapse of concentration.

With barely three minutes on the clock, Aaron Ramsey was allowed to find space in behind left-back Neuton and picked out Walcott at the near post, before the England international slotted home from close range.

The visitors could have been level minutes later when Di Natale stepped up and curled an audacious 30-yard effort onto the bar, with Szczesny left scrambling.

Udinese’s best chance to equalise came when Armero burst right through the middle of the home defence, but a heavy touch allowed Szczesny to come out and parry.

Di Natale was foiled by substitute Johan Djorou when he was through on goal as the Serie A side started the second half in a similar vein to the first, dominating battles all across the field. Mauricio Isla then muscled out Carl Jenkinson before flashing a drive across the face of goal.

Giampiero Pinzi drove one effort just wide as Udinese continued to pass up opportunities, with Arsenal’s lead looking increasingly vulnerable as the match neared a close.

However, the hosts could have had a second when Walcott ran onto Gervinho’s through ball, but his side-foot attempt was superbly kept out by Samir Handanovic.

The result means that Francesco Guidolin’s side host the Gunners at Stadio Friuli next Wednesday without the luxury of an away goal, while Arsene Wenger’s men will look to overcome their early season struggles with a result that secures a group-stage berth.