Arsenal reached the Champions League knockout stage for a 13th consecutive season as they outclassed Montpellier and Schalke beat Olympiakos.<br /><br />The Gunners struggled for momentum in a disappointing first half that saw Laurent Koscielny head against the bar.<br /><br />But they improved after the break and Jack Wilshere scored his first goal since returning from injury with a chipped finish from close range.<br /><br />Lukas Podolski sealed the win with a stunning volley as Montpellier faded.<br /><br />It was an unstoppable strike that will be replayed many times over - a fitting way to secure a place in the last 16.<br /><br />Schalke's home victory over Olympiakos keeps the Germans top of Group B on 11 points, one clear of Arsenal with one game left.<br /><br />Olympiakos, who host Arsenal on 4 December, are third on six points and will drop into the Europa League, while Montpellier remain bottom with just one point from five matches.<br /><br />This was not a vintage win and Arsenal looked disjointed until breaking the deadlock, but they can be pleased with the result and will now attempt to finish above Schalke in top spot.<br /><br />For a club competing in the Champions League for a 15th consecutive season, it was remarkable that Arsene Wenger's men had never previously beaten a French club at home in the competition.<br /><br />Saturday's morale-boosting victory over Tottenham, coupled with Montpellier's domestic and European struggles this season, gave the Gunners hope of bucking that trend.<br /><br />But in the early stages Arsenal struggled to impose themselves or establish rhythm, misplacing a number of passes.<br /><br />They looked nervous at the back and after Thomas Vermaelen was easily beaten by Remy Cabella on the right, Wojciech Szczesny flapped at Geoffrey Jourdren's cross from the left.<br /><br />Arsenal almost took the lead when Koscielny rattled the woodwork with a thumping header from Vermaelen's left-wing centre, but that was their only chance of note in the opening half hour.<br /><br />The match soon opened up, though, and Szczesny rushed out to foil Antho
