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| Marseille get boost |
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Ligue 1 champions Marseille gave their season a much-needed boost with a comfortable away victory over pointless Arles.
Andre Ayew, who was on loan at Arles last season, scored a double after Benoit Cheyrou had opened the scoring with an unstoppable free-kick just past the hour mark.
The win was just Marseille's second in six league outings so far and came after they suffered a disappointing 1-0 home reverse in their Champions League opener against Spartak Moscow in midweek.
Didier Deschamps' side were in need of a much-improved performance to cast off their early-season malaise and Arles, who have now lost their opening six matches in the French top-flight, proved the ideal opposition.
The champions survived a scare before going ahead when Taye Taiwo had to clear off the line when Steve Mandanda was beaten by Franck Dja Djedje's powerful header.
But Cheyrou eased his side's nerves after 32 minutes when he opened the scoring with a wonderful free-kick from 25 yards that left Vincent Plante with no chance of making a save.
OM were not completely convincing, however, and Mandanda had to make a good stop to deny Yann Kermorgant before Ayew scored his side's second with 36 minutes played.
The Ghana midfielder, who was born in the north France town of Seclin, had the simplest of tasks to score after Andre-Pierre Gignac's flick inside.
Arles were not willing to lie down and it took another goal-line clearance, this time from Gignac, to prevent them from pulling a goal back just before the break.
The home side needed an early goal in the second period to have any chance of claiming their first point but their former midfielder Ayew virtually ended the contest on 54 minutes.
Plante had done well to deny Gignac's fierce strike from the penalty spot but the ball fell for Ayew to volley into an empty net.
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