Arsenal 4 AZ Alkmaar 1:ONE OF Arsene Wenger's catchphrases is "the football that we like to play". It can come across as a bit snooty, but when it works there is little to do but sit back and enjoy it. After a night of clockwork passing and clinical shooting, it is hard to envisage Arsenal will have too much trouble cementing their place in the knockout stages as Group H winners.
They would have to combust spectacularly to avoid that outcome.
Arsenal have now won 10 out of 10 at the Emirates this season, with the help of an avalanche of goals. Three of last night’s offerings were gems.
Wenger made three changes to the team that dismantled Tottenham over the weekend, again testing the squad strength as they had to contend with the latest batch of injuries. Kieran Gibbs’s galloping enthusiasm was an asset and Samir Nasri, himself returning from a long spell in the treatment room having broken his leg in pre-season, offered another outlet with fine technique.
Although Wenger was wary of the defensive organisation his opponents were capable of, AZ showed their vulnerable side early on when their erratic goalkeeper, Sergio Romero, forgot the basic rules of the game. The Argentine had a bizarrely dozy moment, as he calmly controlled and picked up a back pass without a player from either team anywhere near him.
Responsibility fell to the man recently described by his boss as an amalgam of Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry. In fairness, if such a footballing deity existed, even he would have struggled to beat a tightly built wall from such close range. Robin van Persie could not manage it.
Arsenal took the lead in the 25th minute through their talismanic force, Cesc Fabregas. William Gallas ambled forward and fed the Spaniard on the edge of the area. He turned inside David Mendes da Silva and squeezed a shot into the bottom corner – aided, it must be said, by more drowsy goalkeeping from Romero.
AZ raised the tempo a little in response, as they dearly needed to do to enliven hopes of a Europa Cup position, if nothing else, and Maarten Martens produced the first shot on target for the visitors. It fell comfortably close for Manuel Almunia.
Nasri provided the half-time cushion just before the break with an expert finish. The Frenchman cantered on to Andriy Arshavin’s gossamer pass, left Hector Moreno in a heap and clipped confidently past Romero.
Fabregas continued his golden spell early in the second half with another handsome strike for his collection. Arshavin was again the man with the cute assist, scything through the AZ defence with a precision pass and Romero must have feared the worst as Arsenal’s number four bore down on goal. The Spaniard curled the ball past him with the prowess of a man who expects to score with every shot.
Arsenal withdrew two of their most creative attacking players, giving a breather to Fabregas and Van Persie, and then scored the goal of the night. Arshavin burst on to Eduardo’s backheel, spotted Abou Diaby on the run and the Frenchman clipped in a marvellous team goal.
Almunia was beaten in the closing stages after a powerful solo run and low blast from Jeremain Lens but overall it was a rewarding night’s work.
ARSENAL: Almunia, Vermaelen, Gallas, Eboue, Gibbs, Diaby, Fabregas (Ramsey 66), Nasri, Song Billong, Arshavin (Rosicky 74), Van Persie (Eduardo 67). Subs not used: Mannone, Sagna, Senderos, Silvestre.
AZ ALKMAAR: Romero, Jaliens, Moreno, Mendes Da Silva (Wernbloom 70), Schaars, Martens, Poulsen (Pocognoli 64), Moisander, Dembele (Lens 58), Holman, Pelle. Subs not used: Didulica, Van der Velden, Swerts, Ari. Booked: Moisander.
Referee: Alain Hamer (Luxembourg).
