Source: Daily_Mail
Arsenal 4 AZ Alkmaar 1: Action man Andrey Arshavin as good as his word
Arsenal moved another step closer to fulfilling Arsene Wenger's prediction of silverware this season as they sharpened their cutting edge against AZ Alkmaar.[LNB]The Gunners manager insists he will do nothing to stop his players talking up Arsenal's chances of success in the Barclays Premier and Champions Leagues this season following comments to that effect made by Andrey Arshavin.[LNB]And if the £12million signing can continue in this form, then anyone who considered such words to be boastful may have to think again.[LNB] Absolutely Fabregas: Arsenal hail their inspirational captain's first goal[LNB]The diminutive Russian gave a masterclass in forward play, laying onthree of Arsenal's four goals. In fairness to his team-mates,Arshavin's display was just one of a host of wonderful performances.[LNB]Wenger said: 'Arshavin was outstanding. He gave the ball every timethe fraction of the second you wanted him to give it and that is topquality. We have only players here who can play and pass the ball andscore not only goalscorers but also decisive passers of the ball, andhe (Arshavin) has shown that.'[LNB]Arsenal's claims to a second Champions League final appearance do not appear fanciful, on current evidence.[LNB]While tougher opponents lie in wait, that should not take anythingaway from the manner in which they dispatched their visitors fromHolland.[LNB]Wenger said: 'It was a brilliant performance. We dominated technically and tactically and we were never under threat.'[LNB]Even with a busy treatment room, Arsenal hardly missed a beat,suggesting there is sufficient strength in depth alongside a growingmaturity from Cesc Fabregas' opener to Samir Nasri marking his returnto European action after a fractured fibula with a well-taken goal.[LNB]From Fabregas' movement for Arsenal's third goal to Eduardo's cuteback-heel to start the move which culminated in Arsenal's fourth fromAbou Diaby, Arsenal in full flow once again look peerless.[LNB]Even Wenger admitted he has never had so many creative attackingplayers to choose from even bringing the name of Thierry Henry into theequation.[LNB] Sublime strike: Nasri doubles Arsenal's lead[LNB]'Thierry was such an exceptional player but we have discovered others since,' said the Arsenal manager.[LNB]'We played like we loved the game tonight and we wanted to expressour talent.' Arsenal went within a whisker of an opener inside fourminutes. A stunning passing move culminated in Arshavin finding Robinvan Persie, whose snapshot from the edge of the penalty area fizzedjust wide.[LNB]The visitors enjoyed another escape when Hector Moreno's pass backto keeper Sergio Romero was punished with an indirect free-kick on thecorner of the Alkmaar six-yard area. Van Persie was teed up by Fabregasbut his vicious strike cannoned off the goalline wall for a corner.[LNB]Presumably impatient at the lack of a breakthrough, William Gallastook it on himself to launch a marauding raid. Still there appearedlittle danger when he picked out Fabregas on the left corner of theAlkmaar box on 25 minutes. But a quick shimmy was enough to takeFabregas past David Mendes da Silva and, the Arsenal skipper found agap at Romero's near post to score.[LNB]A tame effort from Maarten Martens was the best Alkmaar could musterin the first half, which Arsenal rounded off two minutes before thebreak when Nasri latched on to Arshavin's threaded pass. This time itwas Moreno who was left chasing shadows as the Arsenal midfielderadvanced into the box and slotted a side-foot shot past theoutstretched hand of Romero.[LNB]A half-time pep talk from Ronald Koeman did at least provoke alittle more adventure from his side. But any hopes Koeman had ofpreserving his unbeaten record in management against Wenger went out ofthe window in the 52nd minute.[LNB]Diaby regained possession in the middle of the pitch before feedingArshavin. Another peach of a through ball was collected by Fabregas,who this time fired high into the net from inside the box.[LNB] Dazzling: Fabregas gets his second of the game with a clinical finish[LNB][LNB]Almunia tipped Graziano Pelle's powerful effort on to his bar beforea rampant Arsenal added another with 18 minutes remaining. SubstituteEduardo's back pass was collected by Arshavin, who delved into hisrepertoire of through balls again to find Diaby, who finished withaplomb.[LNB]A lightening counter-attack from an Arsenal corner saw substitute Jeremain Lens restore some late pride for thevisitors with an angled shot, with the goal more to do with the qualityof the move than any lapse from Arsenal. And there was still time forsubstitute Aaron Ramsey to hit the bar at the other end.[LNB]Arsenal require one more point to be certain of qualifying for theknockout stages for a 10th consecutive time. In this mood, all threeshould not prove too taxing at home to Standard Liege next time out.[LNB]The visitors gave away possession in midfield, and it proved fatalas Arshavin sprinted towards the penalty area, before slipping inFabregas, who fired the ball past Romero.[LNB]To their credit, though, AZ kept going. Indeed but for a finereaction block from Manuel Almunia, the visitors would have pulled agoal back.[LNB]Graziano Pelle chested down a cross from Maarten Martens beforefiring the ball in at point-blank range which Almunia, looking tocement his place as number one again, instinctively pushed up on to thecrossbar.[LNB]Wenger made a double change with 24 minutes left, replacing Fabregas with Aaron Ramsey, while Eduardo came on for Van Persie.[LNB]Gibbs came close to netting his first Arsenal goal when driving the ball just wide from the edge of the penalty box.[LNB] awesome foursome: Diaby completes the rout[LNB][LNB]It was 4-0 on 72 minutes following another flowing counter-attack. Aclever back-heel from Eduardo released Arshavin down the right.[LNB]The Russian took the ball on into the area, before squaring to Diaby, who made no mistake from 12 yards.[LNB]Arsenal had what looked a decent shout for handball against Pelleturned down before AZ broke quickly and scored a consolation when Lensheld off Gibbs to fire past Almunia.[LNB]There was still time for Ramsey to hit the bar, but the hard work had already been done.[LNB] [LNB] Gibbs' big chance: Clichy's injury gives Keiran an early run at ArsenalArsenal v AZ Alkmaar: the drama as it unfoldedARSENAL FC
