AZ rout puts Arsenal on brink

Gunners triumph 4-1 to move within touching distance of next round

By James Dall   Last updated: 4th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

AZ rout puts Arsenal on brink

Nasri: Classy goal

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Arsenal recorded a comfortable 4-1 victory over AZ Alkmaar at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday to move them within touching distance of the UEFA Champions League knockout stage.

Cesc Fabregas netted a brace while Samir Nasri and Abou Diaby also got their names on the scoresheet as the Gunners made amends for a sloppy draw versus the Eredivisie champions a fortnight ago.

Arsenal captain Fabregas broke the deadlock on 25 minutes with a low strike and then a fine goal from Nasri doubled the home side's lead before the half-time whistle.

Fabregas made it 3-0 early in the second half before Diaby finished off a flowing move to wrap up the win for the table-toppers, while a late goal from AZ's Jeremain Lens proved only a consolation for Ronald Koeman's side.

Olympiakos' loss against Standard Liege in Group H's other game on Wednesday night means Arsenal are yet to mathematically progress to the knockout stage of the competition.

Unbeaten

AZ boss Ronald Koeman - whose goal won the 1992 European Cup for Barcelona at Wembley - had previously been unbeaten against Wenger, masterminding a 1-1 draw here with PSV in 2007, which knocked the English side out.

However, there was to be no repeat as the Gunners immediately went on the attack.

Robin van Persie cut in from the right and flashed a low strike across goal.

Referee Alain Hamer, kitted out in white, then penalised goalkeeper Sergio Ranero for picking up a backpass from midfield, giving Arsenal an indirect free-kick on the right corner of the six-yard box.

Van Persie, though, smashed his shot into the wall of black shirts at the near post.

With Emmanuel Eboue preferred at right-back to Bacary Sagna, the Gunners were certainly more offensive down the flanks, if without lacking any real bite in the final third.

Arsenal were then gifted the lead on 25 minutes.

A quick break down the left freed Fabregas on the edge of the penalty area.

The Gunners captain was given space to drive the ball through David Mendes da Silva's legs, and as Ranero completely mistimed his dive, it somehow crept inside the far post.

The home side continued to press, and Fabregas was somewhat unfortunate to head over after a deep cross from left-back Kieran Gibbs, in for the injured Gael Clichy, at the end of another swift counter.

The Gunners doubled their lead just before half-time.

Andrey Arshavin fed Nasri down the middle.

The Frenchman, now fit again following a fractured leg suffered during pre-season, turned Hector Moreno inside out to burst into the penalty area, before dispatching a low effort into the bottom right corner on 43 minutes.

Before AZ could regroup at the start of the second half, Arsenal were out of sight after scoring a third goal on 52 minutes.

Fired

The visitors gave away possession in midfield, and it proved fatal as Arshavin sprinted towards the penalty area, before slipping in Fabregas, who fired the ball past Romero.

To their credit, though, AZ kept going.

Indeed but for a fine reaction block from Manuel Almunia, the visitors would have pulled a goal back.

Graziano Pelle chested down a cross from Maarten Martens before firing the ball in at point-blank range which Almunia, looking to cement his place as number one again, instinctively pushed up on to the crossbar.

Wenger made a double change with 24 minutes left, replacing Fabregas with Aaron Ramsey, while Eduardo came on for Van Persie.

Gibbs came close to netting his first Arsenal goal when driving the ball just wide from the edge of the penalty box.

It was 4-0 on 72 minutes following another flowing counter-attack.

A clever back-heel from Eduardo released Arshavin down the right.

The Russian took the ball on into the area, before squaring to Diaby, who made no mistake from 12 yards.

Arsenal had what looked a decent shout for handball against Pelle turned down before AZ broke quickly and scored a consolation when Lens held off Gibbs to fire past Almunia.

There was still time for Ramsey to hit the bar, but the hard work had already been done.

ArsenalTeam StatisticsAZ Alkmaar
4Goals1
21st Half Goals0
6Shots on Target3
4Shots off Target3
3Blocked Shots2
5Corners4
14Fouls14
5Offsides2
0Yellow Cards1
0Red Cards0
83.3Passing Success81.5
28Tackles27
64.3Tackles Success70.4
55.3Possession44.7
51.3Territorial Advantage48.7

Comments (4)

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Chris Ntabu (Arsenal fan) says...

What can i say? Another brilliant performance by the gunners. Is there any other team better?

Posted 05:42 5th November 2009

Homzie D (Manchester United fan) says...

Arsenal are playing wonderful football this season and even though I'm no Gunner, I admire the way the play. The main reason is the form of Cesc Fabregas, he's been their outstanding player this season and it showed last night. He dictated the game in midfield and was truely magnificient. I wish they could do the same to Chelsea, Liverpool and Man City! How does Le Professeur see talent like Fabregas and nurture them? He is one of my top 5 managers in the world and who could argue! Other clubs should learn from Arsenal. So what they haven't won a trophy for 5 years, atleast, they've won many admirers! I hope Arsenal win atleast 1 major trophy this season, then watch what the 'kids' are capable of! They were simply brilliant last night and I hope it continues (except against United, ofcourse)! Another Gunner to watch out for is Arshavin, he's worth $60m right now! Arsenal is the perfect club for him, he cn express himself and show his talent!

Posted 03:28 5th November 2009

Danni Baker (Arsenal fan) says...

i think that arsenal played superbly and have currently been playing at their best ability. i have been really impressed with them this season and hope they keep it up. Arsene Wenger has been waiting for some silverware for 5years and i think this year, they will have their shot. Arsenal are so very close and hopefully they will succeed, i would like to say good luck to them and i hope they keep the excellence performance.

Posted 23:57 4th November 2009

Greig Taylor (Rangers fan) says...

Great result for Arsenal. The progress of the side is matched by that of their outstanding captain Fabregas. Now he has added goals to his game on a consistent basis he is well on his way to becoming the best midfielder in the world.

Posted 21:45 4th November 2009
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