Arsenal v. AZ Alkmaar 4-1 3/Nov/09

Cesc celebrates his second, a touch of genius.
[Photo: Mirror Football]


After the last week's cheerful display in the north London derby, Arsenal took one step ahead in the pursuit for qualification to the next round with a fair victory over AZ Alkmaar. While other teams in England drew, the Gunners starred in a way in which not only had a decent lead but an outstanding match and a blistering deployment. The string of performances that the young Arsenal skipper is maintaining, after the change of role, is really reaching a level of a true five-star midfielder. If there was a time in which he was completely brilliant it seem that with the passing of time, he is moving towards a position that he can do whatever he wants, and that only benefits Wenger.
The return of Samir Nasri from his injury in preseason has boosted the squad's attacking intentions and certainly they will prove handy in the following matches at Molineux and Sunderland.




[Photo: Andy Hooper through Daily Mail]



With the absence of El Hamdaoui, the depleted options of Alkmaar played a fairly decent effort in the first half. Even as early as the third minute the Dutch team managed to create a couple of arrivals just to test the defence. Van Persie scrapped two chances in the 4th and 12th. With the cheer of the home crowd, the Gunners enjoyed a calm amount of possession throughout the following ten minutes. But all changed since the Gunners capitalised with a lacklustre shot by Cesc Fábregas in the 25th minute.
If there was a form in which the Londoners could have scored the preceding was not the likeliest, considering all the different options that they had provided in the previous minutes. Nevertheless, the lead was unquestionable - and for a matter of minutes - the home team would inevitably find another goal to set themeselves in the most comfortable of positions.
Still, there was no problem since the Frenchman Nasri returned in quite a dexterous fashion after breaking Moreno in two. A subtle dribble past the Mexican international and a top draw definition was his outcome with two minutes of regular time.




Nasri hits the second for the home side, after breaking Moreno in two.
[Photo: EPA though Daily Mail]



Meanwhile, a couple of minutes after the whistle, the Gunners extended their lead with another fabric by Fábregas after an outstanding piece of fluent game and velocity. The finish was superb and the pass, amazing. Despite the three-goal disadvantage (reaching the 57th minute), the Dutch team managed to hit the cross bar and pushed Arsenal to perform certain manoeuvres to manage the pressure.
Aside from several attempts made by the visitors the Londoners kept them at bay, even managing to make some substitutions to rest Fábregas and Robin van Persie. Almost Kieran Gibbs slotted one in with his weaker foot with twenty minutes on the clock. In the 71st the sublime style developed by Wenger came into fruition with an astonishing definition by Diaby: the counter attack lead by Ramsey continued by Eduardo, who flicked to Arshavin, who found the Frenchman alone in the edge of the box, to wrap it up tightly.
Another defensive frailty gave Lens a chance to win an honour goal, when he found himself in a good position. Almunia, once again, gave his near post and with a slow flick by the forward, he was completely trapped. The fail to keep a clean sheet may not be the worst scenario here but maybe, in a not-so distant future, against another team it may be.