I’m going to state it from the off: after last night, I am a major fan of backheels.

Arsenal demolished AZ Alkmaar in a fantastic, beautiful display of flowing football at the Emirates Stadium. Cesc Fabregas (2), Samir Nasri and Abou Diaby put the result beyond doubt with two goals either side of the half, before Alkmaar scored late on to give their fans something to celebrate.

Robin van Persie got things going as early as the third minute when a flowing move ended in the striker volleying with his right foot just inches away from the post. The keeper wasn’t even close to it and I hope that performance from the Johnny-Depp-in-drag lookalike ends those silly rumours linking us with him after one game for good.

But Arsenal got the lead from a pretty jammy goal, it must be said. Gallas romped forward with the ball, semi-lost it in the direction of Fabregas, who came across the box and fired in towards the post. The ball merely trickled over as the keeper got a weak hand to it, but it was enough for 1-0.

Arsenal quickly upped the quality of goals scored though, when Nasri was set loose by the magnificent Andrey Arshavin, whose through-ball allowed the Frenchman to finish with aplomb.

More of the same in the second half, when we killed the game immediately to make it 3-0 with a gorgeous flowing team goal. Arshavin fed through Cesc Fabregas who hinted at shooting for the far corner before curling the ball exquisitely past the hapless goalie, Fabregas earning a terrific brace.

Thoughts of a hattrick were cut short when Cesc was subbed off along with van Persie, with Eduardo and Ramsey coming on in their place. It was the Crozillian who would have a joyous hand in the fourth goal.

Eduardo received the ball on the halfway line, backheeled it superbly into the path of Arshavin, who fed in Diaby, steamrolling in on the overlap to finish well for 4-0.

We were pressed up far too high on 82 minutes when Lens, on as a sub for Alkmaar, burst past the last defender to shoot past a wrong-footed Almunia, but in the end, it was a fantastic outing of ‘pure football’ from Arsenal, whose brilliant interplay made their opponents look distinctly average.

Almunia – 7: Reliable when called upon and made a fantastic save onto the post from a point-blank volley. Was wrong footed for the consolation goal – perhaps it could have been dealt with better – but has made a good return to the first team.
Eboue – 7: His usual rampaging self and always a handful against teams we intend to attack from the get-go. Was denied space to cross but his tracking back is a huge asset to this team.
Gallas – 8: Got forward a few times and serenely dealt with Alkmaar attacks. He looks unbeatable when he has that aura of calm around him.
Vermaelen – 8: Had the mopping up job to do today and he did it with authority. Not afraid to have a spray at his teammates if something is not to his satisfaction and is one of many leaders in this side.
Gibbs – 8: What an exciting young talent Kieran is. Tackled with bite and closed down like a terrier. Got forward a few times and displayed great pace, and his crossing, while not perfect, looks to have potential.
Song – 7: Did his job without much fuss today – had less to do as Diaby had dropped back quite a bit for this match, but he remains the side’s most consistent performer this season.
Fabregas – 8.5: Captain Fantastico. Fortune favoured him for his first goal, but his second was one of exquisite beauty. Has a mean finish, his passing probed Alkmaar uncomfortably and had a great day at the office.
Diaby – 8: Continues to frustrate, but today, in a good way. Had a fantastic match and will continue to get the blood boiling because we know he can play like this. Tracked back superbly, hassled, harried, scored a good goal and showed positional disciple as he sat back further today. Can he build on this?
Nasri – 8: Fantastic return to European football for Samir. His goal was just beautiful and he was a little sprite of irritation for the opponents. Dribbled well, fed in passes quickly – a great 90 minutes.
Arshavin – 9: Has been very quiet lately, and started the match in the same way. But near the end of the first half, he literally caught on fire with a wonderful through ball for Nasri, and then the rest of the match was all his. He seems more of the silent assassin type, but today he laid waste to the Dutchmen. Superb.
van Persie – 6.5: Had some chances and came close after 3 minutes with an audacious right foot volley. Must have the best ‘weak foot’ in the world. But otherwise the game passed him by a bit, he did his job as a focal point in the middle bit of the second term.
SUBS: Eduardo – 7: Came on for van Persie and quickly got involved in a bunch of moves. The backheel flick to set Arshavin lose for Diaby’s goal was frankly amazing, and scuttled about trying to win the ball across the front line.
Ramsey – 6: Is gaining in experience but didn’t really get going from off the bench. Defensively at fault for the opponents’ consolation goal.
Rosicky – 7: Hopefully he can start to get a string of games now, because he really looks like a footballer who will link up to another level with some of the players on dispay tonight. Passed it well, tackled well, and got into dangerous spaces.

It’s good to see Arshavin having the kind of game we know he can produce if needed. He’s been very quiet since his injury but he and Cesc blew Alkmaar out of the water tonight.

Samir Nasri and Diaby had good games from midfield as well. Both scuttled around every which way tonight causing problems for their defence and put in their fair share of defensive work as well. Song did what he has been doing consistently while the defence were imperious.

Almunia continues his good return to the side though in the two matches he’s played so far, he hasn’t really been tested. Still, he has the look of someone with his head sorted at least, so here’s hoping he can do us proud.

Good to see Nasri and Rosicky continue their rehab with minutes on the pitch. Nasri’s made an interesting come back in that he’s played 90 minute sessions each time with a rest in-between. Anyways, with our mounting injury list we are going to need them very much available in the near future. So it’s all very promising.

That will do for today. More tomorrow on an imminent take-over from Stan Kroenke – the future of the club is on a knife edge at the moment, but there are plenty who will be analysing it from different sides of the fence.

Let’s at least enjoy this result for what it was, and hope it bodes well for our trip to Wolverhampton later this week.

Filed under: Arsenal