Arsenal Set The Pace

Simply Unstoppable Tonight

September 15th 2010


Arsenal: 6 vs SC Braga: 0

Fabregas 8th

Arshavin 30th

Chamakh 34th

Fabregas 53rd

Vela 67th

Vela 84th



Winning your first game in the Champions League is essential to ensuring you're still in the competition after the new year. As we saw yesterday with Rangers, the only thing one needs to bridge the talent gap is a well drilled game plan. Sporting Braga of course come into the group stages having dismissed the likes of Celtic and Sevilla in the qualifying stages, so form is on their side. Arsenal of course have been in fine form as well notching 14 goals in the last 3 domestic games. With injuries mounting; Diaby, Van Persie, Bendtner, Walcott and Vermaelen all out, our squad would require rotating. Again as in Tuesday's match, we saw how much Man United suffered with out their starting spine of the team.

My pre-match fears were quickly put to rest as Arsenal started the nice match very well. Wenger decided to play a 4-5-1 with Fabregas at the top of a midfield consisting of Nasri, Song, Arshavin and Wilshere. The running from deep positions in midfield immediatly gave SC Braga fits. Fabregas was denied a clear penalty in the third minute as he stepped inside his marker and was subsequently hacked down. Moments later Cesc was sandwiched out at the top of the box as Arsenal continued to get in behind the Portugese. Arsenal's early dominance was rewarded in the 8th minute as Chamakh was released in the box and brought down by Braga's keeper Felipe. The keeper was spared a sending off but was forced to endure the remainder of the match. Cesc made no mistake from the spot despite the keeper guessing the direction of the shot.

For a brief moment after the opener Braga gained a slight foot hold on the match and managed to get a few shots on target. It would take Arsenal twenty minutes to double their lead. Fabregas was once again at the heart of the attack as his mazy run took him past two defenders. His perfect lay off to Arshavin let the Russian in and his powerful shot slipped in at the far post. The game was over after 30 minutes. Four minutes later Chamakh made it 3-0 as he played a brilliant 1-2 with Wilshere, who back heeled it into the path of the Moroccan. Chamakh dug the flick out from under him to pass it in to the right of the increasingly hapless Felipe. The half couldn't come quickly enough for the Portoguese as Arsenal's passing game took hold for the remainder of the period.

8 minutes after the break Arsenal increased the humiliation as Fabregas once again proved key. His lay off to Arshavin was rewarded as the winger lofted the return for the captain to nod home from six yards out. Two goals for Fabregas was just rewards for a totally dominant display, finally his season has begun.

It's hard to express how much we were in control but our 70% of possession was hardly flattering. Vela capped the whole evening off with two well taken goals. The first was assisted by a perfect pass from Arshavin yet again, slipping the Mexican in as Vela finished with his now trademark chip. Vela's second came in the 84th, Wilshere found Cesc in the box who instead of going for a hat trick laid it off for Vela to slot near post. One had to feel sorry for the opposing manager as Sky continued to show him slumped in his seat. His hard work of getting his side into the competition proper certainly didn't deserve this mauling. Nevertheless when you come to the Arsenal at try and play at our level with your provincial squad, you're bound to be put down like a lame horse.

It is I think important to not read too much into this win. For one the naivety of the opponent let our midfield run amok, two SC Braga's keeper was possibly worse than Almunia. But as they say we can only play what is in front of us. While Cesc will get the plaudits the entire team played exceptionally well, Wilshere has improved immensely since the Liverpool game. His ability to hold when Song goes forward and vice versa has given us a shapeless, unpredictable attack. When we throw a fit Diaby into the fold we'll unlock every defense we play.

Chamakh continues to thrive in the lone striker role. His integration to the team has been in typical Wenger fashion. He's scored 3 goals, won 2 penalties and had 2 opponents sent off. With that kind of influence it's hard not to win games. The best part is his movement, with and without the ball. He takes it wide when we need to open up the pitch using the space perfectly. He seems to be the perfect foil to Arshavin, his hard work certainly makes up for the Russians inability to track back.

So another home win, 3 on the trot, 16 goals scored. October 10th is going to be a colossal game, but until then I think I'll enjoy the rest of my beer.