Free-scoring Arsenal continued their dominance of Champions League Group H with a stunning 4-1 drubbing of AZ Alkmaar on Wednesday night.
The Gunners are in top spot and unbeaten in their group, and proved far too classy for the Dutch visitors at The Emirates, where skipper Cesc Fabregas bagged a brace and was joined on the scoresheet by Samir Nasri and Abou Diaby, who netted a sublime fourth of the night on 72 minutes after some flowing build-up play from Eduardo and Andrey Arshavin.
The Gunners are in top spot and unbeaten in their group, and proved far too classy for the Dutch visitors at The Emirates, where skipper Cesc Fabregas bagged a brace and was joined on the scoresheet by Samir Nasri and Abou Diaby, who netted a sublime fourth of the night on 72 minutes after some flowing build-up play from Eduardo and Andrey Arshavin.
Graziano Pelle forced a fine save from Manuel Almunia, who tipped the striker's close-range strike onto the crossbar on the hour mark.
And the hosts were guilty of some sloppy defending on 82 when they allowed Jeremain Lens to power towards the 18-yard box before unleashing a low strike which beat Alumina at his near post.
But struggling Standard Liege's surprise home win over Olympiakos meant Arsene Wenger's men have a commanding four-point lead in the group - and are on the brink of qualification to the next stage.
Robin van Persie showed a sign of the hosts' attacking intent when he arrowed a fourth-minute angled shot inches wide of the upright.
But it was 'Captain Fantastic' Fabregas who opened the scoring on 25 minutes, cutting inside David Mendes da Silva and clinically beating goalkeeper Sergio Romero at his near post with a low 18-yard drive.
Maarten Martens shot straight at Almunia who had little else to do, and it was 2-0 on 45 when Nasri skipped past Hector Moreno and steered a right-footed shot past Romero.
There was more of the same after the break as Arshavin's lovely throughball found Fabregas, who calmy clipped a right-footed strike into the net for 3-0 on 52.
And a four-star display was sealed on 72 when Eduardo's sublime backheel released the on-rushing Arshavin, who crossed for Diaby to control and coolly sidefoot his effort into the onion bag.
