Arsenal Hit Six. Only Six? Slackers.

Champions League Group H
Arsenal 6 – 0 SC Braga

1 – 0 Fabregas (pen 9)
2 – 0 Arshavin (23)
3 – 0 Chamakh (29)
4 – 0 Fabregas (53)
5 – 0 Vela (69)
6 – 0 Vela (84)

A record-breaking night for Arsenal, following hot on the heels of Tottenham’s equally impressive evening on Tuesday. Still, I am sure that ‘Appy ‘Arry is more than satisfied with his charges being the first English team to drop a two-goal lead. It’s all about ambition.

Sporting Braga are derided for putting in a poor performance; there was an element of that but to dwell on this aspect diminshes from the professionalism shown by the Arsenal players. From the kick-off, Arsenal set about their opponents, determined to seal victory. The points were won at a canter, expressive individualism combined majestically with expansive passing, the ball slicing through the Braga midfield and defence with the ease of the sharpest knife through the rarest of Sunday roasts. One can never tire of watching such performances, no matter how commonplace they become.

The starting XI contained but one surprise, Jack Wilshere preferred to Denilson, indicative of the attacking verve demanded by the manager. His ambition was rewarded with an excellent performance by the youngster, partnering Alex Song in a more central and deeper lying role than is normally expected at this stage of a fledgling career. Yet this did not stem his attacking verve, his movement off the ball shaming many older than himself.

The formation allowed Cesc Fabregas more freedom on the pitch, supporting Chamakh in attack, the duo played in tandem and holding a tight formation throughout the evening. The captain richly deserved his brace of goals, perhaps disappointed to have not finished with more, unselfishly declining a late opportunity for himself, instead creating Carlos Vela’s late finish.

Fabregas’ display brought forth praise from his manager, post match:

He has taken on another dimension…He is a fantastic influence and it is important that he leads this team to winning and I believe it is a fantastic opportunity for the young players who play alongside him to improve as well…I like that he gave the ball to Vela instead of trying alone. That reflects the way we want to play the game and it reflects the real attitude of a leader. He does what the game wants and is not selfish.

Wenger’s praise is richly deserved for an outstanding return to form in recent days. Equally deserving of commendation is Marouane Chamakh. He pulled the defence out of position, signalled his availability for any colleague to pass to, no matter how close the Portuguese side’s attention and crucially, I cannot recall a time when he lost possession cheaply. Many summers have been shorn of their glory since such a ‘traditional’ strikers performance was seen in an Arsenal shirt.

Within minutes of the start of the match, it was clear that Arsenal would not broker anything other than a win. Two early penalty appeals emerged from hoarse throats, plainitive looks dismissed by the officials. But if you knock on that door often enough, mistakes happen. Fabregas found Chamakh free in the area and as the Moroccan rounded Felipe, the goalkeeper tripped him. Fabregas drilled home his first Arsenal goal since Barcelona in this competition. Wilshere might have been the opener goalscorer moments earlier, flagged offside to spare his blushes as his dinked shot edged the wrong side of the post. He might have doubled the lead shortly after the opener, Fabregas’ deft header let the youngster shoot, Felipe blocking well.

Disconcertingly for Braga, Arsenal were not in full flight but still utterly dominant. Their reward would come as the first half reached its midpoint. Nasri was flagged offside but the referee allowed play to continue, Braga in possession. The clearance was poor and quickly snaffled by Song in the midfield. The ball was worked through to Fabregas who, with a hop, skip and jump, found himself at the edge of the area, fed an unmarked Arshavin, who drilled home from ten yards.

As delightful as the football for the second was, the third was mesmeric. Fabregas and Wilshere wove patterns through the Braga midfield, Sagna’s cross headed clear to the captain, retaining possession and keeping pressure on the visitors. He fed Chamkh on the edge of the area, the Moroccan gratefully received Wilshere’s delightful backheel, passing the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the net. Just reward for a sumptuous performance.

The interval brought no respite. Eight minutes into the second half, Song fed Fabregas, his attempted one-two with Chamakh rebounding to the edge of the area where the Spaniard’s forward run allowed him to smuggle possession wide to Arshavin. The Russian’s cross was inch perfect, his captain providing the straightforward header to set the goals flowing once more.

Would Fabregas seal his third to cap a wonderful individual performance. It was surely a matter of time. Arshavin freed the Spaniard whose effort was sufficiently deflected by Felipe, Moises hooking the ball clear close to his own net. The Russian then went closer, drilling the ball across goal, rattling the woodwork before Braga cleared. The rotation of the squad with a comfortable lead in hand was not going to be an excuse for any easing of pressure.

Braga were then treated to a move which rivalled that of the weekend drubbing of Bolton. Passing simply, the ball went along the back four and returned to the centre, Fabregas and Wilshere moved around the midfield and forwards, Arshavin on the left scampered into the area, Vela lifted the ball gently into the net for the fifth. Truly scrumptious.

As intricate as the fifth was, simplicity was the key to the sixth. Fabregas chased a long pass, Felipe’s clearance was returned with interest as the cushioned header into the path of Vela who calmly slid the ball home at the near post.

Throughout the team there were excellent displays. To pick holes in performances on such evenings is churlish, to ignore mistakes, naive. The ease with which Arsenal controlled the match was due to hard work from Almunia to Chamakh. The team’s improved defensive awareness is showing more with every match.

Clichy knows he was let off the hook before Braga were put to the sword, an error which may have been more costly in another match. Yet defensively he is continuing to improve, regaining the form he displayed before injuries interrupted his progress. Squillaci and Koscielny both had comfortable evenings, intercepting and distributing well. Sagna provided good width on the right and is reaping tangible rewards for his efforts on the training pitch, his crossing consistently better than before.

This day is one to reflect positively on the performance. ’til Tomorrow.