All but Through in the Champions' League

Morning everyone, hope you all enjoyed the game yesterday afternoon.  I couldn't watch it until about 1 AM because it was on during work, so I slept through a lot of it, but I've just watched it again and we were outstanding. 

Clichy sat out with a broken back and so Gibbs came in at left back.  Sagna was rested and Eboue slotted in defense on the other side.  I've said before that I thought Eboue would replace Sagna at some point in the season but I have to concede that I no longer think so.  Sagna has been on wonderful form, perhaps the best we've ever seen, barring that first month or so when he was on fire. What I think is going on is that they'll share time depending on the fixture.  When it's a bit more beneficial to have a flying forward attack out of defense then we're likely to see Eboue, when the more defensive minded and solid Sagna is required then we'll of course see Sagna.  A fine system that could really help us win some matches. 

Vermaelen and Gallas held down the middle and our current midfield 3 played with Nasri slotting in up front alongside van Persie and Arshavin.  Despite our injury issues we were able to put out a very strong side with a nice bench as well.  We really have some great depth all over.  We'll just forget about centerbacks and holding midfielders for now. 

We started brightly on what looked like a really cold night and could have scored on 3 minutes.  Song won the ball just inside our half and played to Cesc who turned very nicely on the half way line and fed it in to Arshavin who dinked it over to Diaby who passed it on to Cesc ahead of him who flicked it on over to Arshavin who played in van Persie whose right foot shot fizzed just an inch wide of the far post. 

We continued to dominate the first half with nice passing and good individual work on the ball to create space.  We didn't exactly attack with urgency and didn't really create many more clear cut chances but definitely deserved our 2 nil advantage at half time.  

We got our first on 25 minutes when the ball moved from our right all the way back to the middle of our defense for Gallas to storm forward and feed Fabregas on the left of the box.  He cut inside and hit a low shot and squeezed in on the near side with a fairly tame shot.  The keeper really should have kept it out but we're not complaining.  It was a lead that was coming and one that made the rest of the game very comfortable. 

The rest of the half was fairly slow and innocuous.  They got a couple of shots away but Almunia looked confident and they were never going to score.  The new slightly heavier Sami Nasri scored the second after 43 minutes when Arshavin turned neatly and slid Nasri in on goal between the center backs and he stop started both of them out of the game and drove forward to score neatly.  2 nil at the break.

It didn't take us long to find the net in the second half.  Just seven minutes in, Arshavin set up his second for Cesc's second as set went on to curl high into the net, over the diving keeper as he bore down on goal.  It was a very nice goal and a great finish for Fabregas' 8th goal of the season. 

A few minutes later they almost got back into the game when Eboue lost out in the air on the far side of our box and Pelle fired a volley in from close range but Almunia made a great reaction save to push it onto the bar. 

Largely due to the meek crowd, most of the rest of the game was played out rather clinically and at a slow pace but there were 2 more goals. 

Fabregas made way after 66 minutes to a standing ovation.  He was robbed a hatrick I feel but I'd rather rest him than give him the chance.  van Persie was replaced as well with Eduardo and Ramsey coming on. 

Gibbs hit a great right footer along the ground just inches wide on 67 minutes, and then we got our fourth with a sublime move that started with an Eduardo backheel on the half way line and saw Arshavin set up another, this time for Diaby, who curled into the top corner.  It was some goal, it really was beautiful football. 

The very productive Arshavin went off for the last fifteen minutes with Rosicky coming on. 

Our performance overall was excellent.  After our 3rd and 4th we slowed down a bit but we weren't playing narrow, we were using both wings in the same spell of play.  Our fullbacks were attacking plenty, Nasri, who's packed on a few pounds since last season, was very effective and Cesc was all over the place, having the kind of performance you maybe had once every 10 practices when you were a kid, where nothing was going wrong and you were bouyed and effervescent.  He ruled the game with some great turns, fine passes and 2 very nice goals. 

But still we couldn't keep a clean sheet, Almunia unable to keep out a low toe poke into the near post from the edge of the area. 

We're all but through after a fine game and so far, a few blips aside, our season is going swimmingly.  Wenger has had some things to say about the current team and Eboue is talking up Cesc.  Lets hope for a speedy recovery for Gael Clichy and look forward to Wolves at the weekend.  It's nice to have Nasri back and he's looking good too.