Better still, the rag-doll look on the face of Braga’s coach, the youngish Domingos Paciencia told a more graphic story. One of capitulation, despair and defeat. His team had just played an inglorious part in helping Arsenal become the highest scoring team on Matchday One of the Champions League.
On the night when we kicked of our 13th consecutive Champions League campaign, the dominance of all the players in red shone through like a beacon.
The score read six goals against nil but on the evidence of the night, it was far more overwhelming.
We lined up in a flexible 4-2-3-1 formation that saw our midfield filled with ball players. Of all the five midfielders on parade, only Alex Song was saddled with defensive duties.
It was a testament to the abundance of talent available to Arsene Wenger, that he could rest the likes of Rosicky and Abou Diaby and still have all those personnel to call upon in the middle.
So also was it a huge vote of confidence for 18 year-old Jack Wilshire, who was starting his most-important Champions League tie in front of adoring fans.
The game itself was all about Arsenal’s attacking prowess, against the Portuguese’s damage control skills. Almost inevitably, attacking prowess won the day.
Even before the 9th minute penalty tucked away by Fabregas, we had steadily pushed Braga back and taken over their goalmouth. Further strikes by first Arshavin and later Chamakh in the 30th and 34th minutes further underlined our superiority of movement and thought and by the halftime whistle, it was clear Braga had raised the white flag.
It afforded Wenger the luxury of pulling out Chamakh and introducing Carlos Vela, who promptly helped himself to two well-taken goals after Fabregas – one of the smallest players in the world – had headed the fourth.
All the men in red were heroes last night. No one shirked their duties and all excelled in their specific roles. Moreso Mr Wilshire, who shone brighter and brighter as he revelled in a central midfield role beside Fabregas.
It is early days yet both in the season and the Champions League but after five games now, the strength in depth, talent, skill levels and maturity of this side is rising to a crescendo that might portend the arrival of a trophy come May next year.
So far, the signs look pretty good.
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| Having Fun...Arshavin loves the taste of scoring against Braga |
Below are the ratings from last night.
• Almunia (6/10) – David Seaman once commented that one of the often-overlooked attributes of a good goalie is awareness and adapting to long stretches of inactivity during a game. Last night was one of those instances for Manuel. He was forced into a passive onlooker role as we dominated and swarmed allover Braga, but twice in the second half when called to action, he responded admirably well to ward off danger – both from the right flank and the boot of Julio Cesar.
• Koscielny (7/10) – Clearly, the new boy has warmed his way into our hearts, so early in his Arsenal career. Not that he had much to do, but the few times he was asked questions by the Braga duo of Cesar and Lima, he dealt with them professionally. Once in the 73rd minute, he battled bravely for a loose ball and took it up to the centre circle amidst a sea of Braga players. Obviously a top player and a great acquisition by Wenger.
• Squillaci (7/10) – A smooth operator indeed. Most of the time you don’t even realize he is there. But ever-present he is certainly. Very surefooted all night and complimented Koscielny one hundred percent. There might be some wisdom in Wenger’s unstated policy of buying French if in a defensive crisis.
• Sagna (7/10) – No surprises here as regards the tough-tackling Frenchman. He was his usual hard-as-nails self. Tackling, harrying attackers and bombing forward at the slightest chance. Picked up a soft caution in the second half.
• Clichy (7/10) – Came back into the team after being rested against Bolton over the weekend. Followed very much in Sagna’s footsteps, except that he does most of his job with the left foot. Very steady on the left flank.
• Song (8/10) – Can he really get better? Looks like a frightening prospect but also very real. He's maturing in leaps and bounds and is a real joy to watch. Snuffed whatever little threat Braga carried through the middle and never allowed their playmakers, Rodriguez and ex-Newcastle player, Hugo Viana to settle. The fact that Viana was later substituted was due largely to Song’s success in containing him. Was himself substituted for Denilson deep in the second half.
• Nasri (6/10) - Returned from injury for his second game this season. Part of a five-man midfield with license to drift to the right. He did well and pulled the Braga defence allover the pitch. Linked well with Fabregas and Wilshire in the middle.
• Fabregas (8/10) – Opened his account for the season with two sweet goals here. Tucked away the first from the spot after Chamakh had been pulled down in the 9th. Got his second for the night and his 50th Arsenal goal with a header off a fine ball from Arshavin. Almost got another goal, which was cleared off the line by Moises. Laid on an assist for Vela for the final goal of the night. All in all, he looked happy and at peace with the world. Looked like the old Cesc we’ve always known.
• Wilshire (8/10) – His best game so far for Arsenal this season. Was inspirational in the middle of the park and displayed ability way beyond his tender 18years. Ran the show alongside Fabregas and accounted for two assists – one for Chamakh and threaded a 35 yarder that Fabregas brought under control before feeding Vela for the final goal. Breathtaking vision indeed.
• Arshavin (7/10) – The Russian seems to be exorcising the demons of past poor performances gradually. Took his goal very well in the 30th minute and almost got a second which ricocheted off the bar in the second half. Got himself two assists though to underline a very positive night. Withdrawn later for Eboue.
• Chamakh (7/10) – The Moroccan enhanced his growing reputation here tonight. Scored a very good goal after sublime footwork from Wilshire in the 34th minute and was responsible for the first goal, after he won a penalty. His overall contribution though is much more than scoring, which is what makes him a very, value-added acquisition to the team. Later made way for Vela and got a standing ovation form the appreciative crowd.
Subs
• Vela (8/10) – For someone who spent a little over 16minutes on the park, he gets so high a rating on account of his two cleverly-taken goals. First was a brilliant through ball amidst a pair of Braga defenders' legs from Arshavin, which Vela ran onto and chipped almost-effortlessly beyond the keeper. The second was a knock down from Fabregas which the Mexican smartly placed in the keeper’s near post. He never seems to do much except place the ball in the net. If that is all he does however, Bendtner may find himself looking in from the outside whenever he returns from injury.
• Denilson (5/10) – Replaced Song in the DM role. Didn’t do anything wrong for the 20-odd minutes he was on the pitch. Steady as the game drifted to a grandstand finale.
• Eboue (5/10) – Came in for Arshavin as Wenger shuffled things around ahead of our trip to Sunderland on Saturday. Took up the right wing position and helped trouble the Braga defence.
All in all, yet another memorable European night and puts us in fearsome mood ahead of the Sunderland game on Saturday night.
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