Midfield key to Arsenal's success

Following the derby-day mauling of Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend fans and players alike could be forgiven for a rather lifeless match against AZ Alkmaar.

Despite the 4-1 scoreline, Arsenal's players never really moved out of second gear putting Dutch champions AZ Alkmaar to the sword in what was a completely one-sided encounter. The fans also seemed content to sit quietly, in stark contrast to Saturday's atmosphere.

AZ are undoubtedly a weaker team this season following their surprising title triumph in May, having lost a number of key personnel during the summer transfer window, but the gulf in class was enormous. To think Arsenal didn't even have the likes of Nicklas Bendtner, Gael Clichy and Theo Walcott available for the match shows why many are opposed to Michel Platini's policy to favour the inclusion of smaller clubs in the competition.

The fluidity of Arsenal's midfield was too much for Alkmaar to handle, as it has been for most of the teams who have faced the Gunners so far this season. It was again the midfield who weighed in with the goals with Cesc Fabreags scoring twice, Samir Nasri netting on his Champions League return and Abou Diaby weighing in with a goal of his own.


It was so comprehensive that Wenger was able to rest his three-key players, Robin van Persie, Fabregas and Andrey Arshavin midway through the second half, bringing on Eduardo, Aaron Ramsey and Thomas Rosicky, three equally-able players. The trio showed their worth causing a dejected AZ all sorts of problems in the dying embers of the match, Eduardo sublimely backheeling to help set-up Diaby's goal and Ramsey making a number of bursts into the penalty area.

The match has once-again shown Arsenal's strength in depth, particularly in midfield, something many pundits still refuse to acknowledge.

Playing with a lone striker particularly one of van Persie's technical calibre allows the midfielders to push forward in support - hence the likes of Fabregas, Nasri and Diaby getting on the scoresheet. With Alex Song increasingly looking like a world-beater in the holding role, and Thomas Vermaelen proving to be the buy of the summer, players can push forward in the knowledge there is ample and trustworthy cover behind them.

With the players constantly in a state of flux, swapping positions, it is immensely difficult to defend against.

This shows that Arsenal are on the verge of "total-football" something only the Invincibles have reached under Wenger and there are murmurs that this team, given time, can be just as good and then the pundits will surely change their minds.