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Arsenal's magnificent seven
23/10/2007 23:08 - (SA)
London - Arsenal gave Arsene Wenger the perfect birthday present as they produced a sensational display to thrash Slavia Prague 7-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Wenger turned 58 on Monday but the Gunners manager had insisted the only thing he wanted to celebrate was three points after his team's Group H match at the Emirates Stadium.
His players ensured he wasn't disappointed with a breath-taking show that was surely the equal of anything produced in Europe this season.
Cesc Fabregas, Aleksandr Hleb and Theo Walcott scored twice each and Nicklas Bendtner got one to complete the rout, yet the Premier League leaders could easily have hit double figures.
Wenger's side have now won 12 consecutive matches and are playing the kind of fantasy football that is a joy to behold.
This was the north London club's biggest Champions League win and almost certainly clinches their place in the knockout stages. If they can keep up this level of performance, it would be no surprise to see Wenger holding up the trophy in Moscow next May.
Wenger was well aware that Arsenal's fine form could breed complacency in his young side and had been quick to warn them not to underestimate Slavia. His message clearly sunk in.
Right from the start Arsenal were in complete control. Hleb's knack of crafting a precise pass from the tightest angles has prised open plenty of defences and the Belarus winger did it again in the fifth minute.
Still had plenty to do
Blocked in by two Slavia defenders, it seemed Hleb's only option was to go backwards, but he wriggled into enough space to slide in Fabregas on the edge of the penalty area.
Fabregas still had plenty to do but his confidence is sky-high after scoring six times already this season. The Spanish midfielder simply took a touch and bent a superb strike into the far corner of Martin Vaniak's goal.
Slavia, playing in Europe's elite club competition for the first time, found it impossible to disrupt Arsenal's fluent passing and fell further behind in the 24th minute.
When Matej Krajcik miscued Fabregas's corner the ball ran through to Hleb. He took full advantage, driving in a low shot that took a sizeable deflection off Hubacek before cannoning into the net.
Arsenal were rampant now. No wonder their captain William Gallas claims they are playing the best football he has ever experienced.
The evening was about to get even worse for the clearly rattled visitors.
In the 41st minute, Daniel Pudil played a backpass that fell short of Vaniak, who panicked and scuffed his clearance to Walcott.
The teenager gratefully accepted the gift as he skipped around the Slavia keeper before stroking home his first goal since February and only his second for Arsenal.
In the mood
Wenger could have been forgiven for telling his players to ease off after half-time, but when they are in the mood like this there is no stopping them.
A fourth goal arrived six minutes after the interval. Fabregas was the creator as he picked out Hleb on the left-wing.
While Hleb's first goal had owed more to luck than his judgment, there was no doubt about this one. He drifted into the penalty area and beat Vaniak at his near post.
Arsenal weren't finished yet. Four minutes after scoring, Hleb threaded a defence-splitting pass through to Walcott, who scampered clear to score via the far post.
It seemed hard to believe but the best was yet to come.
Hleb took possession deep in his own half in the 58th minute and surged away before picking out Adebayor. His pass found Walcott, who deftly set up Fabregas to run through and easily beat Vaniak.
There was still time for Danish striker Bendtner to tap in from close range in the last minute.
Wenger must wish it was his birthday every week if this is how his team reward him.
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