Nasri 43

                                                                                Diaby 72

Arsenal were at their imperious best in sweeping aside the challenge of Dutch champions AZ Alkmaar and all but qualifying for the Champions League knock-out stages, for the tenth consecutive season.

Two goals from captain Cesc Fabregas and one each from Samir Nasri and Abu Diaby, the latter a wonderful team goal were indicative of the gulf in class between the two sides.

Substitute Jeremain Lens got AZ on the scoresheet in the 82^nd minute. But Arsene Wenger was not to be denied his first competitive win over AZ coach Ronald Koeman.

Robin van Persie was inches away from crowning a breathtaking pitch-length move in the third minute, his right-foot shot flashing wide.

But Arsenal’s opening goal, on 25 minutes, wasn’t quite the expected thing of beauty, Fabregas’ right-foot shot from the edge of the box sneaking in at goalkeeper Sergio Romero’s near-post.

The Gunners doubled their advantage two minutes before the interval with a more vintage goal, Andrei Arshavin providing one of many slide rule passes for Nasri, who rolled the ball past Romero from fifteen yards.

Arshavin repeated the trick in the 52^nd minute, with Fabregas the recipient on this occasion. And the Arsenal captain made no mistake with his right-foot shot.

But the best was saved to last, six players involved in a stunning move, with Eduardo Da Silva’s backheel sending Arshavin away to complete his hat-trick of assists, Diaby coolly applying the finish.

Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia was largely unused in his first Champions League game of the season.

But he was at his very best on 56 minutes when he pushed Graziano Pelle’s left-foot shot onto the crossbar.

Unfortunately, he was unmoved as Lens’ low right-foot drive beat him at his near post for AZ’s consolation.

This was an isolated low point, though, on a night when Arsenal’s football reached the heights.