Arsenal 5-1 Shakhtar; Very ruthless.

Morning all.

So we beat Shakhtar, and easily at that. Many have stated Arsenal scored 6 times, with Eduardo fittingly on the score sheet for the Ukrainians.

This performance was a million miles away from the Braga demolition. I might be off the point here, but we looked quite lethargic. Our passes weren't as crisp and our movement wasn't as zippy as it has been.

Nevertheless, cracking result against our biggest rivals in the group.

It started off Song capitalising on a fumble by the Arsenal Shakhtar keeper. Song received stick for flicking the ball, but as the ball was behind him and he had little margin to compromise, I thought he did very well. Well enough, considering he opened the scoring. So 1-0 Arsenal. The atmosphere within the ground matched the game; very subdued.

Alex Song, playing further forward, then whipped in a cross for Samir Nasri to delightfully control and smash the ball past the keeper to double our lead. Great goal, by a great player. 2-0 Arsenal.

Song has also received some stick, but when he ventures forward, he isn't leaving huge gaps in our team. One of Cesc and Wilshere usually drop back and I have no problem with this. Our players roaming and switching positions constantly give the opposition something to worry about. I'd be concerned if Song wondered upfield and for no one to cover him, but this is a very intelligent team.

Shakhtar could of pulled one back soon after the restart but for a fine save from Fabianski. This is the kind of games he needs, unspectacular ones. He shown he can concentrate, as by in large, he had fuck all to do.

For our third, Djourou got involved in a spot of wrestling in the penalty area. Well I say involved, what I mean is he got chokeslammed by the striker. On Djourou, he looked impressive last night. Forgot how quick he is for a big fella, and his distribution was excellent on the whole. Super Cesc stepped up and slammed in the penalty. Great stuff, and if it wasn't already before, game well and truly over. Arsenal 3-0.

The fourth goal was more the kind of goal or play I was hoping for all night. Plenty of movement, skill and clinical play. Chamakh edged the ball round the defender for Wilshere to one-two with Rosicky, who then controlled the ball and delightfully finished passed the keeper. Arsenal 4-0.

 This was a big game for Wilshere after Saturday and he shown his class. Aside from one crude challenge, he was again excellent. Hearing Jamie Redknapp shower him with praise, only to be dampened by Ruud Gullit, was pleasing. What Ruud said makes sense. England aren't up to his standards yet. How useful would Jack be in a team that plays lump it football to the targetman? Well, we could always ask Bolton I suppose.

Onto the funniest goal of the night, and Chamakh got on the scoresheet, for the sixth consecutive time in Europe. Nasri chipped the ball over the defence, where Chamakh controlled, looked at the linesman waiting for the flag, realised he was onside and squeezed the ball past the goalkeeper. Arsenal 5-0.

Chamakh really has been a great signing for Arsenal. To me, he's better than Adebayor. Maybe Adebayor can do more magical stuff than the Moroccan, but Chamakh will always have that heart and desire Adebayor will NEVER have.

The scoring wasn't done yet. Eduardo came on to rapturous applause, and quite rightly too. It's heart wrenching to see what might of been with Dudu, and he got his goodbye from the Arsenal fans. He scored. Who'd have thought it!? Well, as it goes, quite a lot of you. To be fair, he scored a bloody good goal. Getting on the end of a high ball to half volley delightfully into the corner. That goal received a nice cheer. I'm a bit stuck on this issue. Pleased for Eduardo, he did look emotional coming on and scoring. But we're a football team, not a charity. Squillaci should have blocked Eduardo's effort. And keeping a clean sheet is far more important for us than to see our former striker score against us.

So, overall, last night was a strange game. I thought we weren't too good in all honesty. Maybe I'm being spoilt here too by the Arsenal, but I believe the scoreline overshadows the lacklustre performance. But we won, and won handsomely. So what am I doing complaining!? I'll take a 5-1 win every week!

On to one subject that has dominated the media pretty much worldwide. Wayne Rooney. Genuinely shocked about the events over the few days. When I first heard snippets, I dismissed him wanting to leave Man Utd as rumours. But it does show United are in a whole lot of bother, when you're star player wants to leave an ageing team. Could we be interested in signing him? I'd certainly take him. For all his personal faults, there's no denying he's a quality player. But I heard Manchester City have offered him 230 grans a week to sign for them! How do we top that!? Offering 231 grans I suppose...

That's it for today. Thanks for reading, hope you've enjoyed it!