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Match Review: Arsenal 2 Napoli 0 - Champions League 01.10.13

What a performance. Arsenal's first half performance was the best I've seen since we took AC Milan apart in the 10/11 season. We cruised through the second half and we looked like a team playing with supreme confidence, bordering on arrogance at times. Napoli couldn't get near us, we hit our best form in arguably our trickiest game so far and blew the opposition away comprehensively. Individual brilliance all over the pitch contributed to a stunning performance and the most fitting celebration of 17 years of Arsene Wenger.

Arsenal celebrating - copyright bbc.com

From the kick off we had the ball and didn't give it up. We didn't even give Napoli a sniff, they recognised we were going to dominate the early exchanges and fell into a typically Benitez defensive shape. We passed the ball around at leisure, calmly eyeing up the opposition before we struck.

Giroud held up the ball on the right and, as he was closed by the Napoli defender, he flicked it beautifully round the corner for Ramsey, who was playing on the right wing. Ramsey surged towards the byline and cut the ball back perfectly for the onrush king Mesut Özil. The German allowed the ball to bounce before opening up his body to caress the ball into the top corner.

It was a simply sublime finish and Napoli were left chasing shadows as we carved them open. Özil's first goal for the club was one to remember. The goal seemed to flick a switch and we suddenly looked uncontainable. At the heart of it was the trio of Ramsey, Özil and Rosicky, ably assisted by sublime hold up play from Giroud.

Özil goal - copyright dailymail.com and EPA

Another gorgeous passing move led to Flamini scuffing a shot at Reina, but soon afterwards we doubled our lead. Again the goal came from the right side, as Özil turned the unfortunate defender inside out after good work from Flamini and Giroud. Our assist machine strolled forwards and delivered the perfect low cross for Giroud to smash home.

Another sublime move, another beautiful goal and the roof was lifted off the Emirates. The atmosphere was phenomenal, as we all appreciated what we were seeing. For 20 minutes we were cast back to the golden period at the start of the millennia, when the footballing gods graced our pitch and gave us stunning football week in, week out. It was beautiful to watch the new generation rolling back the years.

After about 25 minutes, things calmed down. The early whirlwind that had left Napoli reeling abated as the Arsenal players eased off and took a bit of a breather. Napoli actually enjoyed some possession for a bit, not that it mattered with Mertesacker and Koscielny in imperious form.

Giroud goal - copyright dailymail.com & PA

Since the end of last season, the pair have looked magnificent together and have completely locked the supposed club captain out of the side. They're forming a rock solid partnership that looks more secure with each game and it's really helping the side to have Mertesacker's leadership. There's that old cliché about having more than one leader on the pitch, but at the moment we have that. Mertesacker marshals the defense superbly, Ramsey lead with his barnstorming performance, Flamini with his work ethic and steely defense, as well as Arteta being the nominated captain on the night.

The first half ended with us in complete control and although Napoli had a few half chances, we never looked like conceding and we went in 2-0 up, despite some very good opportunities to extend our lead, had the right touch or pass been made. Nevertheless, we had Napoli where we wanted them and the game was in our hands.

All too often, this has been the point where I say 'but Arsenal don't do things the easy way'. It's sometimes as sure as night follows day that Arsenal will control a game in the first half, go to sleep at the start of the second and let the opposition right back in. But against Napoli, something rare and wondrous happened. We shut the game down.

Having earned ourselves a two goal advantage, we took our foot off the gas and relaxed and not in a bad way. This was a controlled, measured method of play, designed to take any sting out of the game and kill any chance of a Napoli revival.

Ramsey pulling the strings - copyright dailymail.co.uk and Graham Chadwick

The effortlessness with which we kept the ball was quite something, especially seeing as Napoli weren't doing a bad job of pressing us. We just looked superior in every way and when we occasionally lost the ball, we won it back quickly or smothered the ensuing attack. Let's not forget, Napoli have been in very good form lately and seem to be potentially in the hunt for the Serie A title.

We weren't playing the whipping boys of the group, they beat Dortmund at home in week one, yet we were toying with the Italian side like a cat with a mouse. A cat that had had its initial fun, but was now growing bored of the game. Despite taking the pace out of the game, we still looked the more likely to score, with most of Napoli's efforts being from range and flying way over the bar.

A couple of Arsenal counter attacks were thwarted by a last ditch interception or a pass that was just off, while at the other end, the ever imperious Mertesacker dealt with any half chance Napoli forged. Near the end, Koscielny and Wilshere both had chances to add some gloss to the result, but when the whistle went, the fans that were left in the stadium rose to applaud one of our most complete performances in recent years. This group of death thing, what's all the fuss about eh?!

Stat of the game: Arsenal enjoyed 63% of the possession against Napoli. (BBC Sport)

Teams

Arsenal (4-2-3-1)
Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Flamini, Arteta, Ramsey (Monreal 88'), Özil, Rosicky (Wilshere 63'), Giroud
Subs
Monreal, Wilshere, Vermaelen, Gnabry, Fabianski, Jenkinson, Bendtner

Napoli (4-2-3-1)
Reina, Britos, Albiol (Fernández 83'), Zuñiga, Mesto, Hamsik, Callejón (Zapata 77'), Behrami, Insigne, Inler, Pandev (Mertens 61')
Subs
Barbosa, Cannavaro, Armero, Zapata, Dzemaili, Fernández, Mertens

Player Ratings

Szczesny 7/10 Had nearly nothing to do but strong when called upon

Sagna

8/10 Typically solid at the back and threatening in attack
Mertesacker  8/10 Contender for MOTM but just loses out to Özil, the only thing he lost!
Koscielny  8/10 He and Mertesacker are the form defenders in the league. No doubt.
Gibbs 8/10 Improving all the time and now integral to the team

Flamini

8/10 Another shouty, pointy, combative performance
Arteta 7/10 Still looks a yard off the pace and unusually misplaced a few passes

Ramsey

8/10 In superhuman form at the moment, like Per, very close to MOTM
Özil 9/10 Probably his best showing yet, stunning goal, great assist, all round class

Rosicky

7/10 Very good in the first half, dropped off in the second half
Giroud 8/10 Return to form after a few quiet games, sublime hold up play again
Subs    

Wilshere

7/10 Came on and looked busy and ready to start putting in some big games
Monreal N/A Will only be starting in COC games or if Gibbs gets crocked

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Tags: Ramsey, Giroud, Özil, Napoli

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